Comments sought on sand and gravel permit

Washington State Department of Ecology

Department of Ecology Press Release - December 21, 2005

05-304

Comments sought on sand and gravel permit

OLYMPIA - The Department of Ecology (Ecology) is inviting comments on a permit regulating sand and gravel mining operations.

On January 5, 2005, Ecology reissued the Sand and Gravel General Permit, a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and state waste discharge general permit for sand and gravel mining operations and related facilities located in Washington state. The purpose of the permit is to control the discharge of pollutants from sand and gravel mining operations and related facilities into waters of the state.

In February 2005, the Washington Concrete and Aggregate Association and the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance appealed the permit. A settlement agreement was reached between Ecology and these two parties, which includes proposed changes to the permit, now proposing as a modification of the permit.

Some of the changes proposed in this permit modification include:

Dropping the requirement to sample "type two" storm water, or storm water that comes from: 1) portions of a site where mining has temporarily or permanently ceased; 2) storage areas for stockpiles of raw materials or finished products; or, 3) portions of a site with exposed soils, cleared in preparation for mining or other industrial activity.
Adding language to make the permit consistent with other applicable laws. For example, no discharge may cause or contribute to a violation of other water quality standards.
Changing water quality improvement plan, or total maximum daily load, requirements. TMDLs issued after the final sand and gravel permit are only applicable to facilities if Ecology imposes them through the issuance of an administrative order.
Changing pH monitoring requirements. If a facility meets standards for 18 consecutive months, it can reduce monitoring from once per month to once per quarter. The permit restores original monitoring frequency if a facility violates pH limits or significantly changes its processing.
Adding new conditions for public access to a facility's Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan.
Clarifying inspection processes to make consistent with applicable laws and requirements for inactive mining sites and certification of inspection reports.

Comments on the proposed permit revisions will be accepted at a public workshop and hearing at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2006, at the Department of Ecology, Room ROA-32, 300 Desmond Dr., Lacey. Ecology will allow public comments only on the specific areas that were modified. The public comment period will run from Dec. 21, 2005, to Jan. 31, 2006 at 5 p.m.

For a copy of the permit, contact the Jennifer Hennessey, Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA, 98504-7600; (360) 407-7529 or jenh461@ecy.wa.gov . The permit and related documents are also available online at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/sand/settlement.html .

Ecology plans to issue the final permit on or before March 31, 2006, with the permit changes becoming effective no sooner than April 14, 2006.

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Contact: Jani Gilbert, Public information manager, 509-329-3495