TagWater Quality(478)

This 2000 Washington State Department of Ecology policy document establishes procedures for how stormwater discharges must comply with water quality standards under Sections 401 and 402 of the Federal Clean Water Act. It outlines how Best Management Practices (BMPs), including Supplemental Treatment, should be applied to control stormwater pollution, and defines how compliance decisions are made for various permit types. The policy applies to Ecology Water Quality and SEA Program staff when reviewing or permitting projects that have stormwater impacts.

Port Of Seattle report (AR 043696, Volume 1) examining effects of runway deicing chemicals on dissolved oxygen in receiving waters at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport for the 1999-2000 winter season. Documents ground deicing chemical applications including potassium acetate (PA, Cryotech E36 LRD), sodium acetate (SA), and calcium magnesium acetate (CMA) on airfield, ramp, and landside roadways.

This October 31, 2000 agenda document outlines a meeting between the Port of Seattle, the Department of Ecology, the Attorney General's Office, and Seattle Public Utilities to address water rights issues related to flow augmentation in Des Moines Creek, connected to the Sea-Tac Airport Third Runway project. The meeting focused on identifying potential sources of stream flow augmentation water, including the SPU Highline Well Field, Highline Water District wells, detained stormwater, and reclaimed water. Key discussion points included whether water right changes were necessary, what approvals were required from the Department of Ecology, and how to develop an action plan for resolving outstanding legal and regulatory issues.

Email dated October 26, 2000 from Chung K. Yee to Kevin Fitzpatrick regarding Sea-Tac Airport fill material contamination concerns. Yee reports a conversation with Paul Agid explaining Ecology and the public’s concerns about possible groundwater and surface water contamination from fill material, and sampling frequency to quantify soil characteristics. Paul Agid expressed interest in discussing

In October 2000, Washington State Department of Ecology prepared internal talking points to explain staff changes in the environmental review of the Sea-Tac Airport Third Runway project, including shifting the 401 water quality permit review from Olympia headquarters to the Bellevue regional office and replacing the senior wetlands specialist with an outside consultant. Ecology emphasized that these were routine workforce-management decisions driven by competing project demands, not outside pressure. The agency maintained that its responsibility to ensure the Third Runway met state environmental protection laws — covering stormwater, wetlands, in-stream flow, and clean fill — remained unchanged.

In an October 25, 2000 letter to Washington State Department of Ecology Director Tom Fitzsimmons, the Airport Communities Coalition (representing cities of Burien, Tukwila, Des Moines, Federal Way, Normandy Park, and the Highline School District) protested the removal of senior environmental specialist Tom Luster from the Port of Seattle's third runway 401 water quality permit review. The coalition alleged that political pressure from the Port of Seattle — including secret meetings with the Governor's office and a coordinated public relations campaign — was improperly influencing the regulatory process. The letter demanded Luster's immediate reinstatement, citing his three years of institutional knowledge and commitment to science-based, nonpolitical decision-making on the permit.

Memorandum dated October 20, 2000 from Michael A.P. Kenrick, P.E. and Michael J. Bailey, P.E. of Hart Crowser to Jim Thomson at HNTB Boston, regarding Sea-Tac Third Runway Borrow Area 3 wetland preservation (project J-4978-06). Document provides conceptual design for a proposed drainage swale to protect wetlands in Borrow Area 3 located south of Sea-Tac

STIA Construction Site Stormwater Monitoring reports dated 10/16/2000 and 10/20/2000, samplers JL/RS and JB/RS. AR017259–AR017261. Documents turbidity and pH measurements at multiple construction sites including Logistics Site Development (unnamed catch basin, Tyee Pond, IWS Lagoon 3), MWS Lagoon 3 Construction treatment facility, Airfield Improvement (construction staging area, SDS-7, SDS-6, SDS3-594), Dobbs Flight Kitchen Remodel (SDE4-611,

In October 2000, Washington State Department of Ecology staff member Tom Luster raised concerns about the adequacy of Ecology's Clean Water Act Section 401 certification review for the proposed Sea-Tac Airport expansion. Luster identified multiple unresolved issues, including insufficient stormwater pollution controls, unevaluated wetland and water quality impacts, and conflicts between Ecology's approach and federal Clean Water Act requirements. He warned that failing to address these issues could result in a legally indefensible permit and degraded water quality in nearby creeks and wetlands.

STIA Construction Site Stormwater Monitoring reports dated 10/16/00 and 10/20/00, samplers JL/RS and JB/RS. Documents turbidity and pH measurements at multiple Sea-Tac Airport construction sites including Logistics Site Development (Tyee Pond, Des Moines Creek outfall), MWS Lagoon 3 Construction, Airfield Improvement (SDS3-594, SDS-6, SDS-7), Dobbs Flight Kitchen Remodel (SDE4-611, SDE4-607, SDE4-615, SDE4-601, SDE4-602), Booster Pump