Sea-Tac NPDES Permit Delayed Further

Issuance of the new Sea-Tac NPDES permit has been delayed yet again, with a probable issue date of 2 September when there will be a briefing on the permit. This is the permit that the Port needs to renew in order to allow Sea-Tac Airport to to continue to discharge pollution under conditions laid out in the permit. It has been expected out for months now.

The delay is due, at least in part, to the problem of making the permit consistent with the recent decisions of the Pollution Control Hearings Board) that are tightening up the requirements in the state-wide water quality standards. The Department of Ecology had gone too far in allowing out-of-compliance pollution to continue for many years into the future. The Board is requiring much faster compliance, and also is insisting on tighter definition of the pollution control work that must be done by permittees. The draft Sea-Tac permit as it existed some weeks ago would not have been acceptable to the PCHB, so it is being tightened up.

The most recent announcement from the Department of Ecology is:

"On Tuesday, September 2nd, at 2 PM, there will be a final briefing of the Sea-Tac NPDES permit to be held at the Department of Ecology NWRO. During this meeting the final permit and various changes since last public notice will be presented before the permit is issued. Please note that this is an information meeting and not a public meeting. The audiences are limited to those invited/or requested presence in advance. During this meeting Department of Ecology will not accept comments, or provide any justification above and beyond the presentation."