Environment & Water

House Committee Work Session on Municipal Stormwater Issues

At 1:30 pm on Wednesday, February 15, the House Economic Development, Agriculture and Trade Committee will hold a work session to hear from cities about concerns with parts of the Department of Ecology’s (DOE’s) proposed Municipal Stormwater Permits.

Many cities in western and several in eastern Washington have been consulting with DOE over the past few years as the agency prepares to adopt permits applicable to federally mandated municipal stormwater programs. In large part, discussions and negotiations with DOE have been positive. Permits are expected to be finalized later this year and there are still some outstanding issues that will be aired before the Committee.

AWC’s Dave Williams is helping to organize a panel comprised of both western and eastern Washington cities. Look to next week’s Bulletin for a description of our presentation points.

Columbia River Water Management (2SSB 6581/2SHB2860)

Countless hours of behind closed doors discussions among interests concerned with water issues within the Columbia River basin may actually be resulting in a bi-partisan agreement on longstanding and thorny water resource issues in this important basin. Details remain sketchy and bill redrafts are said to be floating back and forth between negotiators. We anticipate that bills will pass in both chambers by the February 14 cut-off and parties will continue their discussions.

This is a high priority bill for the Governor. Conventional wisdom earlier in the session seemed to indicate that passage of any significant water legislation this year was not likely. It would be wonderful if a bi-partisan water bill could pass and break the longstanding log jam on water resource issues. Stay tuned for more details next week.

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