EXH0091017789

PCHBPollution Control Hearings Board of the State of Washington

wy,x.,do mX r,,cu_ ell i_ I_Io_ od me ,xmm,w el=,,_m. _l_'_io "0mUn onOy=aqml,U_ wgmbe s4_ [] Ya_nd Jlso a_ a ¢_nq_yvia maad AR 017789 September28,2000 Mr.M.R.(Mic)Dinsmore,ExecutiveDirector PortofScanle PostOfficeBox 1209 2711AlaskanWay (Pier69) Seattle,WA 9gII1 DearMr.Dinsmor:: Thislererissubminedpursmmttoourongoingdiscussionsrega._ingthestatusofthe DepartmentofEcology(Ecology's)reviewofthePortofSeattle(Port)applicationforaClean WaterAct§401W,T_ QuaLityCertificationfortheThirdRunwayproject.ThePort'srunway projectpmpo_l._arcsubstantialandcomplicated.Unformn_ely,thereisnotadequatetimeto properlyreviewandassessall of/.he remmningandimportantprojectrelatedissues priorto dm end of thecurrent§ 401 Certificationdecisionmakingtimeframe.We appreciatethe effortsPort staff"and consultartts have made to provide necesxary information for agency review. However, there simplyis notenoughtime to arriveat a legallydefensibledecision thatprotectsEcology's interests. Ecologyis committedto providinga thoroughandfairreview of Portproposals. Itis our responsibilityto ensurecompliancewith pertinentenvironmentallaws andregulations. Consistentwiththis responsibility,ourenvironmentalobjectives forthe Port's runwayand relatedl:n'ojcctshave remainedunchanged. Wewill only approvethe Port's projectif we have reasonableassurancethatthe naturalresourceandstormwatermanagementplanspreventfurther degradationtowaterqualityandaquaticresourcesinthesub-basinssurroundingScaTac InternationalAi_ort. WhileEcology'sreviewcannotbecomplezedwithinthepresent§401Certificationtimeframe, EcologyslaffbelievesthatthePort'sprojeclmaybepcrmitledprovidedthePortsubmits adequatenaturalresourcemanagementand stormwatermanagementplans. We anticipatethat the Portwill be ableto adequatelyaddressremainingissues. In lightof thisperspective,we believethatispossibletoissuea§401Certificationconsistentwiththefollowing: I.As an initial matter,EcoLogyagreesthat it willmeetwiththe Portto identify very specificgllythe remainingissues and requirementsnecessaryfor approvalof a subsequent§ 401 Certification_ (a) the Port's wit_rawal of itscurrent application fora § 401 Certificationand § 404 Permitis properlyexecuted;(b) the Portreappliesforthe § 401 Certificationand § 404 Permit;and (c) the necessarypubliccomment periodis completed. AR 017790 o • "+ Mr. M.R. (Mic) D/nsmore 2 - September 28, 2000 Page 2 Some project mitigation and plan elements proposed by the Port arcnearly adequaxe now and may require only minor adjustments, while other elements require imposition of 40I conditions by Ecology, and/or significant submittal of informationto Ecology by the Port. 2. Given the current information submitted by the Port, Ecology believes that it is possiblc, in the near term, to craft appropriate conditions with respect to flow augmentation for Des Moines Crecg, protection…
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