Background

The Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is required by State and Federal regulations to have a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit in areas covered by Phase I and Phase II of the municipal stormwater permit program.

The Phase I stormwater program applies to municipalities with populations of more than 100,000 and regulates the discharges from municipal separate storm sewers owned or operated by Clark, King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties, the cities of Seattle and Tacoma and the ports of Seattle and Tacoma.

The Phase II Program applies to more than 100 cities statewide and parts of 13 counties, covering areas that generally have more than 1,000 people per square mile. Municipal separate storm sewer systems owned or operated by the Washington State Department of Transportation located in those counties and cities are regulated under this permit.

Seeking coverage under a statewide permit is consistent with WSDOT’s objective of implementing a highway stormwater management program that promotes sound stormwater management on all state highways. This general permit will cover stormwater runoff from state highways, rest areas, weigh stations, park and ride lots, ferry terminals, and maintenance facilities. Upon issuance, this permit will replace WSDOT’s existing coverage under the Phase I Municipal general permits.

Permit Development Process 

In December 2005, Ecology issued a Preliminary Draft Permit for public comment. Since then, however, Ecology spent considerable time developing and issuing the new Phase I and Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permits. Ecology withdrew the preliminary draft permit and for the last year and a half worked on revising the permit to address:

1. Consistency with the new Phase I and Phase II permits.
2. Issues of statewide coverage.
3. Requirements under Ecology's TMDL program.
4. WSDOT's draft Stormwater Management Program.
5. Equivalency review of the Highway Runoff Manual with applicable sections Ecology's western and eastern
    Washington stormwater manuals.

Public Notice and Public Comments

Ecology accepted public comment on the draft permit and fact sheet from May 21, 2008 until June 24, 2008.  The Implementing Agreement (IA), the Highway Runoff Manual (HRM), and WSDOT’s Stormwater Management Program (Appendix 7) were also available for comment.

Ecology held a public hearing and workshop in Lacey, Washington on June 23, 2008.  Ecology also held two workshops in Spokane and Bellevue.  Ecology received written comments during the public comment period. The Response to Comments can be found in Appendix C of the fact sheet. 

For More Information Please Contact:

Kathleen Emmett
Municipal Unit Supervisor
Water Quality Program
Washington State Department of Ecology
PO Box 47600
Olympia, WA 98504-7600
Fax: 360-407-6426
Telephone: 360-407-7386
kemm461@ecy.wa.gov