Publication Summary

The Department of Ecology is authorized under state statutory law RCW 90.48.465 – Water Pollution Control to establish annual fees to fund the issuance and administration of wastewater and/or stormwater discharge permits under the Water Quality Wastewater Discharge Permit Program.

The Department of Ecology is authorized under state statutory law RCW 90.48.465 – Water Pollution Control to establish annual fees to fund the issuance and administration of wastewater and/or stormwater discharge permits under the Water Quality Wastewater Discharge Permit Program.

The law states that all fees charged shall be based on factors relating to the complexity of permit issuance and compliance and in addition, may be based on pollutant loading and the reduction of the quantity of pollutants.

On September 24, 1997, Ecology filed proposed amendments to Chapter 173-224 WAC – Wastewater Discharge Permit Fees with the State Code Revisers office. These amendments would allow funding of the permit program at the $20.3 million appropriation level established by the Washington State Legislature for the 1997-99 biennium. Two of the most noted proposals consist of:

a. Increasing permit fees for all existing permit holders by 4.05% for state fiscal year 1998 (July 1, 1997 through June 30, 1998) and 4.01% for state fiscal year 1999 (July 1, 1998 through June 30, 1999); and

b. Revising the process for how Ecology will handle delinquent permit fee accounts.