Municipal stormwater permit reissuance

We reissued the current permits on July 1, 2019. The Phase I and Phase II permits expire on July 31, 2024.

We are working on the 2024 permit reissuance to identify issues and necessary improvements for the permits.

2024 permit reissuance 

We're working on the 2024 permit reissuance. We welcome input to help develop the final versions of the permits.

Permit reissuance process

  • Spring 2022 — Listening sessions: We shared our early thinking on proposed changes and gathered additional input.
  • Fall 2022 / Early 2023 — Preliminary drafts of permit sections: We provided preliminary drafts of specific permit sections for informal comment.
  • Aug. - Nov. 2023 — Formal draft permits: We are holding a formal public comment period, to include workshops and hearings on the draft permits.
  • July 2024 — Make permit decision.

Formal Permit drafts - Summer 2023

We are releasing the formal draft Permits for Phase I, Western WA and Eastern WA Phase II Municipal Stormwater General Permits for public comment. The comment period runs from August 16 to Nov. 10, 11:59 p.m. We will host workshops and hearings during the comment period more details are below. 

Formal draft reissuance documents


Submit comments on the draft permits and manuals

We prefer to receive comments through our online comment form. If you plan to provide multiple comments on the permits or manuals, we recommend using this Municipal Stormwater General Permit Comment Template and uploading your comments as an attachment.

Comments should reference specific text or permit conditions whenever possible. Please provide references or other supporting documentation in support of your comments when appropriate and available.

We will be hosting six informational workshops and hearings to provide information about the proposed changes, answer questions, and allow the public to offer formal testimony. Please see event details below.

Eastern WA Permit and SWMMEW focus 

Virtual hearings
Sept. 18, 2023, 9 a.m. - register here
Nov. 6, 2023, 1:30 p.m. - register here

In-Person hearing
Oct. 3, 2023, 9:30 a.m.
Moses Lake Civic Center
Council Chambers
401 S. Balsam St
Moses Lake, WA

Western WA Permit & SWMMWW focus

Virtual hearings
Sept. 18, 2023, 1:30 p.m. - register here
Nov. 6, 2023, 9 a.m. - register here

In-Person hearing
Oct. 17, 2023, 9:30 a.m.
Lacey Community Center
6729 Pacific Ave SE
Lacey, WA

Hearings will follow the workshop and will close after all the testimony is provided. The workshop portion is anticipated to be about two hours. 

What we've done so far

Stakeholder-run collaboration — ad-hoc groups

Some Phase I and Phase II permittees are engaging in a collaborative process to discuss and recommend permit changes. Permittees are engaging with one another, as well as environmental stakeholders and other interested parties. This is not an agency-led effort so please contact the Stormwater Center below for more information.

Contact for ad-hoc groups:

More information regarding the ad-hoc groups is on the Washington Stormwater Center website.