Ecology News: Rulemaking

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CR-101 Preproposal Statement of Inquiry – Filed with the Office of the Code Reviser July 19, 2016.
  • Uses and Limitations of the Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund (WAC 173-98) and Uses and Limitations of the Centennial Clean Water Program (WAC 173-95A)
Ecology proposes to revise two existing chapters, Chapter 173-98 WAC and Chapter 173-95A WAC. The key things we are trying to accomplish with the rulemaking are: housekeeping, provide more clarity, provide more flexibility, and take advantage of new funding opportunities.
For more information and to stay up to date on Ecology rule-making go to http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/ruledev/wac17398/1604ov.html

Terry Husseman Account (THA) Grants – Application Announcement

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Application Opens: July 15, 2016; Application Closes: August 15, 2016 at 5:00 p.m.
 
Overview of the Terry Husseman Account (THA) Funding Opportunity
THA Grants support locally sponsored projects that restore or enhance the natural environment. Typical projects address water quality issues and fish and wildlife habitat protection or enhancement in or adjacent to waters of the state (i.e., streams, lakes, wetlands or the ocean). Projects that restore or enhance the natural environment may be proposed to address an environmental emergency. An environmental emergency is a risk to the natural environment, as a result of a natural or man-made disaster. Projects that are of a statewide significance propose innovative approaches or technologies that could be applied in multiple watersheds throughout Washington, and result in a significant improvement to the natural environment.
 
To be considered, projects must provide primary benefits to public resources (land or water stewardship) and affiliated infrastructure.
 
Grant Award Amounts
Grant awards can be up to a maximum of $50,000. The typical grant award is less than $20,000. High priority projects with costs up to $50,000 may be placed on a ‘wait-to-fund’ list if regional sub-account balances are low and more time is needed to successfully fund the project.
 
Application deadline
All application material must be received via the online process by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, August 15, 2016. **
 
Application evaluation period and notice of award decision
All application material will be reviewed, evaluated, and scored by a team of Ecology evaluators. You will be notified by a Regional Fund Coordinator (RFC) of the award decision, no later than Friday, September 23, 2016. If a project is chosen to be funded, the project’s projected start date will be October 14, 2016 or thereafter.
 
Application Schedule of THA Funding Cycle for 2016
Date
Program Milestone
Friday, July 15, 2016
EAGL grant application opens
Monday, August 15, 2016
EAGL grant application closes**
Tuesday, August 16 – Friday, September 16, 2016
Evaluation period for EAGL grant applications
Friday, September 23, 2016
Notices sent to applicants
Friday, October 14, 2016
Projected start date of agreements, if chosen to be funded
Future funding cycles will be offered in the spring and fall of 2017
 
** Applications for projects to address an Environmental Emergency may be submitted at any time. An environmental emergency is a risk to the natural environment as a result of a natural or man-made disaster. The project must meet all of the application criteria. The project must meet all of the application criteria.
 
** Applications for projects that have a Statewide Significance may be submitted at any time. A project of statewide significance is one that proposes innovative approaches or technologies that could be applied in multiple watersheds throughout Washington, and would result in a significant improvement to the natural environment. The project must meet all of the application criteria.
 
Questions
For more information about this funding opportunity, please email questions to Amy Krause at: amy.krause@ecy.wa.gov.
 
Amy Krause

July 27, 2016 Spokane River Regional Toxics Task Force Meeting – Comprehensive Plan Workshop

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The next meeting of the Spokane River Regional Toxics Task Force is:

Date: July 27, 2016
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Location: Spokane County Water Resource Center
1004 N. Freya Street
Spokane, WA 99202

There will be a short lunch break. Lunch will be served on site for those who would like to purchase a lunch for $ 5/person (food tbd), if you have food allergies, or gluten free preferences, you may choose to bring in your own lunch.

Click here for a map

Task Force members are encouraged to attend this meeting/workshop in person as this will be a highly interactive meeting.

If this is not an option, here is a call in number.

Call In Number: 800-704-9804
Participant Code: 34863442#

SRRTTF 6-22-16 DRAFT Summary Notes_draft
Updated Spreadsheets  (Outcome of workshop)
LevelDActions
PCB-Control-Actions-worksheet_simple buckets

SRRTTF Meeting July 27 summary_draft

Agenda
–  SRRTTF Comp Plan workshop agenda 07-27-16 (Revised)

Previous Meeting Summaries
–  SRRTTF TTWG 07-06-16 summary notes DRAFT
–  SRRTTF 6-22-16 summary notes_DRAFT

Other Meeting Materials
–  PCB-Control-Actions-worksheet_draft-_07-25-16
–  SRRTTF_LimnoTech_07_27_2016

King County Dept. of Nat. Resources: PCB Source Tracing Review, Webinar July 26th, 2016

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King County Department of Natural Resources has conducted a review of PCB source tracing programs in several urban areas of the northwest (Seattle, Tacoma, Portland, and Spokane). Nationally they also reviewed programs in the Delaware Basin and San Francisco Bay.  This work was conducted under a interagency agreement with Ecology using funds from the National Estuary Program.

