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Department of Ecology News Release - June 4, 2008
08-152
OLYMPIA – Starting today, the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) invites the public to comment on a proposed increase to annual fees paid by wastewater and stormwater permit holders.
The action, approved by the Legislature last session, brings the fees Ecology collects for wastewater discharge permits in line with the state’s fiscal growth factor of 5.57 percent in fiscal year 2009 (July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009). Ecology is also including language that will allow a fee increase by the fiscal growth factor of 5.39 percent for fiscal year 2010, if authorized by the 2009 Legislature
Ecology uses permit fee income to recover eligible costs associated with operating its wastewater discharge permit program.
Under the federal Clean Water Act, Washington and other states use permits as the primary tool to prevent water pollution. Industries, businesses, construction sites, and municipalities (for sewer and stormwater) must have permits in order to discharge wastewater or stormwater into our state waters. The permits set conditions to prevent the discharged water from harming our lakes, rivers, streams, and marine waters.
Ecology will hold workshops about the proposed changes at 1 p.m., followed by public hearings at the following locations and dates:
Ecology will accept written comments about the proposed changes until 5 p.m. July 15. Send comments to Department of Ecology, Attn: Bev Poston, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia WA 98504-7600. Email comments to bpos461@ecy.wa.gov or fax them to 360-407-7131.
Following the public comment period, Ecology will review and consider all comments. Ecology proposes to adopt the final rule on Aug. 5. The rule would become effective September 6.
The proposed rule language is available for review at Ecology’s Web site at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/permits/permit_fees/index.htm
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Media Contact: Sandy Howard, 360-407-6408; 360-791-3177 (cell); email: srud461@ecy.wa.gov
For more information: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/wqhome.html
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
