Chapter 173-228 WAC

On April 9, 2018, Ecology adopted a new rule, Chapter 173-228 WAC Vessel Sewage No Discharge Zones. This rule establishes a Puget Sound No Discharge Zone, which prohibits the release of sewage (black water) from vessels, whether treated or not.

The Puget Sound No Discharge Zone covers approximately 2,300 square miles of marine waters of Washington State inward from the line between New Dungeness Lighthouse and the Discovery Island Lighthouse to the Canadian border, and fresh waters of Lake Washington, Lake Union, and connecting waters between and to Puget Sound.

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Rulemaking timeline

Timeline

Date (future dates subject to change)	Activity
July 5, 2017	Announcement Phase (CR-101)
July 5 - October 4, 2017	Develop and prepare the rule language and other supporting information.
October 4, 2017	Proposal Phase (CR-102) The comment period was open October 4, 2017 - November 30, 2017.
November 13, 2017	Public Hearing - Webinars
November 15, 2017	Public Hearing - Seattle, WA
November 30, 2017	Ended public comment period.
December 2017 - April 2018	Reviewed public comments and prepared rule adoption packet.
April 9, 2018	Rule Adoption Phase (CR-103)
May 10, 2018	Rule effective

Announcement phase (CR-101)

Filing date:
July 5, 2017

Announcement documents

Announcement Notice - CR-101 form

Rule development phase

July 5 - October 4, 2017

Rule proposal phase (CR-102)

Filing date:
Oct. 4, 2017

Rule proposal documents:

Comment period

Comments were received through November 30, 2017
We received comments in the following ways:

Online
During public hearings
By mail

All comments are available for review.

November 13, 2017: Public Hearing Webinars
Ecology accepted verbal comments at an afternoon and an evening webinar hearing.

November 15, 2017 - In-person Public Hearing
Ecology accepted written and verbal comments during the in-person hearing at South Seattle College's Georgetown Campus.

Rule adoption phase (CR-103)

Adoption date:
April 9, 2018

Rule effective date:
May 10, 2018

Rule adoption documents:

Additional languages

Español (Spanish) 中文 (Chinese) Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese) 한국어 (Korean)

Contact information

Amy Jankowiak
Rulemaking Lead
amy.jankowiack@ecy.wa.gov
425-649-7195

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Accessibility

To request ADA accommodation for disabilities, or printed materials in a format for the visually impaired, contact Ecology's ADA Coordinator by email at ecyadacoordinator@ecy.wa.gov, or call 360-407-6831. People with impaired hearing may call Washington Relay Service at 711. People with speech disability may call TTY at 877-833-6341.