NPDES Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permit Program

BACKGROUND

The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program is a requirement of the Federal Clean Water Act, which is intended to protect and restore waters for “fishable, swimmable” uses. The Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has delegated permit authority to state environmental agencies, and these agencies have set permit conditions in accordance with and in addition to the minimum federal requirements. In Washington, the NPDES-delegated permit authority is the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology).

The Western Washington Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permit applies to operators of regulated small MS4s that discharge stormwater to waters of Washington State located west of the crest of the Cascade Range (west of the eastern boundaries of Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, King, Pierce, Lewis and Skamania counties). For cities, the Permit requirements extend to those areas of each city that drain to stormwater system.

The Permit allows municipalities to discharge stormwater runoff from municipal drainage systems into the state’s water bodies (i.e., streams, rivers, lakes, wetlands) as long as municipalities implement programs to protect water quality by reducing the discharge of “non-point source” pollutants to the “maximum extent practicable” (MEP) through application of Permit-specified “best management practices” (BMPs).

The BMPs specified in the Permit are collectively referred to as the Stormwater Management Program (SWMP) and grouped under the following Program components:

  • Stormwater Planning
  • Public Education and Outreach (E&O)
  • Public Involvement and Participation
  • Mapping and Documentation
  • Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE)
  • Controlling Runoff from New Development, Redevelopment and Construction Sites
  • Operation and Maintenance (O&M)

The original Permit issued by Ecology became effective on February 16, 2007 and expired on February 15, 2012. Implementation of the various permit conditions were phased in throughout the original Permit cycle. In accordance with 2011 legislation amending RCW 90.48.260, the Department of Ecology reissued the original permit to be in effect until July 31, 2013.

WHAT IS NPDES?

The NPDES is a federal permit that regulates stormwater and wastewater discharges to waters of the State. While it is a federal permit, the regulatory authority has been passed to Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology).

STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

The City of Sedro-Woolley is requesting public review and comment on the current Annual Report and Stormwater Management Program (SWMP) document listed on the "Documents" tab. This document has been prepared in compliance with the Western Washington Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permit. SWMP documents are also available at the City of Sedro-Woolley Public Works Department located at 325 Metcalf Street, Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284. These documents will be updated annually in March to address the additional phased permit requirements as they come into effect. Please direct comments to dlee@sedro-woolley.gov.