Bridge & Ferry Terminal Maintenance Permit

New permit application

Step 1: Access the Water Quality Web Permitting Portal Access through Secure Access Washington (SAW)

To apply for new coverage or reapply for continued coverage, you must use Secure Access Washington (SAW). SAW is the secure gateway to many government services including what you need, the Water Quality Permitting Portal (WQ Web Portal). Download a PDF of detailed instructions, with screen capture images, with information on how to set up WQ Web Portal or follow the instructions here:

1. Login to SecureAccess Washington or sign up.
2. Under My Services, from the top level SAW navigation, either
   • Select Continue to Water Quality Permitting Portal, or
   • If you do not have the WQ Web Portal added to your SAW account you’ll need to add it: Add Service > Add By Agency > Department of Ecology > Services From ECY > Water Quality Permitting Portal (WQWebPortal) > Add > Access > Continue to Water Quality Permitting Portal.

Step 2: Complete your Notice of Intent (NOI)

For a new facility not currently covered by this general permit, you need to submit a new application, called a Notice of Intent (NOI). Download a PDF of detailed application instructions with screen capture images or follow the instructions below:

1. Login to Secure Access Washington.
2. Under My Services go to https://secureaccess.wa.gov/ecy/wqwebportal.
3. Select NOI: General Permit Coverage – Renewal – Notice of Intent on the WQ Web Portal home page.
4. On the Notice of Intent (NOI) webpage select + New corresponding to the name of the general permit you are applying for. If you are completing an existing electronic application, click Search my existing Notice of Intent (NOI) applications and enter your permit number, including any leading letters, in the search box. Select Load.
5. Fill out your entire application by completing all of the tabs.
6. When you are finished select Save and Continue.
7. Attach any necessary information. Select Save and Continue.
8. Sign the form by either of the following methods:
   • Use your electronic signature if you have an NOI signature on file, or
   • Choose Print and Sign. Print the form, have the person in your organization with legal authority sign it, and mail it to the address on the signature page.

Set-up your electronic signature account

You need to create an electronic signature account to submit annual reports online and to sign documents online. Read these instructions to create your electronic signature account. You must create an electronic signature account and mail-in your electronic signature agreement form (ESAF) to Ecology. Once we approve your ESAF, you will have access to your permit coverage information and be able to sign and submit documents online, including your annual Discharge Monitoring Report that is due Feb. 28 of each year.

Note: We are currently emailing all coverage documents and permit related information to the legally responsible party on file. Please make sure that this information stays up to date. 

If you have any questions, contact the staff listed in the Contact information box below.

If you hold an NPDES or State Waste Discharge permit, you must monitor your discharge and submit reports to us. 

Facilities with an NPDES or a State Waste Discharge permit are required to monitor the discharge from their facilities and to submit reports to us about this discharge.

These reports, known as Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs), include information about the quantity of pollutants released into the environment. Report requirements differ by permit type and receiving water body.

1. Go to https://secureaccess.wa.gov/ecy/wqwebportal.
2. Click Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR) link on the portal homepage.
3. Under My Permits, select your permit and follow the prompts.

Annual DMRs are due Feb. 28 each year.

For step-by-step help see our user guide.

• Bridge Washing in Unincorporated King County
• Bridge Washing in Snohomish County
• WSDOT Bridge and Ferry Terminal Washing
  (Click Tools, templates & links, then scroll down to Section 402 Permits)