RCW 90.48.260
Federal clean water act—Department designated as state agency, authority—Delegation of authority—Powers, duties, and functions.
(1) The department of ecology is hereby designated as the state water pollution control agency for all purposes of the federal clean water act as it exists on February 4, 1987, and is hereby authorized to participate fully in the programs of the act as well as to take all action necessary to secure to the state the benefits and to meet the requirements of that act. With regard to the national estuary program established by section 320 of that act, the department shall exercise its responsibility jointly with the Puget Sound partnership, created in RCW 90.71.210. The department of ecology may delegate its authority under this chapter, including its national pollutant discharge elimination permit system authority and duties regarding animal feeding operations and concentrated animal feeding operations, to the department of agriculture through a memorandum of understanding. Until any such delegation receives federal approval, the department of agriculture's adoption or issuance of animal feeding operation and concentrated animal feeding operation rules, permits, programs, and directives pertaining to water quality shall be accomplished after reaching agreement with the director of the department of ecology. Adoption or issuance and implementation shall be accomplished so that compliance with such animal feeding operation and concentrated animal feeding operation rules, permits, programs, and directives will achieve compliance with all federal and state water pollution control laws. The powers granted herein include, among others, and notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter or otherwise, the following:
(a) Complete authority to establish and administer a comprehensive state point source waste discharge or pollution discharge elimination permit program which will enable the department to qualify for full participation in any national waste discharge or pollution discharge elimination permit system and will allow the department to be the sole agency issuing permits required by such national system operating in the state of Washington subject to the provisions of RCW 90.48.262(2). Program elements authorized herein may include, but are not limited to: (i) Effluent treatment and limitation requirements together with timing requirements related thereto; (ii) applicable receiving water quality standards requirements; (iii) requirements of standards of performance for new sources; (iv) pretreatment requirements; (v) termination and modification of permits for cause; (vi) requirements for public notices and opportunities for public hearings; (vii) appropriate relationships with the secretary of the army in the administration of his or her responsibilities which relate to anchorage and navigation, with the administrator of the environmental protection agency in the performance of his or her duties, and with other governmental officials under the federal clean water act; (viii) requirements for inspection, monitoring, entry, and reporting; (ix) enforcement of the program through penalties, emergency powers, and criminal sanctions; (x) a continuing planning process; and (xi) user charges.
(b) The power to establish and administer state programs in a manner which will ensure the procurement of moneys, whether in the form of grants, loans, or otherwise; to assist in the construction, operation, and maintenance of various water pollution control facilities and works; and the administering of various state water pollution control management, regulatory, and enforcement programs.
(c) The power to develop and implement appropriate programs pertaining to continuing planning processes, area-wide waste treatment management plans, and basin planning.
(2) The governor shall have authority to perform those actions required of him or her by the federal clean water act.
(3) By July 31, 2012, the department shall:
(a) Reissue without modification and for a term of one year any national pollutant discharge elimination system municipal stormwater general permit applicable to western Washington municipalities first issued on January 17, 2007; and
(b) Issue an updated national pollutant discharge elimination system municipal stormwater general permit applicable to western Washington municipalities for any permit first issued on January 17, 2007. An updated permit issued under this subsection shall become effective beginning August 1, 2013.
(i) Provisions of the updated permit issued under (b) of this subsection relating to new requirements for low-impact development and review and revision of local development codes, rules, standards, or other enforceable documents to incorporate low-impact development principles must be implemented simultaneously. These requirements may go into effect no earlier than December 31, 2016, or the time of the scheduled update under *RCW 36.70A.130(5), as existing on July 10, 2012, whichever is later.
(ii) Provisions of the updated permit issued under (b) of this subsection related to increased catch basin inspection and illicit discharge detection frequencies and application of new stormwater controls to projects smaller than one acre may go into effect no earlier than December 31, 2016, or the time of the scheduled update under *RCW 36.70A.130(5), as existing on July 10, 2012, whichever is later.
(4) By July 31, 2012, the department shall:
(a) Reissue without modification and for a term of two years any national pollutant discharge elimination system municipal stormwater general permit applicable to eastern Washington municipalities first issued on January 17, 2007; and
(b) Issue an updated national pollutant discharge elimination system municipal stormwater general permit for any permit first issued on January 17, 2007, applicable to eastern Washington municipalities. An updated permit issued under this subsection becomes effective August 1, 2014.
[ 2012 1st sp.s. c 1 § 313; 2011 c 353 § 12; 2007 c 341 § 55; 2003 c 325 § 7; 1988 c 220 § 1; 1983 c 270 § 1; 1979 ex.s. c 267 § 1; 1973 c 155 § 4; 1967 c 13 § 24.]
