Public comment sought on municipal stormwater permit

OLYMPIA – The Department of Ecology seeks public comment on proposed updates to the Washington State Department of Transportation municipal stormwater general permit.

The permit regulates stormwater runoff in designated areas on state highways, rest areas, park-and-ride lots, ferry terminals, and maintenance facilities.

Ecology will hold a public workshop to explain the proposed changes to the permit, followed by a public hearing at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 8, 2014, at Ecology’s building at 300 Desmond Drive SE in Lacey.

Ecology will accept written and oral comments on the draft permit until 5 p.m. Jan. 10, 2014.

Send comments to foroozan.labib@ecy.wa.gov. Send hard copy comments to Foroozan Labib, Washington State Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47696, Olympia, WA 98504-7696.

Ecology expects to issue the new permit in March 2014 when the current permit expires.