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Department of Ecology News Release - July 21, 2010
10-174
OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) invites public comments on an updated Construction Stormwater General Permit.
The permit is a key tool to help developers prevent muddy water from leaving construction sites. Muddy water is considered pollution because it can smother plants, animals, fish eggs and damage fish gills. It can also carry a variety of toxic pollution into downstream waters. Sediment and minerals in muddy runoff can feed plant growth and contribute to algae blooms. When algae blooms die off, the process robs oxygen from the water.
The current permit, which covers approximately 2,000 sites, expires in December 2010.
Ecology will host five informational workshops and public hearings about the proposed permit. Each begins at 1 p.m.
Vancouver – Aug. 23, 2010, at Washington State School for the Blind, 2214 East 13th St.
Tacoma – Aug. 25 at Pierce County Parks and Recreation, Sprinker Recreation Center 14824 'C' St. South
Mount Vernon – Aug. 27 at Skagit Public Utility District, 1415 Freeway Drive
Yakima – Aug. 31 at Southeast Yakima Community Center, 1211 South 7th St.
Spokane Valley – Sept. 1 at City of Spokane Valley CenterPlace, 2426 North Discovery Place
Ecology will accept written and oral comments on the draft permit, fact sheet and notice of intent. Comments should cite page number and line number and reference specific text when possible. Ecology encourages comments by e-mail. Submit them with the subject line: CSWGP Comments and email them to sharleen.bakeman@ecy.wa.gov .
Anyone may provide oral comments by testifying at the public hearings. Also, people may submit written, hard-copy comments to Sharleen Bakeman – Permit Comments, Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600. Ecology must receive written, postmarked or e-mailed comments no later than midnight, Sept. 10, 2010.
For more information, visit Ecology’s website at: www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/stormwater/construction/index.html
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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/stormwater/construction/index.html
Learn how you can help protect Washington’s waters: www.ecy.wa.gov/washington_waters/
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
