EXH0552023705

PCHBPollution Control Hearings Board of the State of Washington

This letter is submitted pursuant to our ongoing discussions regarding the status of the Departmentof Ecology (Fx.ology's) review of the Port of Seattle (Port) application for a Clean WaterAct § 401 WaterQuality Certificationfor the ThirdRunway project. The Port's runway project proposals arc substantial and complicated. Unfommaxely, there is not adequatetime to properlyreview and assess all of the remainingand importantproject related issues priorto the end of the current § 401 Certificationdecision making fimeframe. We appreciate the efforts Port staff and consultants have made to provide necegsary information for agency review. However, there simply is not cnough4ime--te_,,,........ _..., .... ,_,.=-dceisien-that=pmtectsEcology's interests. Ecology is committed to providing a thoroughand fair review of Port proposals. It is our . responsibility to ensure complianve with pertinentenvironmental laws and regulations. Consistent with this responsibility, our environmentalobjectives for the Port's runway and relatedprojcct_ have remained unchanged. We will only approve the Port's project if we have reasonableassurance thatthe naturalresource andstormwatermanagement plans prevent further deg_dafion to water quality and aquatic resources in the sub-basins surrounding SeaTac lntematiormlAirport. While Ecology's rcvi_v cannotbe complcugl within the present § 401 CertLficationtimeframe, Ecology Staff believes thatthe Port's projectmay be permitw,d provided the Port submits adequatenaturalresource management and stormwatermanagement plans. We anticipate that the Portwill be able m adequatelyaddress remainingissues. In light of this perspective, we believe that is possible to issue a § 401 Certificationconsistent with the following: I. As an initial matter, Ecology agrees that it will meet with the Port to identify very specifically the remaining issues andrequirementsnecessary for approvalof…
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