WSR 97-19-053

DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY

[Filed September 15, 1997, 9:23 a.m.]

public notice

draft general permit and public hearing for water treatment plant wastewater discharge

Introduction: The Washington State Department of Ecology (ecology) is proposing to issue a wastewater discharge general permit for water treatment plants (WTPs) located in Washington State (state). WTPs treat water to produce potable water (drinking water) for distribution and some treatment processes result in the production of wastewater as well as drinking water. This general permit is intended to address legal requirements for this wastewater discharge, control the discharge of pollutants, and protect the water quality of waters of the state. Interested persons are encouraged to submit comments on the proposed permit and/or attend the workshop and hearing described below.

The proposed permit implements the Federal Clean Water Act and State Water Pollution Control Act. All WTPs that discharge to surface water and meet the following criteria require coverage under this general permit:

Produce potable water or "industrial" water (primary treatment/settled water); and

Discharge wastewater from water treatment filtration processes (filter backwash, sedimentation/presedimentation basin washwater, filter-to-waste); and

Have a maximum production capacity of 50,000 gallons a day or more of treated drinking water.

How to Request Copies of the Proposed Permit: Requests for copies of the proposed permit and fact sheet may be made by contacting Keith Johnson through the address noted below, by telephone at (360) 407-6442, by FAX at (360) 407-6426, by e-mail at KJOH461@ecy.wa.gov or the proposed permit and fact sheet may be downloaded from the World Wide Web (Internet) at http://www.wa.gov/ecology/wq/wqpermit/

Where to Submit Written Comments: If you wish to comment on the proposed permit you may send your written comments to Keith Johnson, Water Quality Program, Washington State Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600.

Written comments must be postmarked by midnight, Friday, November 14, 1997. Comments may also be made by attending and testifying at the public hearing.

Public Workshop/Hearing: The public workshop and hearing on the proposed permit will be held on Friday, November 7, 1997. The purpose of the workshop is to explain the general permit, answer questions, and facilitate meaningful testimony during the hearing. The purpose of the hearing is to provide interested parties an opportunity to give formal oral testimony and comments on the proposed general permit. The workshop and hearing will be held at the Washington State Department of Ecology, Headquarters Building, 300 Desmond Drive, Lacey, WA.

The public workshop will begin at 10:00 a.m. and last until 11:30 a.m. The formal public hearing will begin at 12:00 p.m.

General Permit Issuance: Ecology will evaluate all public testimony and written comments received pursuant to this notice. Contingent on the outcome of that evaluation, ecology expects to issue the general permit on December 3, 1997. A copy of the notice of issuance and the responsiveness summary will be sent to all persons who submitted written comment or gave public testimony.