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Ecology has developed a new technology evaluation program (see Chapter 12 of Volume V of the western Washington stormwater manual). The program reviews engineering reports on the performance of new technologies and reports the results at Ecology's web site. Test protocols have been developed for permanent stormwater treatment systems and for construction sites. These protocols specify sampling criteria, site and technology information, quality assurance and quality control measures, target pollutants, and evaluation report content.
Technology Assessment Protocol (TAPE) – Ecology's TAPE is intended for ultra-urban treatment technologies and those treatment technologies that do not have a chemical component for treatment.
Chemical Technology Assessment Protocol (CTAPE) – Ecology's CTAPE is intended for construction site treatment technologies and any technology that uses a chemical component for treatment.
To help Ecology with new technology evaluations for permanent systems and for chemical treatment at construction sites, a Board of External Reviewers (BER) was formed providing national expertise in stormwater treatment technologies. They act in a direct review capacity to provide recommendations to Ecology on the level of development of each technology. BER members will be paid for their time. Each application to TAPE and C-TAPE will be assigned a minimum of three members from the BER to provide detailed review and comment on the applications, Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs), and Technical Evaluation Reports (TERs).
Ecology and the TRC are currently reviewing several performance evaluation reports on new stormwater treatment technologies. These reports will be used to determine "levels of development" of each of the new technologies.
Pilot Use Level will be designated for promising technologies that will need
more verification testing.
Conditional Use Designation
can also be issued for those technologies that
are in widespread use in Washington or are considered equivalent to approved
technologies, and they are considered likely to attain a
General Use Level provided that testing following the protocol is completed
within a specified time-period.
General Use Level will be designated if the evaluation report demonstrates, with a sufficient degree of confidence, that the technology is expected to achieve Ecology's performance goals.
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
