EXH2104033704

PCHBPollution Control Hearings Board of the State of Washington

This is inresponseto yourmessagedatedDecember23, 1999, 11:54a.m., regardingprematuredeathof Coho in DM Creek, as wellas yourquestions/concernsrelatingto stormwaterdischargesandwaterqualitystandards,and ourreview of the POS thirdrunwayproposal. am assumingthatyou havecoordinatedwithWDFW andwe are readyto respondbackto Cityof NormandyParkand the City of Burienregardingtheirconcernsaboutthe fish. If youhavealreadycontactedthe cities,pleaseadvise accordingly.Regardingthequestionsandconcernsyouconveyedrelatingto howwe go aboutreviewingthe POS third runwayproposalin lightof currentconditionsinDM Creek, and howwe willmake a gooddefensibledecision,I remindyou of the following: You willrecallthat the WQ Programsharesyour/theSEA Program'sinterestinassuringcompliancewithwater quality standardsas they relateto stormwaterdischarges. Due to someapparentmisunderstandingswithregardto howthe respectiveprogramsshouldworktogetherto reviewthisaspectof the POS thirdrunwayproposal,severalinternal meetingsinvolvingstaff and programmanagerswere heldto sortout rolesandresponsibilities.Youwillrecallthatthe outcomeof the internalmeetingsresultedina decisionthatthe regulationof stormwaterdischargesfrom facilitiescovered underboth401 Certificationsand NPDES permitswouldbe covered underthe NPDES permit. The primaryreasonthe programmanagersendorsedthisdecisionis becausethe NPDES permitisthe onlymechanismwithinthe Clean Water Actthat providesfor a continuingregulatorypresence. We all understandthat there is intenselocalinterestinmanyurbanstreamsincludingthosesurroundingthe airport. It is commonundersuchcircumstancesthatconcernsaboutwaterqualitywillbe continuouslyraised- even beyondthe time when a decisionon certificationordenial is made. Moreover,stormwaterissueswillbecontinuallyraisedfor theexisting airportwhetherthe thirdrunwayis buildor not. The WQ Programhas made it clearthat itwillencourageand respondto these localinterests. The WQ Programhas continuedto indicatean appreciationthat attainmentofwater quality standardswithstormwateris highlyproblematic.As a resultthe programfollowsEPA guidancein achievingwater quality standardsthroughadaptivemanagementtechniques. BasicBMPswillbeappliedfirstand thenrefinementsandrevisions of the BMPswillbe requiredas monitoringindicates. The agency'sadoptionof thisapproachthroughthe NPDES permit is theonlymechanismthat providesuswithreasonableassurancethat waterqualitystandardswillbe metas we continue to learnnew informationaboutthe performanceof the BMPsand theconditionsinthe receivingwater. Youshouldknowbynowthat I appreciateyourthoughtfulnessandopinionsregardingof howthe Clean Water Act should applyto the thirdrunwayproposal,and I respectyoudesireto utilizethe401 Certificationto protectaquatic resourcesin the DM Creek basin. However,I am concernedthatyoucontinueto confusethe conclusions/decisionstheagency reachedon the respectiverolesof the twoClean WaterAct requirementsandthe respectiverolesof the SEA andWQ Programspursuantto them. I fullyexpect thatyouwilldeferto theWQ Programon stormwaterdischargerequirements for thethirdrunwayprojectinaccordancewithagency/programpolicyagreements. I also expectthatyouand Kevin Fitzpatrickwillworkthroughpertinent401/402 (NPDES) issues/concerns/questionsconsistentwiththe programpolicyand guidancedecisions. believethat further communicationsregardingthisspecificmatterare unnecessary.…
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