  |
|
|
Department of Ecology News Release - July 26, 2010
10-178
OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) invites feedback in eight “listening sessions” across the state as its first step to update municipal stormwater permits.
The permits describe how cities, counties and other public entities must manage and prevent polluted stormwater runoff.
Polluted stormwater runoff is a major threat to Puget Sound and other waters in urban areas of our state. It carries a mix of pollution downstream into the state's lakes, rivers and marine waters.
Uncontrolled stormwater can carry muddy water downstream that can suffocate salmon and salmon egg nests. It can also cause flooding and slope failures that threaten people's homes and the environment. Stormwater threatens downstream waters on both sides of the state in any urban setting. Stormwater carries millions of pounds of toxic chemicals into Puget Sound and other waters of the state each year.
The municipal stormwater permits cover the state’s most populated areas of the state. They expire in 2012.
Listening sessions provide a forum for the regulated municipalities and all interested parties to offer suggestions to Ecology to improve the municipal stormwater permits. Ecology will consider the feedback when writing the next round of permits. At the sessions, Ecology seeks:
The Eastern Washington sessions:
Ellensburg – 1 - 4 p.m., Aug. 10, 2010, in Dean Hall Room 102 at Central Washington University, 400 E. University Way
Spokane – 1 - 4 p.m., Aug. 11 at Shadle Library, W. 2111 Wellesley Ave.
Kennewick – 9 a.m. - noon, Aug. 13 at Kennewick City Hall Council Chambers 210 West 6th Ave.
The Western Washington sessions:
Tacoma – 1- 4 p.m., Aug. 4 at Pierce County Library Administration Center, 3005 112th Street East.
Lacey – 1 - 4 p.m., Aug. 19 at Lacey Timberland Library, 500 College Street S.E.
Vancouver – 1- 4 p.m., Aug. 24 at Washington State School for the Blind, 2214 East 13th St.
Mount Vernon – 9 a.m.- noon, Aug. 27 at Skagit Public Utility District, 1415 Freeway Drive.
Renton – 9 a.m. - noon, Sept. 8 at Renton Community Center, 1715 Maple Valley Highway.
Ecology’s website has more information about the permit reissuance process.
Stormwater background
Ecology began requiring large cities and counties to manage stormwater in 1995. The Phase I municipal stormwater permits cover the highest populated areas of the state and include Clark, King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties; and the cities of Seattle and Tacoma. The permit also covers six public entities that operate stormwater management systems such as ports, drainage districts and schools.
Ecology issued Phase II permit coverage to the next largest cities and counties in Washington in January 2007. The Phase II permits cover 81 cities and parts of five counties in Western Washington where stormwater has not been previously regulated. In Eastern Washington, Phase II permits took effect for 20 cities and eight counties in Eastern Washington that were not previously regulated. Phase II permits also cover public entities that operate stormwater management systems.
###
Media contact: Sandy Howard, 360-407-6408 (desk); 360-791-3177 (cell); sandy.howard@ecy.wa.gov
For more information:
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
