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The new draft permit, and other documents are available for review and
public comment from June 3, 2009 through July 15, 2009. You may
request copies of the permit or other documents from Julie Robertson at
(360) 407-6575 or by email at
jrob461@ecy.wa.gov.
The Industrial Stormwater General Permit expired on April 30, 2009, but all facilities that were covered when it expired are still covered under the permit, and are required to comply with all permit conditions, including monitoring and reporting.
Ecology is accepting written and oral comments on the draft permit, fact sheet, and application. Comments should reference specific text when possible. Comments may address the technical issues, accuracy and completeness of information, the scope of facilities proposed for coverage, adequacy of environmental protection and permit conditions, or any other concern that would result from issuance of the revised permit.
Ecology prefers comments be submitted by email to industrialstormwatercomments@ecy.wa.gov. Written comments must be postmarked or received via email no later than 5pm, July 15, 2009.
Submit written, hard copy comments to:
Jeff Killelea
Department of Ecology
PO Box 47600
Olympia, WA 98504-7600
The Draft Permit Workshop Presentation
The public workshops on the draft general permit will be held at the locations below. The purpose of the workshops is to explain the proposed changes to the new permit.
| DATE AND TIME | LOCATION |
| June 19, 2009 (1 p.m.) | Vancouver City Council Chambers, 210 East 13th St, Vancouver, Washington |
| June 24, 2009 (1 p.m.) | Moses Lake Fire Station, 701 E Third St, Moses Lake, Washington |
| June 26, 2009 (9 a.m.) | PUD No. 1 of Skagit County, 1415 Freeway Drive, Mount Vernon, Washington |
You may provide oral comments by testifying at the public hearing. A combined public hearing and workshop on the draft general permit will be held at the location below. The purpose of the hearing is to provide an opportunity for people to give formal oral testimony and comments on the draft permit. The workshops will explain the proposed changes to the new permit.
| DATE AND TIME | LOCATION |
| July 13, 2009 (1 p.m.) | Pierce County Library System, Room C, 3005 112th St E, Tacoma, Washington |
The final permit will be issued on October 21, 2009 after Ecology receives and considers all public comments. It will be effective January 1, 2010, and remain in effect for 5 years.
The Industrial Stormwater General Permit expired on April 30, 2009, but all facilities that were covered when it expired are still covered under the permit, and are required to comply with all permit conditions, including monitoring and reporting.
Ecology established an external stakeholder workgroup to facilitate a collaborative effort with the regulated community and environmental interests to develop a more effective version of the next industrial stormwater general permit. While a new permit is in development, the protections under the existing permit will remain in effect. The committee will also address a broad range of related issues, including stormwater research and development, education and outreach, compliance inspections and enforcement. For more information about the stakeholder workgroup click here.
If you have questions, please contact Bill Moore at 360-407-6444 or email bmoo461@ecy.wa.gov.
Questions concerning coverage under the permit should be directed to the permit administrator for your area. Click here for a list of Permit Administrators.
To sign up for the Industrial Stormwater General Permit email list, click here.
Ecology has identified as being subject to additional permit requirements due to discharging into a 303(d) listed water body or to a water body with a water cleanup plan (total maximum daily load or TMDL).
Under federal and state water quality law (federal Clean Water Act and state Water Pollution Control Act), the discharge of wastewater, including stormwater, requires a permit. The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 40, Part 122.1 (b) (40 CFR 122.1 (b)) requires permits for the discharge of pollutants from any point source into waters of the United States. 40 CFR 122.26(b)(14) (i) -(xi) identifies the industries required to apply for coverage under the Industrial Stormwater General Permit. A general permit applies to a group of dischargers as a whole and implements both the federal Clean Water Act and state Water Pollution Control Act. The draft general permit addresses legal requirements and controls the discharge of pollutants to protect surface water and ground water quality in Washington State under the authority of Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 90.48.260. Facilities in the industrial sectors listed in the draft permit and on the Industrial Stormwater General Permit website will require permit coverage. Currently, 1,153 industrial facilities are covered under the permit.
Pursuant to RCW 43.21.B.310, the modified terms and conditions of the permit may be appealed within 30 days of receipt of the modified general permit. An appeal must be filed with the Pollution Control Hearings Board, PO Box 40903, Olympia, Washington, 98504-0903. In addition, a copy of this appeal must be served on the Department of Ecology, PO Box 47600, Olympia, Washington, 98504-7600. The procedures and requirements for the appeal process are contained in chapter 43.21.B RCW.
The terms and conditions of a general permit, as they apply to an individual discharger, are appealable within 30 days of the effective date of coverage of that discharger, in accordance with chapter 43.21B RCW. This appeal is limited to the general permit's applicability or nonapplicability to a specific discharger.
Permit coverage is required for industrial facilities that have specific Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes (click here for a list of industrial activities that require a stormwater permit), if they have a discharge of stormwater from their industrial areas to a receiving water of the state, or to storm drains that discharge to a receiving water. Regardless of the SIC code, some industries may be required to seek permit coverage for areas of their industrial site that have a potential or are causing an impact to receiving waters. If you discharge all the stormwater to a Combined Sewer (which goes to the wastewater treatment plant), you are not required to apply for coverage. Check out Ecology's Industrial Booklet for more details.
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
