Ecology is proposing to change its general stormwater-discharge permit to include construction activities involving more than five acres of property, owned by cities, towns and special districts such as schools, ports and utilities, which drain into Lake Sammamish. The permit would help people doing construction work to minimize erosion and sediment runoff, which can pollute surface waters.
Sediment runoff causes serious harm to streams and can damage fish habitat.
People may get more information or comment at a public hearing this week. Currently, all municipalities under 100,000 in population are exempt from obtaining stormwater construction permits. In response to an appeal of the stormwater construction permit, which Ecology first issued three years ago, the Pollution Control Hearings Board directed Ecology to remove the exemption and issue the permit to all municipalities, regardless of population. In September 1997, Ecology asked for public comments on a revised permit. The revised permit would have required all municipalities, some 265 cities and 33 counties, to apply for the construction stormwater permit.