Publication Summary

The Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) is hosting a public meeting to seek informal input as it initiates a "pilot rulemaking process" to amend Chapter 173-98 WAC, Uses and Limitations of the Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund, to allow public bodies to use the "design/build" concept for completion of wastewater facilities. This regulation was substantially updated in December, 2000. Therefore, the scope of the pilot rulemaking process will be limited to new design/build (D/B) provisions. There are no such provisions in the present rule.

The Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) is hosting a public meeting to seek informal input as it initiates a "pilot rulemaking process" to amend Chapter 173-98 WAC, Uses and Limitations of the Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund, to allow public bodies to use the "design/build" concept for completion of wastewater facilities. This regulation was substantially updated in December, 2000. Therefore, the scope of the pilot rulemaking process will be limited to new design/build (D/B) provisions. There are no such provisions in the present rule.

Several public bodies have expressed a serious interest in the D/B concept, and at least one public body will use the concept for a major wastewater facilities project beginning in 2003 and during the next several years. These public bodies would like to apply for State Revolving Fund (SRF) financial assistance during the FY 2004 funding application period (January/February 2003). If they are successful during the application process, they would like to incorporate D/B concepts into SRF eligible components of its project.

Other public bodies are to be encouraged to do likewise. However, the criteria and specific provisions to allow D/B need to be developed with public input.