Proposed Permits: The Washington state department of
ecology (ecology) is proposing draft Phase I and Phase II
Western Washington national pollutant discharge elimination
system (NPDES) municipal stormwater general permits (permits).
Ecology issued the two current permits January 17, 2007. As
required by RCW 90.48.260, ecology is working to reissue the
Phase II Western Washington permits by July 31, 2012. RCW 90.48.260 directs:
By July 31, 2012, the department shall: (a) Reissue without modification and for a term of one
year any national pollutant discharge elimination system
municipal storm water general permit first issued on January
17. 2007; and (b) Issue an updated national pollutant discharge
elimination system municipal storm water general permit for
any permit first issued on January 17, 2007. An updated
permit issued under this subsection shall become effective
beginning August 1, 2013.
In summer 2012, ecology will reissue the Phase I permit with modifications to monitoring requirements for a term of one year, and will issue an updated Phase I permit to become effective beginning August 1, 2013.
Purpose of the Permits: These permits are required in urban areas that collect stormwater runoff in municipal separate storm sewers and discharge it to surface waters. A municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) is a conveyance or system of conveyances including roads with drainage systems, municipal streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters, ditches, man-made channels and/or storm drains which is:
1. Owned or operated by a city, town, county, district, association, or other public body created pursuant to state law having jurisdiction over disposal of sewage, industrial wastes, stormwater, or other wastes, including special districts under state law such as sewer districts, flood control districts or drainage districts, or similar entity;
2. Designed or used for collecting or conveying stormwater;
3. Not a combined sewer system; and
4. Not part of a publicly owned treatment works (POTW) (see 40 C.F.R. 122.2).
The permits are required under the federal Clean Water Act.
More Information: To learn more about the permits or to download copies of the draft permits and fact sheets visit the following site www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/stormwater/municipal/2012draftMUNIcom.html.
You may request copies of the documents from Jocelyn Jones at (360) 407-7529 or by e-mail at jocelyn.jones@ecy.wa.gov.
Ecology Contact: Harriet Beale at (360) 407-6457 or by e-mail at harriet.beale@ecy.wa.gov.
Submitting Written Comments: Ecology will accept written comments on the draft permits and fact sheets until 5 p.m., February 3, 2012. Written comments must be postmarked or e-mailed no later than 5 p.m., February 3, 2012. Ecology prefers comments be submitted by e-mail to SWPermitComments@ecy.wa.gov. E-mailed comments must contain the commenter's name and postal address. Comments should reference specific permit text when possible.
Submit written comments to Harriet Beale, Washington State Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600.
Hearings and Workshops: Ecology will hold four public hearings and workshops on the draft permits in Lacey, Vancouver, Mount Vernon, and Renton. Please see the complete list of dates below. The purpose of the workshops is to explain the general permits and answer questions in order to facilitate meaningful testimony during the hearing. The purpose of the hearings is to provide an opportunity for people to give formal oral testimony and comments on the proposed permit. Written comments will receive the same consideration as oral testimony. The public hearings will begin after the workshops and conclude when public testimony is complete.
HEARINGS AND WORKSHOPS: On January 9, 2012, at 10:00 a.m., Washington State Department of Ecology, 300 Desmond Drive S.E., Lacey, WA 98503; on January 10, 2012, at 10:00 a.m., Washington State School for the Blind, Fries Auditorium, 2214 East 13th Street, Vancouver, WA 98661; on January 17, 2012, at 10:00 a.m., Skagit Transit Station, 105 East Kincaid, Mount Vernon, WA 98273; and on January 24, 2012, at 9:00 a.m., Renton Community Center, 1715 Maple Valley Highway, Renton, WA 98057.
Issuing the Permits: The final permits will be issued after ecology receives and considers all public comments. If the public comments cause a substantial change in the permit conditions from the original draft permits, another public notice of draft and comment period may ensue. Ecology expects to issue the permits in July 2012.