State proposes increased protections against polluted runoff in Eastern Washington

The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) offered on Oct. 19 for public review and comment the next generation of permits to increase environmental protections against polluted runoff in Eastern Washington.

The state’s most populated urban areas are required to have this permit under the federal Clean Water Act.

The permits, required to be updated every five years by the federal Clean Water Act, are key tools to prevent and control runoff. They are designed to gradually increase environmental protections over time.

Runoff is the biggest pollution threat to urban-area lakes and streams in Washington. Even though it doesn’t rain as much in Eastern Washington compared to the west side, polluted runoff from rooftops, streets and parking lots is a problem in urban areas east of the Cascades.

Runoff from hardened surfaces in populated areas picks up chemicals and bacteria on the ground and carries it downstream into our waters.

Most of the time stormwater is not treated, even when it goes into a street drain.

Ecology Director Ted Sturdevant said, “These permits will shape how we deal with our number one pollution problem until almost 2020. We need to chip away at the existing problem, prevent it from getting worse and recognize that local governments are strapped for resources. This draft permit tries to achieve that balance.”

Environmental Protection Agency Regional Administrator Dennis McClerran said, “Local governments in Washington have made real progress in building effective stormwater control programs over the last permit cycle. Our task will be to keep up this pace during a challenging economy, so we safeguard our investment in protecting all of our downstream waters, including Puget Sound.”

Dave Williams, director of state and federal relations for the Association of Washington Cities, said, “Ecology is working with local governments and listening to their feedback. Local governments have definitely had a seat at the table.”

To provide economic relief for local governments, Ecology will maintain the status quo and re-issue the current permits for an additional year. The new permits will not go into effect until 2013 and new permit requirements will be phased in over the five-year life of the permit.

Highlights of new Eastern Washington stormwater permits: Ecology’s Bill Moore said, “The Eastern Washington permits are not just about runoff. They focus on managing good drainage systems, managing plumbing and mapping storm drain systems to make sure sewers are not dumping into storm systems.”

The proposed permit for Eastern Washington does not include a regional stormwater monitoring program, as in Western Washington.

“We plan on working with Eastern Washington communities to develop a regional approach to stormwater monitoring that meets their regional needs,” Moore said.

Eastern Washington is already doing much of what is required in the proposed permit, he added.

Additional communities may be subject to stormwater permits: Over the next several months, Ecology will be evaluating seven additional jurisdictions across the state that could be subject to the permit. The Eastern Washington jurisdictions are: Grandview and Kittitas County’s Ellensburg Urban Growth Area.

Public process: Ecology’s public process to develop the permits has been extensive. The agency began working with local governments in 2007 and has used their feedback to develop the new permits.

Ecology invites public comments on the Eastern Washington Phase II Municipal Stormwater General Permit until 5 p.m., Feb. 3, 2012.

Find copies of the draft permit, fact sheets and information about upcoming workshops at www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/stormwater/municipal/2012draftMUNIcom.html.

Ecology will consider all comments in developing final permits. It expects to issue final permits in June 2012.

Along with the proposed Eastern Washington stormwater permit, the state also issued proposed Phase I and Phase II permits for Western Washington.

For more information about theEastern Washington permits, contact Harriet Beale at [email protected] or 360-407-6457.