NOTICE: ANNOUNCEMENT OF AVAILABILTY OF DRAFT PERMIT

PERMIT NO.: ST 8081

APPLICANT: USDA Forest Service

215 Melody Lane

Wenatchee, WA 98801

FACILITY: Moses Lake Airtanker Base

8868 Turner Road NE

Moses Lake, WA 98837

USDA Forest Service has applied for a State Waste Discharge permit in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 90.48 Revised Code of Washington (RCW) and Chapter 173-216 Washington Administrative Code (WAC).

The facility is an aircraft fire retardant loading operation for assistance to wild land fire fighting activities. The facility is located at the Port of Moses Lake, Grant County International Airport. Wastewater from the operation is discharged to the Port of Moses Lake, Land Treatment System. Activities occur during the firefighting season (June to October) and vary depending on the severity of the fire season.

A tentative determination has been made on the effluent limitations and special permit conditions that will prevent and control pollution. A final determination will not be made until all timely comments received in response to this notice have been evaluated.

PUBLIC COMMENT AND INFORMATION

The draft permit and fact sheet may be viewed at the Department of Ecology (Department) website: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/permits/eastern_permits.html. The application, fact sheet, proposed permit, and other related documents are also available at the Department's Eastern Regional Office for inspection and copying between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., weekdays. To obtain a copy or to arrange to view copies please call the permit coordinator at (509) 329-3537, e-mail cywa461@ecy.wa.gov, or write to the address below.

Interested persons are invited to submit written comments regarding the proposed permit. All comments must be submitted within 30 days after publication of this notice to be considered for the final determination. Comments should be sent to:

Permit Coordinator

Department of Ecology

N. 4601 Monroe

Spokane, WA 99205

Any interested party may request a public hearing on the proposed permit within 30 days of the publication date of this notice. The request for a hearing shall state the interest of the party and the reasons why a hearing is necessary. The request should be sent to the above address. The Deparment will hold a hearing if it determines that there is significant public interest. If a hearing is to be held, public notice will be published at least 30 days in advance of the hearing date. Any party responding to this notice with comments will be mailed a copy of a hearing public notice.

Please bring this public notice to the attention of persons who you know would be interested in this matter. Ecology is an equal opportunity agency. If you need this publication in an alternate format, please contact us at (509) 329-3537 or TTY (for the speech and hearing impaired) at 711 or 1-800-833-6388.

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Pub.: May 25, 2006