This month, the Washington Department of Ecology is asking people, local governments and businesses for their ideas and opinions on two water-related issues of significance throughout the state. Ecology will be visiting communities across to ask citizens for their ideas and views on the following two topics. The Department of Ecology has a plan to help communities with critical or emergency public health and existing environmental problems. The emergency rule was necessary to comply with revisions to the Water Pollution Control Facility Financing Act that Gov. Gary Locke signed into law earlier this year.
Ecology is now in the final stages of adopting the administrative rule.
The rule would allow Ecology to provide water quality facility grants and loans to local communities that are out of compliance with GMA, provided the community can prove a public health need or substantial environmental problem. Ecology will hold three public hearings on the rule. The agency will accept public comments through Nov. 14. After considering all comments, Ecology plans to adopt the rule in December 1997. 15 West Yakima Ave.