Publication Summary

Draft comment period ends November 30, 2002

Eastern Washington communities and other stakeholders have been working with the Department of Ecology to develop improved stormwater management tools for eastern Washington. As a result of a chartering meeting held in June 2001 in Moses Lake, a steering committee has been formed to work with Ecology and a consultant team has been selected and placed under contract. The steering committee and Ecology are managing a project that will result in completion of a stormwater management manual and a model municipal stormwater program for eastern Washington. This project will include an analysis of the cost of implementing the measures in the manual and in the model program.

The objectives of the project are to:

• Develop an eastern Washington stormwater technical manual that will serve as a commonly accepted standard for the management of stormwater for eastern Washington. The completed stormwater technical manual will address and integrate stormwater management needs under federal and state laws and will provide for local flexibility in meeting specific local needs.

• Develop a model municipal stormwater program for eastern Washington, with strong local participation and direction. This model program will describe a regionally and environmentally appropriate stormwater program that satisfies federal and state regulatory requirements, and that can be implemented by local government. The model program will be constructed to assure that local governments can address unique or specific issues within the context of the model program.

The steering committee and Ecology will be conducting public workshops on the stormwater manual and the model program during October. There will be two identical sessions at each location. Each session will begin with a staff presentation, followed by an opportunity to ask questions and provide comments.

Location Date and Time

Spokane -- Spokane Regional Health District, Auditorium -- 1101 W. College Ave. -- Monday, October 14, 2002 -- 4:00 to 6:00 pm and 6:30 to 8:30 pm

Wenatchee -- Wenatchee Valley Senior Center, Card Room -- 1312 Maple Street -- Tuesday, October 15, 2002 -- 4:00 to 6:00 pm and 6:30 to 8:30 pm

Yakima -- Selah Civic Center, Main Hall -- 261 South First -- Wednesday, October 16, 2002 -- 4:00 to 6:00 pm and 6:30 to 8:30 pm

Tri-Cities -- Benton County PUD Building, Auditorium -- 2721 W. 10th Avenue, Kennewick -- Thursday, October 17, 2002 -- 4:00 to 6:00 pm and 6:30 to 8:30 pm

Written comments can also be provided during the official comment period, which ends November 30, 2002. Comments received will be considered by Ecology and the steering committee as the draft documents are revised. For additional project information, visit the project website at www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/stormwater/ and follow the link to Eastern Washington Stormwater News.