Solo Point Wastewater Treatment Plant - Joint Base Lewis McChord

The permit allows the Department of Defense and their contractor American Water Military Service's Solo Point Wastewater Treatment plant, located in Pierce county, to discharge treated effluent into Puget Sound. The permit was last updated in 2012 and has been administratively continued since 2017.   

The EPA will hold its own separate comment period on the draft permit, from Dec. 11, 2025, to Feb. 24, 2026 (extended from Jan. 27, 2026). The draft permit includes many changes including flow reductions, a limit for nutrients (inorganic nitrogen, TBEL), and increased monitoring for other contaminants of concern such as PFAS, PDBEs, and nitrates.

The federal Clean Water Act grants states and Tribal governments the authority to review and: approve, condition, or deny proposed Federal projects, actions, and activities directly affecting waters of the United States. In Washington, Ecology is the certifying authority and is responsible for issuance of Section 401 water quality certifications. Tribal governments and the EPA also have this authority on Tribal and nonstate lands.

Under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act, federal agencies cannot issue a license or permit before we make a determination on a water quality certification request or waive our right to review. Any conditions that the agency sets then become conditions of the federal permit or license.