NOTES:
*Reviser's note: RCW 36.70A.130 was amended by 2020 c 113 § 1, changing subsection (5) to subsection (4).
Finding—Intent—Limitation—Jurisdiction/authority of Indian tribe under act—2012 1st sp.s. c 1: See notes following RCW 77.55.011.
Authority of department of fish and wildlife under act—2012 1st sp.s. c 1: See note following RCW 76.09.040.
Intent—2011 c 353: See note following RCW 36.70A.130.
Effective date—2007 c 341: See RCW 90.71.907.
Intent—Finding—2003 c 325: See note following RCW 90.64.030.
Severability—1983 c 270: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [ 1983 c 270 § 5.]
Structure Revised Code of Washington
Title 90 - Water Rights—Environment
Chapter 90.48 - Water Pollution Control.
90.48.010 - Policy enunciated.
90.48.030 - Jurisdiction of department.
90.48.035 - Rule-making authority.
90.48.037 - Authority of department to bring enforcement actions.
90.48.039 - Hazardous substance remedial actions—Procedural requirements not applicable.
90.48.045 - Environmental excellence program agreements—Effect on chapter.
90.48.080 - Discharge of polluting matter in waters prohibited.
90.48.090 - Right of entry—Special inspection requirements for metals mining and milling operations.
90.48.100 - Request for assistance.
90.48.112 - Plan evaluation—Consideration of reclaimed water.
90.48.144 - Violations—Civil penalty—Procedure.
90.48.150 - Construction of chapter.
90.48.153 - Cooperation with federal government—Federal funds.
90.48.156 - Cooperation with other states and provinces—Interstate and state-provincial projects.
90.48.158 - Grants to public bodies authorized.
90.48.160 - Waste disposal permit—Required—Exemptions.
90.48.162 - Waste disposal permits required of counties, municipalities and public corporations.
90.48.215 - Upland finfish facilities—Waste discharge standards—Waste disposal permit.
90.48.230 - Application of administrative procedure law to rule making and adjudicative proceedings.
90.48.240 - Water pollution orders for conditions requiring immediate action—Appeal.
90.48.250 - Agreements or contracts to monitor waters and effluent discharge.
90.48.261 - Exercise of powers under RCW 90.48.260—Aquatic resource mitigation.
90.48.262 - Implementation of RCW 90.48.260—Permits for energy facilities—Rules and procedures.
90.48.270 - Sewage drainage basins—Authority of department to delineate and establish.
90.48.280 - Sewage drainage basins—Comprehensive plans for sewage drainage basins.
90.48.310 - Application of barley straw to waters of the state.
90.48.364 - Discharge of oil into waters of the state—Definitions.
90.48.366 - Discharge of oil into waters of the state—Compensation schedule.
90.48.367 - Discharge of oil into waters of the state—Assessment of compensation.
90.48.368 - Discharge of oil into waters of the state—Preassessment screening.
90.48.386 - Department of natural resources leases.
90.48.390 - Coastal protection fund—Established—Moneys credited to—Use.
90.48.400 - Coastal protection fund—Disbursal of moneys from.
90.48.422 - Water quality standards—Compliance methods—Department authority.
90.48.430 - Watershed restoration projects—Approval process—Waiver of public review.
90.48.445 - Aquatic noxious weed control—Water quality permits—Definition.
90.48.448 - Eurasian water milfoil—Pesticide 2,4-D application.
90.48.465 - Water discharge fees—Report to the legislature.
90.48.467 - Report to the legislature—Required information.
90.48.480 - Reduction of sewer overflows—Plans—Compliance schedule.
90.48.490 - Sewage treatment facilities—Plans to upgrade or construct.
90.48.495 - Water conservation measures to be considered in sewer plans.
90.48.530 - Construction projects involving fill material—Leaching test.
90.48.531 - Leaching tests—Identification—Report to the legislature.
90.48.540 - Use attainability analysis of water within federal reclamation project boundaries—Rules.
90.48.570 - Water quality data—Findings—Intent.
90.48.575 - Water quality data—Definitions.
90.48.580 - Water quality data—Credible data, information, literature.
90.48.585 - Water quality data—When credible.
90.48.590 - Water quality data—Falsified data—Penalty.
90.48.595 - On-site sewage disposal system repair and replacement—Loan and grant programs.
90.48.615 - Motorized or gravity siphon aquatic mining—Prohibited acts.