Current permits and actions

Statewide general permit for biosolids management issued

The statewide general permit for biosolids management is how we implement the Biosolids Management rule (Chapter 173-308 WAC). The general permit contains minimum requirements that all biosolids facilities must meet, and allows us to increase environmental protections or establish more stringent biosolids management requirements for facilities on a case-by-case basis, if necessary.

The biosolids general permit is active for five years. The current permit will expire Jan. 31, 2030.

2025 General Permit

We reissued the Statewide General Permit for Biosolids Management on Jan. 2, 2025. It went into effect Feb. 1, 2025. The Nisqually Delta Association again filed an appeal of the General Permit with the Pollution Control Hearings Board (PCHB) on Jan. 31, 2025.

The General Permit is still in effect and facilities must maintain compliance. The appeal does not immediately impact the General Permit. We intend to defend the General Permit and present our case as to why it should be upheld on appeal. Facilities must still submit all appropriate documentation per rule and permit requirements to maintain coverage.

Facilities with active management operations

Facilities with active biosolids or septage management programs must submit an application for coverage under the statewide general biosolids permit. 

To address specific local conditions, we can impose additional or more stringent requirements on a facility covered by the general biosolids permit. Depending on timing and the nature of operations, facilities need to submit a notice of intent (NOI) to be covered under the general permit and/or an application for coverage. 

Public hearings may also be held for individual facilities. We will determine the need for a hearing on an individual facility proposals based on an overall assessment of the proposal, and with consideration to the level of interest. 

Automatic approvals

Coverage for facilities that do not have active biosolids management programs will be in effect on the statewide general permit's effective date. Examples of facilities this would apply to include treatment works with lagoons that don't expect to remove biosolids, possibly for many years, and others that only send biosolids to other facilities for treatment. For those facilities without active biosolids programs, this will be the only notice. There may be additional notice for other facilities, later. Some proposals will include public hearings.

If you have questions about how this impacts your facility operations, please reach out to your region biosolids coordinator.

Stay informed about a specific facility

Interested parties can comment on permit applications and proposals, but the way to comment will vary between proposals. Make one of both of the following action to ensure you are notified of permit actions and opportunities to review and provide input.