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Department of Ecology News Release - April 30, 2008
08-108
OLYMPIA – The Department of Ecology (Ecology) will initiate a collaborative effort with the regulated community and environmental interests to develop a simpler and more effective version of the next industrial stormwater general permit.
Ecology won’t finalize the draft industrial stormwater general permit that it offered for public review in November 2007. The move is based, in part, upon public comments the agency received. Also a factor is a significant budget shortfall Ecology faces in the permit fee account that funds much of its water quality protection work, including supporting and administering this permit.
While a new permit is in development, the protections under the existing permit will remain in effect.
Ecology has convened a work group to help it address the permit-fee revenue shortfalls. The agency is also looking at more cost-effective methods to administer this and other permits designed to protect water quality.
While the permit applies statewide, Ecology will coordinate the development of the updated version with deadlines in the Puget Sound Partnership’s 2020 Action Agenda due in December; and, the legislative directive that industrial permits meet specific compliance objectives by May 2009.
The Action Agenda provides the opportunity for early deliverables for Puget Sound, such as innovative pilot projects. The legislative deadline mandating industries’ compliance with certain water quality measures adds incentive for progress on a complex and contentious permit.
“We are interested in a smart, compact process that quickly gets us an updated permit that works for industries and achieves real-world, on-the-ground improvements for water quality,” said Kelly Susewind, interim manager of Ecology’s water quality program.
“This permit is one piece of a broader solution to reduce and prevent stormwater, which is the state's largest source of urban water pollution,” Susewind added.
Ecology will take near-term steps under the existing permit – for example, through training and enforcement, to help industries improve their water pollution controls.
Ecology is required by the federal Clean Water Act to update permits every five years. The industrial stormwater general permit regulates industrial facilities that discharge stormwater into surface waters and into storm sewers that lead to Puget Sound and Washington’s rivers and major lakes. It covers a wide array of industry sectors, including lumber, paper, printing, chemicals, petroleum, leather, stone, metals, ships, landfills, transportation, mills, and food.
Under the permit system guided by the federal Clean Water Act, permitted entities must monitor and report the pollution levels in their discharges. The discharges must fall within limits set by the permit. If they don’t, the permitted entity must implement additional pollution controls. Along with issuing permits, Ecology inspects permitted facilities and entities, follows up on permit violations, and provides technical assistance or enforcement if necessary.
After entities apply for and receive a permit, they pay an annual fee to the Department of Ecology to maintain coverage. Permit fees range in cost depending on acreage, type of permit and other factors.
Approximately 70 percent of industrial stormwater general permit holders discharge stormwater in the 12 counties that border Puget Sound. Approximately 1,150 industrial facilities across the state have this permit.
Ecology revised this permit and issued a draft permit for public review in November 2007. Most recently, Ecology had been on track to issue a final permit in April 2008.
The current permit expires May 31, 2008. Existing permit holders will remain covered in the interim. New applicants should submit their applications to Ecology as usual. The current permit still applies to all facilities that are covered by the permit prior to May 31, 2008.
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Media Contact: Sandy Howard, communications manager, 360-407-6408; cell 360-791-3177; email srud461@ecy.wa.gov
Industrial stormwater general permit: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/stormwater/industrial/index.html
Water quality program: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/wqhome.html
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