Proposed Permits: The Washington state department of
ecology (ecology) is proposing two draft Phase II Eastern
Washington national pollutant discharge elimination system
(NPDES) municipal stormwater general permits (permits).
Ecology issued the current permit January 17, 2007. As
required by RCW 90.48.260, ecology is working to issue two
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.
Purpose of the Permits: The permits apply to all regulated small municipal separate storm sewer systems. 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 cover nineteen cities and portions of seven counties in eastern Washington. 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 public hearings and workshops on the draft permits in Ellensburg and Spokane Valley. Please see the complete list of dates and times 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 December 5, 2011, at 9 a.m., Hal Holmes Center, 209 North Ruby Street, Ellensburg, WA 98926; and on December 6, 2011, at 9 a.m., CenterPlace Regional Event Center, 2426 North Discovery Place, Spokane Valley, WA 99216.
Issuing the Permit: The final permits will be issued after ecology receives and considers all public comments. If 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.