EXH0778028045

PCHBPollution Control Hearings Board of the State of Washington

1. The statedoes notalwayshavethe optionof holdinga 401 certificationinabeyancebecausea statewaivesitsabilityto issuea 401 certificationoneyearafter an applicationhas beenmade. Nor am I awareof anylegalauthorityto denya 401 certificationwithoutprejudice.If a 402 permitinsures compliancewithWQSs, than itis legallyappropriateforthe 401 certificationto simplyincorporateby referencethe requirementsof the 402 permitso longas the402 permitcoversall the dischargesthat wouldbesubjectto the 401 certification.However,if the402 permitdoes not insurecompliancewith WQSs foralldischargessoughtto becoveredunderthe401 certificationthan the 401 programhastwo options:i) issuethe401 certificationwithwhateveradditionalconditionsare necessaryto insure compliancewithWQSs or ii) denythe 401 certification. 2.a. There is nolegaljustificationfor failingto addressstormwaterimpactsfrom small,medium andsomelargeprojects.The 401 certificationmustinsurecompliancewithWQSs regardlessof the size of the project.Asa policymatterthe statecoulddecidetowaive401 certificationfor certainsized projects.However,ifa 401 certificationis issuedit mustincludeconditionsnecessaryto insure compliancewithWQSs for alldischarges,includingstormwaterdischarges,regardlessof the sizeof the project. 2.b. We needmorethanthe socalled"presumptiveapproach"to adequatelydefend401 certifications,especiallywherethe presumptionmakeslittlesense. We've gotten awaywiththe presumptiveapproachinthe 402 contextinlargepartbecausethe 402 permit processprovides5 year opportunitiesto revisitthepresumption.Consequently,the PCHB hadbeenwillingto defer to Ecology's presumptionthatBMPswilleventuallygetto compliancewithWQSs. We don'thave thatluxury inthe 401 • contextbecause401 certifications,unlike402 permits,are not reissuedevery5 years. Consequently,in draftinga 401 certification,the401 programmustbeableto concludethat BMPswillactuallyresultin compliancewithWQSs. If this is notthecase (anditwon'tbe inmanyinstances)thanthe 401 certificationmustincludewhateveradditionalconditionsare necessaryto meet WQSs. sharesomeof the concernswiththe draftpolicyandwillcontinueto work withSandyto finetune thepolicy.Nonetheless,the 401 programshouldbecommendedfortakingon thisdifficultissue. ton ---OriginalMessage From: Kenny,Ann Sent: Fdclay,April30,199911:21AM • 1'o: Fitzpatrick,Kevin;Manning,Sandra;Hegy,Terra;Austin,Lisa;Moore,Bill;Selby,Melodie;Luster,Tom;Lund, Perry;McMillan,Andy;Shorin,Bonnie;Ehlers,Paula;Meyers,Doug;'Lynch,Patty' Cc: Lavigne,Ronald(ATG);Hellwig,Raymond Subject: RE:Summaryofyesterdaysmeeting Sandy,I needto echo Kevin'sconcerns. The reviseddocumentsyousent don'tfullyreflectwhat I thoughtwe hadagreedto atWednesday'smeeting. Basedon my notesof whatwe hadon the putonthe easel,we hadagreedto the following: 1. Where thereis a 402 permitin placeor pending,the401 permitwoulddefer tothe 402 permit. If the402 permitisout of compliancethe 401 wouldbe heldinabeyanceor deniedwithoutprejudice. (Thispointis moreor lessaccuratelypresentedif we get Kevin'spointregardingthe municipal stormwaterissues.) 2. For401 permitwherethereis no402, we agreedto take a three-tieredapproach: a. Mostsmall,mediumand some largeprojectswouldnotbe reviewedfor stormwatercompliance…
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