Publication Summary

The Department of Ecology (Ecology) is authorized by state law to assess annual fees to fund the operation of the Water Quality Wastewater Discharge Permit Program. RCW 90.48.465 (Water Pollution Control) gives Ecology the authority to establish fees that will fund the administration of wastewater discharge permits. The law states that all fees charged shall be based on factors relating to the complexity of permit issuance, and compliance and may be based on pollutant loading and the reduction of the quantity of pollutants.

The Department of Ecology (Ecology) is authorized by state law to assess annual fees to fund the operation of the Water Quality Wastewater Discharge Permit Program. RCW 90.48.465 (Water Pollution Control) gives Ecology the authority to establish fees that will fund the administration of wastewater discharge permits. The law states that all fees charged shall be based on factors relating to the complexity of permit issuance, and compliance and may be based on pollutant loading and the reduction of the quantity of pollutants.

The Water Quality Wastewater Discharge Permit Program has been funded through annual fees since 1987, when Senate Bill 6085 was passed authorizing the development and passage of a rule establishing annual permit fees to recover revenue to meet the biennial appropriation established by the Washington State Legislature. Ecology responded to this authorization by developing Chapter 173-224 WAC – Wastewater Discharge Permit Fees.

In 1994, voters passed Initiative 601 (I-601) which required that fee increases be linked to the state fiscal growth factor. The average fee increase for the administration of the wastewater discharge permit program since the passage of I-601 has been between two and four percent. Fees paid by holders of wastewater discharge permits are deposited in a dedicated account and not into the State General Fund. Each biennium, the State Legislature authorizes Ecology in the same operating budget to spend fee funds from the permit fee account for fee-eligible activities. This report discusses fee revenues and expenditures from the permit fee account for the 2001-2003 biennium (July 1, 2001, through June 30, 2003). This report also highlights planned activities and the related expenditures for each Ecology program receiving monies from the dedicated permit fee account for the 2003-2005 biennium (July 1, 2003, through June 30, 2005).