Industrial Stormwater General Permit

Major modification

Ecology proposes a modification of the 2025 Industrial Stormwater General Permit. We are only proposing changes to the current expiration date (December 2029) and the duty to reapply date, to make them earlier. Changing these dates will allow us to release the next version of the general permit in 2029 instead of 2030. We are proposing this draft modification to help our internal workload (create more space between this permit and another major general permit) and to help address conditions in a settlement agreement.

To make this change, Ecology proposes to:

• Move the current Industrial Stormwater General Permit expiration date a year early: from Dec. 31, 2029, to Dec. 31, 2028.
• Change the subsequent Duty to Reapply date from July 3, 2029, to July 3, 2028. Duty to Reapply tells permittees they must reapply for coverage within 180 days of the expiration date of the permit. 

Documents for the draft modification

• Draft modified general permit
• Addendum to the fact sheet for the draft major modification to the Industrial Stormwater General Permit — explains the changes in the draft modification
• Washington State Register public notice of draft release (WSR 26-16-07, Aug. 19, 2026)

Public involvement

We will accept comments on the draft modifications from 9 a.m. Aug. 19, 2026, through 11:59 p.m. Oct. 2, 2026. Ecology prefers online comment submission. Comments should reference specific permit text when possible.

Ways to comment

• Submit comments online (preferred method)
• By U.S. mail
  Shannon McClellan
  WA Department of Ecology
  PO Box 47696
  Olympia, WA  98504-7696
• At our hearing

Public meeting and hearing

During the comment period we will host an online public meeting and hearing where we will explain the proposed modifications to the permit and answer questions prior to the formal hearing. The hearing provides opportunity for the public to give formal spoken testimony on the draft modified permit. The public hearing begins immediately following the meeting and concludes when public testimony is complete. Spoken testimony will receive the same consideration as written comments.

Online Public Meeting & Hearing
Sept. 23, 2026 – 10 a.m.
Register in advance for this meeting

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Anticipated timeline

• Aug. 19, 2026: Release the official draft major modification for formal public review and comment with invitation for spoken and written comments for the official record
• Sept. 23, 2026: Public meeting and hearing 
• Oct. 2, 2026: Public comment period closes
• October 2026: Make final permit reissuance decision
• November 2026: Issue final major modification
• As early as Winter 2026: start the process for full reissuance
• Early 2028: Public comment on draft permit

Next steps 

We will review and consider all comments received. We will make appropriate revisions based on public comments, publish an official Response to Comments as an appendix to the fact sheet and make a final decision on permit issuance in October 2026. Once this modification is complete, we will start the process to fully reissue the next permit and there will be future feedback opportunities to provide larger scale proposed changes. 

Applications and forms

Historic documents