The City of Auburn is accepting comments on the draft 2010 Stormwater Management Program.

Please submit comments in writing to the Water Quality Programs Coordinator, Department of Public Works, 25 West Main St., Auburn, WA 98001. Written comments must be received by close of business on March 15, 2010. There will be a public hearing at the March 15 City Council Meeting where comments will also be accepted.

The City was issued a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Stormwater Permit by the Washington State Department of Ecology on Feb. 16, 2007. The Permit required the City to prepare and implement a Stormwater Management Program and to update the Program every year. The draft Stormwater Management Program update identifies how the City is proposing to implement the 2010 requirements of the Permit. View Stormwater Management Plan draft here.

The Permit, which became effective Feb. 16, 2007, and was modified on June 17, 2009 authorizes the discharge of stormwater to surface and ground waters from Auburn’s storm drainage system. Requirements of the Permit include the development and annual update of a Stormwater Management Program (SWMP) which details the actions and activities to be implemented by the City in order to reduce the discharge of pollutants.

The SWMP is to include measures related to Public Education and Outreach, Public Involvement and Participation, Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination, Controlling Runoff from New Development, Redevelopment and Construction Sites, and Pollution Prevention and Operation and Maintenance for Municipal Operations. The Permit lists specific actions and methods that the City must implement through the SWMP.

For more information, contact Chris Thorn at 253-804-5065 or cthorn@auburnwa.gov.