Washington State Department of Ecology

Department of Ecology News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Nov. 3, 1999

99-225

Contact: Mary Getchell, Public Information Manager, 360-407-6157; pager, 360-534-8590
Tony Barrett, Environmental Specialist, 360-407-6467

Managing an elusive water-quality problem

OLYMPIA - Helping businesses and local governments keep stormwater runoff out of lakes, rivers and ground water will be the topic at a series of public workshops in November and December.

The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) is hosting the workshops to talk with people about how to prevent water quality problems that occur when dirt, bacteria, chemicals and other pollutants are washed into surface and ground waters. The department will discuss and seek comments about its draft Stormwater Management in Washington State, a guidance manual to help municipalities, industries and construction companies manage storm water and prevent water pollution. The workshops will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the following locations.

RENTON	Nov. 10	Renton Community Center 1715 Maple Valley Hwy.
SPOKANE	Nov. 16	Spokane Falls Community College Student Union Bldg., Rm. 17, 3410 W. Fort George Wright Dr.
KENNEWICK	Nov. 17	Benton Co. Public Utility District 2721 W. 10^th Ave.
YAKIMA	Nov. 18	Ecology's Central Regional Office 15 W. Yakima Ave., Ste. 200
VANCOUVER	Nov. 30	Water Resources Environmental Education Center 4600 S.E. Columbia Way
MT. VERNON	Dec. 9	Skagit Co. Courthouse Administration Bldg. Rm. B 700 S. Second

The workshops will focus on revisions to the 1992 stormwater technical manual for the Puget Sound area. Ecology is updating the manual to make it technically current, applicable statewide and more user-friendly. The manual is not an enforceable document, but will give guidance to businesses and local governments to help them comply with stormwater permits.

"Stormwater pollution is a big problem in our state. It's an elusive problem because it's everywhere and hard to prevent and manage," said Megan White, manager of Ecology's Water Quality Program. "Storm water makes our water unhealthy for us to drink and swim in and harms fish and other aquatic life."

Following the workshops, Ecology will make further revisions to the manual and then host public hearings next year to gather formal testimony on the manual.