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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Nov. 4, 1997
97-175
CONTACT: Mary Getchell (360) 407-6157, Pager (360) 534-8590
MEDIA ADVISORY
OLYMPIA, WA - This month, the Washington Department of Ecology is asking people, local governments and businesses for their ideas and opinions on two water-related issues of significance throughout the state. Ecology will be visiting communities across to ask citizens for their ideas and views on the following two topics.
Water Quality Grants and Loans to Protect People from Water Quality Problems
The Department of Ecology has a plan to help communities with critical or emergency public health and existing environmental problems. In June, Ecology adopted an emergency rule related to financing water-pollution control facilities in local communities that are not currently in compliance with the Growth Management Act (GMA). The emergency rule was necessary to comply with revisions to the Water Pollution Control Facility Financing Act that Gov. Gary Locke signed into law earlier this year. Ecology is now in the final stages of adopting the administrative rule. The rule would allow Ecology to provide water quality facility grants and loans to local communities that are out of compliance with GMA, provided the community can prove a public health need or substantial environmental problem. Ecology will hold three public hearings on the rule. The agency will accept public comments through Nov. 14. After considering all comments, Ecology plans to adopt the rule in December 1997. Contact: Tim Hilliard (360) 407-6429.
YAKIMA Nov. 6, 2-5 p.m.
Ecology's Central Regional Office, 15 West Yakima Ave.
LACEY Nov. 7, 2-5 p.m.
Ecology Headquarters Building, Auditorium, 300 Desmond Drive
According to a citizen initiative voters passed in 1988, municipalities and industries which discharge wastewater or stormwater into Washington's waters must pay a fee. Ecology administers the wastewater and stormwater discharge program for Washington state. The agency uses fees to recover all eligible costs associated with issuing permits, conducting monitoring activities and performing other activities. The Legislature sets the revenue amount Ecology must collect from permit holders. Fee increases must be in compliance with Initiative 601, which limits increases in fees to no more than the projected fiscal growth factor for Washington state. At three public workshops and hearings, Ecology will be asking people for their opinions regarding Ecology's proposed changes to the permit fee rule. The most significant change would be to increase the annual permit fees for state fiscal years 1998 and 1999 (July 1997-June 1999) according to the amount the legislature established, which is 8.06 percent. Ecology will accept public comments on the proposed rule changes through Nov. 25, 1997. After considering all comments, Ecology plans to adopt the fee rule in January 1998. Contact: Bev Poston (360) 407-6425
YAKIMA Nov. 6, 1-2 p.m.
Ecology's Central Regional Office, 15 West Yakima Ave.
LACEY Nov. 7, 1-2 p.m.
Ecology Headquarters Building, Auditorium, 300 Desmond Drive
Ecology is planning to issue a general wastewater discharge permit to control pollutants from water treatment plants that discharge into surface water. In all, Ecology looked at covering approximately 100 water treatment plants under the permit. The permit plans to address about 35 treatment plans. The permit would pertain to groups of facilities that: treat water to produce potable water (drinking water), discharge wastewater from treatment filtration processes, and may produce at least 50,000 gallons of treated drinking water each day. Ecology will hold one public hearing to gather opinions on the permit. The public comment period continues through Nov. 14. Following the public comment period, Ecology will consider the ideas and opinions. The agency expects to issue the permit in December 1997. Contact: Keith Johnson (360) 407-6442
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
