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Urban stormwater runoff presents very real challenges and choices for Washington. Stormwater runoff is polluting our state waters and reducing the quality of life for our citizens. New federal stormwater regulations call for addressing these problems, yet we are becoming increasingly aware of the financial pressures they will place on many of our local governments and businesses across Washington. The challenge we face is crafting an approach to urban stormwater that addresses new and existing federal stormwater requirements, protects our state’s interest in clean water, recognizes the need for our businesses to remain competitive, and addresses the fiscal constraints faced by many of our local governments.
To meet this challenge, Ecology formed two advisory groups in acknowledgment of the Washington State Legislature’s interest in municipal stormwater discharges as evidenced in the House and Senate versions of HB1689. Ecology used the common elements of both bills to form these groups to advise and assist Ecology regarding permits for municipal separate storm sewer systems. Ecology convened the Westside Stormwater Group to address municipal stormwater issues for western Washington. For eastern Washington, Ecology is using the existing Eastern Washington Stormwater Management Steering Committee.
These two advisory groups assisted the department in framing the policy issues related to the development of municipal storm water permits
Ecology has submitted a report to the Legislature on municipal stormwater NPDES permit program. This report includes a report from the Eastern Washington Stormwater Management Steering Committee and a report from the Westside Stormwater Group. Ecology will proceed with drafting municipal stormwater permits in early 2004.
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
