Program Overview

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Western Washington University’s, in concert with the Washington State Department of Ecology, will implement a Storm Water Management Program (SWMP) with the expressed purpose of reducing the discharge of pollutants from Western’s storm water system to the maximum extent practicable and to protect the water quality of out-flowing waterways.

Western’s SWMP will consist of the following components:

Coordination

The SWMP will include mechanisms to encourage coordinated storm water related policies, programs and projects on Western owned properties with the City of Bellingham, other local jurisdictions, and university departments.

Public Education and Outreach

Storm drain inlets will be labeled with the message “Dump no waste” and indicate the point of discharge as a river, lake, bay, or groundwater. 50% of drains will be labeled within 3 years of permit coverage and all drains will be labeled no later than 180 days prior to expiration date of the storm water permit.

Annually, starting no later than 3 years from beginning of permit coverage, the university will distribute educational information to students and staff on the impact of storm water discharges on receiving water and the steps than can be taken to reduce pollutants in storm water runoff.

Public Involvement and Participation

Western’s SWMP will be posted and updated on the university website, with opportunity provided for public comment.

No later than 180 days prior to expiration date of the storm water permit, the university will publish a public notice in the Bellingham Herald and solicit public review of the SWMP.

Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination

From the date of coverage of the storm water permit, Western will comply with all relevant ordinances, rules and regulations of the City of Bellingham, and other applicable local jurisdictions.

Within 1 year from the date of permit coverage, Western will develop and adopt appropriate policies prohibiting illicit discharges and illegal dumping and identify enforcement mechanisms. The enforcement mechanisms will be implemented no later than 18 months from the date of permit coverage.

No later than 180 days prior to the expiration date of the permit, Western will develop a storm sewer system map showing the locations of all known storm drain outfalls, labeling the receiving waters, and delineating the areas contributing runoff to each outfall. The map will be posted on the university website along with the SWMP.

Within 2 years of the date of permit coverage, the university will conduct field inspections and visually inspect for illicit discharges at 1/3 of known outfalls and continue with 1/3 of outfalls each year thereafter. Procedures will be developed and implemented to identify and remove any illicit discharges and records will be kept of inspections and follow-up activities.

No later than 180 days prior to expiration date of the permit, Western will develop and implement a spill response plan that includes coordination with a qualified spill responder.

Western will train all relevant staff on proper best management practices (BMP) for preventing spills and illicit discharges.

Construction Site Storm Water Runoff Control

From the date of coverage of the storm water permit, Western will comply with all relevant ordinances, rules and regulations of the City of Bellingham, and other applicable local jurisdictions that govern construction phase storm water pollution prevention measures.

Western will obtain, as required, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits that cover the storm water discharges associated with the construction activity, prior to discharging.

Western will provide training, or coordinate with existing training programs, to educate relevant staff in erosion and sediment control BMPs and requirements, or hire trained contractors to perform the work.

Western will coordinate with the Department of Ecology, or local jurisdiction, to provide access for inspection of construction sites or other land disturbances greater than or equal to one acre.

Post-construction Storm Water Management for New Development and Redevelopment

From the date of coverage of the storm water permit, Western will comply with all relevant ordinances, rules and regulations of the City of Bellingham, and other applicable local jurisdictions that govern post-construction storm water pollution prevention measures.

No later than 1 year from the date of permit coverage, Western will comply with the Minimum Technical Requirements for post construction storm water controls for new development and redevelopment of construction sites or other land disturbances greater than or equal to one acre.

Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping Maintenance and Operation

Within 3 years from the date of permit coverage, Western will develop and implement a maintenance and operation (M&O) plan to minimize storm water pollution from activities conducted by the university.

The M&O plan will include record keeping procedures to track 1) performance of operational source control activities, 2) performance of scheduled inspections and maintenance activities, 3) responses to spills and other potential pollution incidents.

The M&O plan will include relevant training of all employees whose construction, operations, or maintenance job functions may impact storm water quality.

Reporting Requirements

The university will maintain and make readily available a SWMP document that identifies the program plans and activities for the ensuing year(s).

The university will submit no later than March 31 each year, beginning in the year 2008, an Annual Report to the Department of Ecology, using the forms provided.

General Conditions

The university will comply with the general conditions of the storm water permit as identified by the Department of Ecology in accordance with the following:

  • Discharges and activities consistent with terms and conditions of permit
  • Proper operation and maintenance
  • Spill notification
  • Prohibition of intentional storm water bypass
  • Right of entry allowed
  • Duty to mitigate
  • No conveyance of property rights
  • Compliance with other laws and statutes Monitoring
  • No re-entry of removed substances Severability
  • Revocation of coverage Transfer of coverage
  • General permit modification and revocation
  • Reporting a cause for modification or revocation
  • Appeals
  • Penalties
  • Duty to reapply
  • Certification and signature
  • Non-compliance notification