The Washington state department of ecology (ecology) proposes to reissue the Washington state department of transportation (WSDOT) municipal stormwater national pollutant discharge elimination system (NPDES) general permit. The permit was last issued in March of 2014, and is scheduled to expire April 5, 2019. The new draft permit and fact sheet, which explains the legal and technical basis for the permit, is available for review and public comment from December 5, 2018, through January 18, 2019. Ecology will host an informational workshop and public hearing on the draft permit.

Purpose of the Permit: The permit provides coverage for discharges from municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) owned or operated by WSDOT. MS4s are conveyances or a system of conveyances including roads with drainage systems, streets, catch basins, ditches, man-made channels, and storm drains. State and federal regulations require WSDOT to have NPDES permit coverage in areas covered by Phase I and Phase II of the municipal stormwater permit program. This permit covers stormwater runoff from state highways, rest areas, park and ride lots, ferry terminals, and maintenance facilities. The permit addresses the legal requirements and regulates the discharge of pollutants to protect water quality in Washington state.

Copies of the Formal Draft Permits: Beginning December 5, 2018, you may download the draft permit and fact sheet from the following web site https://ecology.wa.gov/WSDOTpermit. You may also request copies from Dena Jaskar, at 360-407-6401, or email dena.jaskar@ecy.wa.gov.

Ecology Contact: Foroozan Labib, Washington State Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47696, Olympia, WA 98504-7696, phone 360-407-6426, email foroozan.labib@ecy.wa.gov.

Submitting Written and Oral Comments: Ecology will accept written and oral comments on the draft permit language and supporting documents. Comments should reference specific text when possible.

Submit written, hard copy comments to Foroozan Labib, WSDOT Municipal Permit Comments, Washington State Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47696, Olympia, WA 98504-7600.

You must submit comments online no later than 11:59 p.m., January 18, 2019. Written comments must be postmarked by January 18, 2019. You may provide oral testimony or written comments at the public hearing.

Public Workshop and Hearing: Ecology will hold a public workshop and hearing on the draft permit. You may attend in person, or online via webinar. During the workshop, ecology will explain the draft permit and answer questions. A hearing will immediately follow the workshop. The hearing will provide the opportunity to give formal oral comments on the draft permit and supporting documents.

The workshop and hearing may also be attended as a webinar where individuals may view the presentation and provide testimony via computer. To register for the webinar go to https://bit.ly/2RCEoch.

Issuing the Permit: After ecology receives and considers all public comments, it will issue the final permit. Ecology expects to issue the permit in March 2019. The permit will be effective thirty days later. Ecology will send a copy of the notice of issuance and ecology's responses to comments to all interested parties including any person who submitted comment.