The Washington Department of Ecology is seeking public comment on its modified Industrial Stormwater General Permit, which regulates approximately 1200 facilities in Washington. The state is proposing to tighten permit provisions because of a ruling from the Pollution Control Hearings Board. The new permit would require more stringent sampling rules and tighten the timeline for implementing structural or operational controls after exceedances. The permit does eliminate a requirement that discharges to bacteria-impaired waterbodies meet numeric effluent limits, since industrial facilities often are not a significant source of bacteria. Public comments on the draft permit are due by March 16. Read more.