Draft construction-stormwater general permit released; comments welcome
DOE has issued a draft construction-stormwater general permit to be effective Jan. 1 2016. Comments on the draft will be accepted through August 1. Any AGC member interested in commenting on the draft through a coordinated effort may contact AGC’s Chief Lobbyist Jerry VanderWood 360.352.5000.
From the Department of Ecology:
Announcing the draft Construction Stormwater General Permit
The Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) proposes to reissue the Construction Stormwater National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and State Waste Discharge General Permit (permit). The current permit was issued in December 2010 and will expire on December 31 2015. The draft permit and fact sheet are available for review and public comment from July 1 through August 10 2015 at 12:00 midnight. Ecology will host six informational public workshops and one public hearing on the draft permit.
Copies of the Draft Permit
The draft permit and fact sheet are available online here. You may request copies from Kimberly Adams at kimberly.adams@ecy.wa.gov or 360.407.6401.
Purpose of the Permit
The permit provides NPDES coverage for the discharge of stormwater and authorized non-stormwater associated with construction activity. The permit covers all areas of Washington State except most tribal lands (the permit does cover most of the Puyallup reservation). The proposed Construction Stormwater General Permit (CSWGP) limits the discharge of pollutants to surface waters under the authority of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251) and limits the discharge of pollutants to surface and groundwater under the authority of the State Water Pollution Control Act (Chapter 90.48 RCW).
Applying for Coverage under the Permit
Facilities covered under the existing permit that reapply for permit coverage in 2015 will be covered under the new permit. New or unpermitted construction sites may obtain coverage under the permit by submitting a complete permit application to Ecology and satisfying all applicable public notice and State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) requirements (WAC 173-226-200). The application is available online here.
Submitting Written Comments
Ecology will accept written comments on the draft permit and fact sheet from July 1 through August 10 2015 at 12:00 midnight. Ecology prefers that comments be submitted by e-mail. E-mailed comments must contain the commenter’s name and postal address. Comments should reference specific permit text when possible.
Submit comments by e-mail to cswgpcomments@ecy.wa.gov.
Submit written hard-copy comments to Amy Moon Department of Ecology PO Box 47696
Olympia WA 98504-7696.
Public Workshops and Hearings
In July and August 2015 public workshops on the draft permit will be held in Vancouver Mount Vernon Moses Lake Seattle and University Place as well as via an on-line webinar. The purpose of the workshops is to explain the proposed changes to the permit. The date time and location of the six public workshops are posted on Ecology’s Construction Stormwater website here.
Public Hearing
On August 5 2015 Ecology will host one public hearing to provide an opportunity for interested parties to give formal oral testimony and comments on the draft permit. The public hearing will immediately follow the public workshop.
August 5 2015 1 p.m.
Pierce County Environmental Service
Building 9850 64th Street W.
University Place WA 98467
253.798.4047
Issuing the Permit
After Ecology receives and considers all public comments it will issue the final permit and a response to comments. Ecology expects to issue the final permit on December 2 2015 with an effective date of January 1 2016. If you have questions please contact Amy Moon at amy.moon@ecy.wa.gov or 360.407.6467.