WSR 19-12-112

DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY

[Filed June 5, 2019, 9:28 a.m.]

On July 1, 2019, the Washington state department of ecology (ecology) reissued the Phase I, Western Washington Phase II, and Eastern Washington Phase II municipal stormwater national pollution discharge elimination system and state waste discharge general permits (permits). The permits become effective on August 1, 2019, and expire on July 31, 2024.

Purpose of the Permits: Under federal and state water quality laws (Federal Clean Water Act and State Water Pollution Control Act), these permits require municipalities and secondary permittees to develop and implement a stormwater management program to control stormwater runoff into and from their municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4). The Phase I permit applies to all regulated large and medium municipal MS4s. The Phase I permit covers the cities of Seattle and Tacoma, and unincorporated King, Pierce, Snohomish, and Clark counties. The Phase II permits apply to all regulated small MS4s and cover cities and portions of counties in urban areas of eastern and western Washington. All three permits also cover secondary permittees, which are MS4s in permitted cities and counties that are owned or operated by public entities, such as: Ports, irrigation districts, colleges and universities, state institutions, school districts, drainage districts, and park districts.

Public Notice Process and Comments: Ecology accepted comments on the draft permits, fact sheet, and related permit documents from August 15, 2018, until November 14, 2018. Ecology offered two hearings via online webinars and five in-person hearings with workshops. The in-person hearings took place in Moses Lake, Mount Vernon, Seattle, DuPont, and Vancouver.

Ecology received written comments during the public comment period. The comments and ecology's response to comments are included as an appendix to the fact sheet.

You may download the final permits, fact sheet, and supporting documents from the ecology web site at https://ecology.wa.gov/ms4. You may also request copies from Dena Jaskar, at 360-407-6401, or by email dena.jaskar@ecy.wa.gov.

Ecology Contact: Abbey Stockwell, Washington State Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47696, Olympia, WA 98504-7696, phone 360-407-7221, email abbey.stockwell@ecy.wa.gov.

Your Right to Appeal: You have a right to appeal the final permits to the pollution control hearings board (PCHB) within thirty days of the date of receipt. The appeal process is governed by chapters 43.21B RCW and 371-08 WAC. "Date of receipt" is defined in RCW 43.21B.001(2).

To appeal you must do the following within thirty days of the date of receipt of this permit issuance notice:

Street Addresses: Department of Ecology, Attn: Appeals Processing Desk, 300 Desmond Drive S.E., Lacey, WA 98503; or Pollution Control Hearings Board, 1111 Israel Road S.W., Suite 301, Tumwater, WA 98501.

Mailing Addresses: Department of Ecology, Attn: Appeals Processing Desk, P.O. Box 47608, Olympia, WA 98504-7608; or Pollution Control Hearings Board, P.O. Box 40903, Olympia, WA 98504-0903.

Questions: If you have questions, please contact Abbey Stockwell at abbey.stockwell@ecy.wa.gov or 360-407-7221.