The results of this work will be presented at Ecology HQ by King County staff in Lacey on July 26 from 1:30 to 2:30 in auditorium rooms ROA 32/34.  For those not in the Lacey area who would like to attend, WebEx and a conference line will be available.

Topic: PCB Source Tracing Review
Date: Tuesday, July 26, 2016
Time: 1:30 pm, Pacific Daylight Time (San Francisco, GMT-07:00)
Meeting Number: 929 688 087
Meeting Password: KCDNR072616

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To join the online meeting (Now from mobile devices!)
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1. Go to https://wadismeetings.webex.com/wadismeetings/j.php?MTID=m78f11b3bca38daa8149eba383d1482f3 
2. If requested, enter your name and email address.
3. If a password is required, enter the meeting password: KCDNR072616
4. Click “Join”.

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To join the audio conference only
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To receive a call back, provide your phone number when you join the meeting, or call the number below and enter the access code.
Call-in toll-free number (US/Canada): 1-877-668-4493
Call-in toll number (US/Canada): 1-650-479-3208

Access code:929 688 087
Global call-in numbers: https://wadismeetings.webex.com/wadismeetings/globalcallin.php?serviceType=MC&ED=468122582&tollFree=1 
Toll-free dialing restrictions: https://www.webex.com/pdf/tollfree_restrictions.pdf

 

July 20, 2016 Technical Track Work Group Meeting

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he next meeting of the SRRTTF Technical Track Work group is:

Date: Wednesday July 20, 2016
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Location: Washington Department of Ecology
N. 4601 Monroe St.
Spokane, WA 99205
Click here for a map.

Call In Number: 800-704-9804 Participant Code: 34863442#

Meeting Documents:

SRRTTF 7 20 16 Tech Track Meeting Summary
–  Tech Track WG agn 07-20-16_revised
–  Spokane LT Prelim data update for 7-8-16
–  PCA Effectiveness_Appendix A
–  SRRTTF 07 27 16 Agenda draft 07-14-16
–  PCB Control Actions worksheet_draft _07-18-16

 

Ecology News: Water Quality-Related projects funding- Training Workshops Available

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The Department of Ecology’s Water Quality Program has scheduled four training workshops for applicants seeking funding for water quality-related projects during the State Fiscal Year 2018 (SFY18) Funding Cycle. A workshop will be held in each of Ecology’s four regions. The workshops are scheduled for 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the following dates and locations:

August 17 in Spokane at the Spokane Convention Center
August 18 in Ellensburg at Central Washington University
August 24 in Lacey at Saint Martin’s University
August 25 in Everett at Xfinity Arena

For details please see the attached PDF announcement of the workshops, or go to our SFY18 Funding Cycle webpage at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/funding/Opp/WQC/CyclePages/WQC2018.html for a copy of the announcement and other information. (NOTE: The webpage will soon be updated to include the announcement.)

If you have questions, you may contact Daniel Thompson at 360- 407-6510 or email daniel.thompson@ecy.wa.gov.

Ecology News: Draft Rulemaking Chapter 173-350 WAC Solid Waste Handling Standards

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Draft Rulemaking Chapter 173-350 WAC  Solid Waste Handling Standards

 

Comments on the draft rulemaking from Jeff Donovan: Cochran vs Sediment-Soil Standards (3); From Jeff Donovan_solid waste rule

Here is the timeline for involvement:  http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/rules/wac173350/1308time.html

Comments are due September 6, 2016.

Of particular interest are the soil and sediment standards:  http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/rules/pdf/Ch173350focus235995.pdf

And Appendix I in 173-350-995.

A copy of the marked up rule can be found at  http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/rules/pdf/Ch173350PrelimDraftPub.pdf)

 

Comprehensive Plan Memo Draft available: Cost/Effectiveness of PCB Control Actions for the Spokane River and Appendix B: Fact Sheets

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The Comprehensive Plan Memo Draft title  “Cost/Effectiveness of PCB Control Actions for the Spokane River” and its association and “Appendix B”: Fact Sheets is available for Task Force review. Please send comments/edits to Dave Dilks (ddilks@limno.com).

All Comprehensive Plan documents and comments/edits received are posted here.

NPDES general permit for federal aquaculture facilities and aquaculture facilities in Indian Country within the boundaries of the state of Washington

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 EPA has reissued the NPDES general permit for federal aquaculture facilities and aquaculture facilities in Indian Country within the boundaries of the state of Washington.  The final permit, response to comments, and other supporting materials are available on EPA’s website at: https://yosemite.epa.gov/r10/water.nsf/npdes+permits/general+npdes+permits#fedaqua