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Department of Ecology News Release - January 28, 2010
10-013
OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) invites comments on a proposed updated Sand and Gravel General Permit. The permit protects clean water by setting controls over the discharge of water pollution from sand and gravel mining operations and related facilities.
The permit regulates discharges of process water, stormwater, and mine dewatering water associated with sand and gravel operations, rock quarries, and similar mining operations, including stockpiles of mined materials. It also covers concrete batch operations and hot mix asphalt operations.
Untreated discharge water from sand and gravel operations harms fish, aquatic life and water quality.
The permit covers about 950 facilities in Washington.
The proposed permit and permit fact sheet are posted on Ecology’s website at: www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/sand/index.html. The fact sheet explains the changes in the permit.
Ecology will hold a public workshop followed by a public hearing to collect testimony about the permit at 1 p.m., Feb. 22, at Lacey Timberland Regional Library, 500 College St S.E. in Lacey.
Ecology will accept written and oral comments on the draft permit and fact sheet. Comments should reference specific text when possible. Ecology encourages comments by e-mail. Submit them to gary.bailey@ecy.wa.gov. The public may provide oral comments by testifying at the public hearing or by submitting written, hard-copy comments to Gary Bailey, Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600. Ecology must receive written, postmarked or e-mailed comments no later than 5 p.m., Feb. 24.
If you have questions, contact Gary Bailey at 360-407-6433.
Ecology strives to modify all “general” NPDES (National Pollutant Elimination Discharge) permits such as this permit every five years. Ecology last issued this permit in January 2005, and modified it in June 2006. Ecology aims to issue this final permit this spring.
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Media Contact: Sandy Howard, 360-407-6408 (desk), 360-791-3177 (cell), sandy.howard@ecy.wa.gov
For more information: www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/wqhome.html
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
