Municipal
In February 2009, the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) issued a separate permit to cover discharges from municipal separate storm sewers owned or operated by WSDOT. The permit replaces and expands WSDOT's coverage under the 1995 Phase I municipal general permits to include coverage in areas governed by Phase I and Phase II of the municipal stormwater permit program. Soon after Ecology issued the WSDOT stormwater permit, it was appealed. In January 2010, Ecology, WSDOT, and the appellant reached a settlement resolving the permit appeal. Ecology modified this permit in March 2010 to implement the settlement agreement.
To comply with the permit's terms, WSDOT updated its Highway Runoff Manual (HRM) and Stormwater Management Program Plan. Both the HRM and the Stormwater Management Plan are referenced as appendices in the permit.
Learn more about stormwater and what WSDOT is doing to manage stormwater:
Construction
The Washington State Department of Ecology's Construction Stormwater General Permit regulates stormwater discharges from construction sites. Projects with particularly sensitive environmental concerns may be required to obtain an individual NPDES construction stormwater permit.
Industrial
Washington State Department of Ecology's Industrial Stormwater General Permit regulates stormwater discharges from Washington State Ferries' Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility.
Sand and Gravel
Washington State Department of Ecology's Sand and Gravel General Permit regulates discharge of pollutants from WSDOT's sand and gravel mining operation.