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The process—in general. As noted in the discussion about the wetlands regulatory process, in order to receive permission from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to fill wetlands, a project proponent, such as Sea-Tac Airport, must first obtain a certificate from the appropriate State agency (Department of Ecology, in Washington) that the project can be constructed with "reasonable assurance" that State water-quality standards will not be violated. Ecology has six months from the date of an application to act on it. Decisions by Ecology can be appealed to the Pollution Control Hearings Board, a panel of three administrative-law judges with environmental expertise. The PCHB hears such appeals "de novo"—in other words, the parties may present oral testimony from their experts. Decisions of that Board can be appealed to the courts. "State water quality standards" include the specific requirements of State statutes, various regulations issued by the Department of Ecology, and, as a practical matter, the stormwater-management regulations and plans adopted by King County. Water-quality standards are important for protection of fish and other aquatic life forms, and wildlife protection plans and rules issued by the Department of Fish and Game, and by local groups are also to be taken into account. First application. Sea-Tac Airport submitted its first application in December 1996, and Ecology granted a sec. 401 certificate on that first application. But Ecology withdrew its approval while the matter was on appeal to the Pollution Control Hearings Board. Sec. 401 certificate. Second application. A second application was filed.…

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PSCAA Advisory Council Meeting Agenda
Add to CalendarMWednesday Mar 11, 9:00am - 11:35am
1904 3rd Avenue, Suite 105, Seattle, WA 98101
Call to order – Roll Call – Quorum Established – Land Acknowledgement We would like to acknowledge that our Agency operates in four present-day counties, which are the traditional lands of the Coast Salish people, past and present. This acknowledgement does not take the place of authentic relationships with indigenous communities in our jurisdiction and [...]