Washington State Overview

The state of Washington and the Washington Department of Ecology were granted delegated authority by the EPA to administer their own “State-Specific” National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permitting Program for wastewater and stormwater discharges associated with construction activity, industrial activity as well as Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) activity. Because the EPA and The Clean Water Act (CWA) required a program for addressing the pollution caused by stormwater discharges, the Department of Ecology instituted the Water Quality Program (WQP) which administrates all of Washington’s clean water initiatives.

The mission of the Water Quality Program is, “to prevent and clean up water pollution and to help communities make sustainable choices that reduce and prevent water quality problems.” The program also targets to provide water quality partners of the state with technical, financial, and educational assistance.

Washington’s Department of Ecology and its Water Quality Program (WQP) mandates that any construction project owner or operator whose project will incorporate “construction activities” (clearing, grading and excavation) that either: (1) disturb one (1) acre or more of land; or (2) disturb less than one (1) acre but are part of a larger plan of development or sale must submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) as well as develop and submit a comprehensive Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) and apply for coverage under Washington’s Construction Stormwater General Permit (CSWGP).

• Develop Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPPs).

• Implement erosion, sediment and pollution prevention Best Management Practice (BMP) controls.

• Obtain coverage under the Construction Stormwater General Permit (CSWGP).