Washington State Department of Ecology

Department of Ecology News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -Nov. 18, 1999

99-246

Contact: Mary Getchell, Public Information Manager (360) 407-6157;
pager (360) 534-8590
Bev Poston, Permit Fee Coordinator, (360) 407-6425

Ecology cuts off "deadbeat" permit holders

OLYMPIA - There's no more free ride for companies who haven't paid their wastewater or stormwater permit fees in Washington state.

For the first time ever, the Washington Department of Ecology cancelled 44 permits for unpaid fees totaling more than $101,000.

"Administratively and environmentally we can't continue to issue these permits to companies who do not pay their fees," said Megan White, manager of Ecology's Water Quality Program. "In addition, there's a huge equity issue when 4,000 permit holders pay their fees and some just don't."

Ecology administers approximately 4,000 wastewater and stormwater permits that regulate the discharge of pollution into lakes, rivers, estuaries and ground water. The permit holders include large and small industries such as pulp mills, fish hatcheries and food-processing facilities. Domestic wastewater treatment plants, which treat sewage from the majority of homes and businesses in Washington state, also have permits to manage the safe discharge of pollution.

A 1988 citizens' initiative required that permit fees fully cover Ecology's costs for administering permits. This year, permit holders should pay approximately $11 million in water quality fees.

"The companies with cancelled permits will need to stop operations immediately or face penalties for operating without a permit," said White.

Under federal law, Ecology could fine companies operating without a wastewater or stormwater discharge permit up to $10,000 a day.

Ecology canceled the permits in the following counties: Clark, Clallam, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, King, Kitsap, Klickitat, Lewis, Okanogan, Pierce, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Thurston, Whatcom and Yakima.

Editors' Note: For a complete list of cancelled permits, contact Mary Getchell (360) 407-6157.