Publication Summary

This Small Business Economic Impact Statement (SBEIS) examines the economic impact of the two general permits for industrial and construction stormwater that are being issued in 1995. These two permits replace the baseline general permit for stormwater discharges associated with industrial activity which was issued in 1992.

This Small Business Economic Impact Statement (SBEIS) examines the economic impact of the two general permits for industrial and construction stormwater that are being issued in 1995. These two permits replace the baseline general permit for stormwater discharges associated with industrial activity which was issued in 1992.

The SBEIS describes the costs of complying with the permits and compares the compliance costs of small and large businesses. The purpose o the SBEIS is to reduce the economic impacts of the general permits on small businesses when reduction is legal and feasible in meeting the stated objectives of the federal Clean Water Act and the State Water Pollution Control Act. A small business is defined as "any business entity, including a sole proprietorship, corporation, partnership, or other legal entity, that is owned and operated independently from all other businesses, that has the purpose of making a profit, and that has fifty or fewer employees" (RCW 19.85.020(1)).

The SBEIS compares the costs of compliance for s all and large businesses in order to determine whether the general permits disproportionately impact small businesses. The SBEIS uses the ratio of compliance costs to annual sales as the measure of the general permits' proportional impact. If the cost-to-sales ratio is higher for small business than for large business, then small businesses are disproportionately impacted and cost-reduction measures are necessary.