Presentation Title

Eleanor Ott, P.E.

Water Quality Program HQ

March 4, 2020

Puget Sound Nutrient General Permit(PSNGP)

Advisory Committee

Kickoff Webinar

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Anthropogenic Sources of Nutrients

69%

31%

WWTPs directly discharging to Puget Sound

Delivered by Rivers

January 2019 Bounding Scenarios Report (Publication No. 19-03-001)

Point-Sources (incl. WWTPs)

Rivers (Watersheds)

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What is “reasonable potential”?

• A regulatory threshold

– 40 CFR §122.44(d)(1)(i)

– Establishing limitations, standards, and other

permit conditions

[Permit] Limitations must control all pollutants or pollutant parameters that are or may be discharged at a level which will cause, have reasonable potential to cause, or contribute to an excursion above any state water quality standard.

3

WWTP Permitting Decisions

Aug ’19

Preliminary Determination

to develop a General Permit

Aug - Oct ’19

Public Comment

Period

Dec ’19

Decision that

Individual Permits will

have nutrient controls; pace &

sequencing of General Permit TBD

Jan ’20

Decision that

Ecology will

develop a General Permit

March ’20 Begin PSNGP

Advisory Committee

Process

We are here

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General Permitting Process

Permit active

Ecology uses AC to develop permit

recommendations

Informal Public

Comment on key permit concepts

Ecology prepares draft permit

Ecology prepares response to comments & finalizes permit

Ecology issues permit; Public Notice of final

permit

Public Comment & Hearing(s): draft permit &

fact sheet

Permittee or others may appeal permit to

Pollution Control Hearings Board

Preliminary Determination to develop a general

permit

Public Comment: Should we develop a general permit?

YES

NO

Public Notice: No general permit

Individual permitting

process

Ecology decision

We are here

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Ecology’s Timeline to Issue PSNGP

August - October 2019

Preliminary Determination

Q2/Q3 2020

Preliminary Draft Materials

Q4 2020

Formal Draft Permit

2021

Final Permit Issuance

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To advise Ecology in drafting general

permit requirements for domestic

wastewater treatment plants discharging

directly to Puget Sound that will lead

towards reducing nutrient loads

7

Purpose of Advisory Committee

Short-Term

• To deliver permit requirement recommendations that ensure progress towards nutrient reduction during the first permit term

Mid-Term

• To consider how progress toward reducing other sources of nutrients will be tracked and considered in reissuance for the second general permit term (2026-2031)

Long-Term

• To set dischargers and Ecology on a path towards success in eventual achievement of target nutrient goals and to meet numeric water quality criteria

Advisory Committee Goals

8

Expectations of AC Members

Participate Fully

Respect all Opinions

Explore Creative Solutions

Be Proactive Be Honest

9

AC Approach

Process for making recommendations

• Allow for discussions between first discussion and final group decision on each topic

What is a “decision?”

Agreement to forward a recommendation to EcologyConsensus vs majority/minority

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AC Nomination Process

Open Nominations

Outreach Selection

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Advisory Committee MakeupName Affiliation Role Geography

Mark Sadler City of Everett, Public Works Operations Superintendent North Central

Joe Grogan Town of Coupeville Utility Superintendent North Central

Dan Thompson City of Tacoma Division Manager South Central

Rebecca SingerKing County DNRP, Wastewater Treatment Division

Resource Recovery Manager South Central

Patrick KongsliePierce County Planning and Public Works - Sewer Division/PNCWA Olympic Section

Sewer Division Maintenance and Operations Manager

South Central

Wendy Steffensen LOTT Clean Water Alliance (wastewater utility) Environmental Project Manager South Sound

Pete Tjemsland City of Sequim Utilities Manager and Operator Strait of Juan de Fuca

Judi GladstoneWashington Association of Sewer & Water Districts

Executive Director Puget Sound Wide

Bruce Wishart Puget Soundkeeper Policy Lead Puget Sound Wide

Mindy Roberts Washington Environmental Council Puget Sound Program Director Puget Sound Wide

Jenny Wu EPA Engineer, permit writer Puget Sound Wide

Valerie Smith Dept of Commerce Senior Planner Puget Sound Wide

Chip Anderson Lummi Tribal Water and Sewer District District Manger North Sound

Tribe

Eleanor Ott Dept of Ecology Permit Writer Puget Sound Wide

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AC Chairperson

Serve as a Spokesperson throughout process

Help run meetings; maintain balance

Finalize draft agendas ahead of meetings

Report recommendations to Forum

13

Topics to be Discussed

Cap

Calculation

Expression

Compliance

Monitoring

Parameters

Frequency

Planning

Optimization

Short Term

Long Term

Permit Overlay

Managing duplicate

requirements

Implementation and

Management

14

Meeting Schedules

March 19th

Central Sound

Select Chair

Cap Calculation

Monitoring

April 15th

South Sound

Cap Expression and Compliance

Planning and Optimization:

short term

May 13th

North Sound

Planning: long term

Permit Overlay

Draft Recommendations

June 10th

West Sound

Address outstanding topics

Finalize Recommendations

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Contact Information

Subscribe to the Puget Sound Nutrients

General Permit Listservhttp://listserv.ecology.wa.gov/scripts/wa-ECOLOGY.exe?A0=NUTRIENTS-

PERMIT

Please reach out with questions and concerns:Eleanor Ott Karen Dinicola

(360) 407-6433 (360) 407-6550

psnutrientsgp@ecy.wa.gov

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Questions?

Please type your questions

into the Webex chat box.

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