Federal and Washington State Surface and Storm Water Regulations
Contents
Overview of Regulations
Under the Federal Clean Water Act, The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program controls water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants into waters of the United States. The NPDES Storm Water Program requires the implementation of stormwater programs. Phase I of the NPDES stormwater permit program applied to only six local governments (Seattle, Tacoma, and the unincorporated areas of Snohomish, King, Pierce and Clark counties) and to Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) facilities within the legal boundaries of those jurisdictions. Phase II of the NPDES rules, published in December 1999, extended coverage to operators of regulated small municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) serving less than 100,000. These facilities were required to apply for a stormwater permit by March 2003. The Washington state Department Ecology (DOE) administers the NPDES program in Washington state.
On January 17, 2007 Ecology issued two phase II municipal stormwater permits, one for western Washington and one for eastern Washington. The Phase II permit for western Washington covers at least 80 cities and five counties. The Washington state Department Ecology (DOE) administers the NPDES program in Washington state. See DOE's Website on Stormwater
- Western Washington Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permit - Department of Ecology
- Eastern Washington Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permit - Department of Ecology
- NPDES Phase II Stormwater - Association of Washington Cities
The Puget Sound Water Quality Management Plan (
1.34 MB) serves as the federally approved Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) for Puget Sound under Section 320 of the federal Clean Water Act. This management plan guides the efforts of federal and state agencies as well as tribal and local governments in Clallam, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Mason, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, Thurston and Whatcom counties. In total, 122 cities and counties and hundreds of special districts are involved in implementing the management plan. The plan contains a program for Stormwater and Combined Sewer Overflows ( 77 KB).
The state completed a Stormwater Management Manual for Western Washington, Revised 2005. The latter is a revision of the 1992 Stormwater Program Guidance Manual for the Puget Sound Basin. A Stormwater Management Manual for Eastern Washington was completed in 2004.
Federal Regulations
- Clean Water Act - Environmental Protection Agency
- EPA Office of Wastewater Management
- EPA Stormwater Program
- Guidance Manual for Implementing Municipal Storm Water Management Programs - Volume I- Planning and Administration (
11.9 MB) - Environmental Protection Agency
Washington State Regulations
- Department of Ecology Stormwater Page
- Washington State Water Pollution Control Act Chapter 90.48 RCW
- Surface Water Quality Standards for Washington State
- Stormwater Management Manual for Western Washington, Revised 2005
- Stormwater Management Manual for Eastern Washington, 2004
- Model Municipal Stormwater Program for Eastern Washington
- Puget Sound Water Quality Management Plan ( 1.34 MB) authorized by Chapter 90.70 RCW