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Department of Ecology News Release - July 11, 2007
07-194
OLYMPIA - As a temporary measure, the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) will re-issue its Industrial Stormwater General Permit through May 2008.
The move will allow industrial facilities to obtain permit coverage while Ecology develops further improvements to the permit. The current permit is set to expire Sept. 20.
The permit works to control polluted stormwater runoff at approximately 1,150 industrial facilities across the state. Stormwater is the state's largest source of urban water pollution.
"We received many comments on our proposed revisions to the permit, and we want to be responsive to the full suite of comments," said Dave Peeler, manager of Ecology's water quality program. "We will consider all of the comments we received, and we will develop new approaches to address the comments."
Peeler said he expects Ecology will have a revised draft of the permit out for public comment by the end of October and issue a final permit by spring 2008.
Prior to this move, Ecology had shared a draft Industrial Stormwater General permit for a 60-day public review from Feb 21-April 20. Ecology posted public comments about that draft permit online at: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/stormwater/industrial/pubcom.html.
Core elements of the current permit will remain in the next permit version, Peeler said. These include requirements for a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan and monitoring.
Ecology will provide training to operators of facilities that are covered by the permit after it issues the revised permit. This will allow time for permit holders to understand and respond to the permit prior to the onset of the following wet season.
The state's Industrial Stormwater General Permit regulates industrial facilities that discharge stormwater into surface waters and into storm sewers. The permit primarily regulates runoff from industrial activities, materials and loading docks. It does not cover parking lots or landscaping.
Requirements in the permit protect water quality across the state in ditches, creeks, wetlands, lakes, rivers, estuaries and marine waters. This permit is one of the state's tools to protect water quality in Puget Sound, and in Washington's rivers and major lakes. Approximately 70 percent of permit holders discharge stormwater in the 12 counties that border Puget Sound.
The current statewide permit covers a wide array of industry sectors. Examples include businesses that deal with lumber, paper, printing, chemicals, petroleum, leather, stone, metals, ships, landfills, transportation, mills and food.
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Contact: Sandy Howard, communications manager, 360-407-6408, cell 360-791-3177
Ecology's website: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/stormwater/industrial/index.html
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
