Citizen Stewards are environmental advocates specializing in pollution detection, reporting and prevention. They patrol Commencement Bay, city streets, neighborhoods and surrounding watershed by bike, kayak, on foot or even from their home or office window and work to further Citizens for a Healthy Bay’s mission to clean up, restore and protect Commencement Bay.
Citizens for a Healthy Bay is offering “Citizen Stewards” training to prepare volunteers to identify and report pollution of our public waters. Participants will learn about the Clean Water Act, industries and pollutants of concern in Commencement Bay and practical pollution prevention measures.
Citizen Steward’s trainings will begin soon!!! The training is free of charge, however participants must pre-register by contacting Bay Patrol Director at 383-2429, 253-255-3895, or baypatrol@healthybay.org.
Kayaks are offered at a discount from Don’s Ruston Market (253) 759-8151.
The “Commencement & South Puget Sound Bay” Patrol Program
Protecting Commencement Bay and Surrounding Waters as CHB’s Clean Water Act Advocate and Educator.
What are the Bay Patrol Directors duties?
The Commencement Bay Patrol is a full-time, on-the-water environmental advocate, working to further Citizens for a Healthy Bay’s mission to clean up, restore and protect Commencement Bay. It is the Bay Patrol’s job to advocate compliance with the Clean Water Act, respond to citizen complaints, identify problems which affect his or her body of water and devise appropriate remedies, serve as a living witness to the condition of the ecosystem, and be an advocate for the public’s right to protect and defend the environment.
The Commencement Bay Patrol: • Conducts pollution patrols in Commencement Bay aboard CHB’s vessel Sheri J. • Responds to Water Pollution Hotline Complaints. • Manages the Water Pollution Hotline. • Monitors waterway businesses and industries to ensure compliance with water quality standards. • Serves on the various local committee’s including, Commencement Bay Maritime Fest, Foss Waterway Marina Operators, Tacoma Waterfront Association, Pierce County Environmental Health Coalition and an alternated on the Washington State Oil Spills Advisory Council • Spearheads the Clean boating…Clean Water Program • Presents Citizen Stewards Trainings
Permit Review page (takes the place of Water Quality Permits)
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permits
The Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE) issues National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits to industries and municipalities, allowing them to release a certain amount of pollutants into Washington State’s waters. The NPDES permit system was designed to set strict limits on the mass and concentration of discharged pollutants in order to protect water quality. CHB consistently reviews new and active permits filed in South Puget Sound and submits comment letters to the WA DOE based on the following criteria.
• Historical Compliance: If a facility is consistently discharging pollutant levels beyond its permit limitations, there is a strong possibility that water quality standards will be violated at its point of discharge.
• Changes in effluent levels: The goal of the Clean Water Act was to eliminate pollutants discharging into waters of the state, thus with each new permit cycle effluent limitations for pollutants should become more stringent.
• Best Management Practices
• Mixing zones
• Point of Discharge: The water quality at the point of discharge is also reviewed. CHB determines whether any TMDLs (Total Maximum Daily Loads) have been established and/or if the waterbody has been established as a 303 (d) listed waterbody for any of the discharged pollutants.
• Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs): The DMRs for the facility are reviewed for compliance and violation history. These reports are located at the Southwest Regional offices for the DOE.
The State of the Sound Report, as well as the enactment of the Puget Sound Partnership sends a strong message regarding the pollutants entering Puget Sound and the effect these pollutants are having upon the aquatic environment. While the main sources of pollutants entering the Sound are generated from non-point sources, cumulative pollutant loads from point source discharge remain an ongoing threat to water quality at their point of discharge. Unlike non-point source pollution, these facilities can be strictly monitored and enforced. As the enforcing agency, the Washington Department of Ecology is mandated to send a strong message to these facilities. Commenting upon these permits is important as it provides balance to the system. The DOE is consistently given pressure by the facilities to lesson the limits placed upon them, continued interest in these permits by CHB and other citizen groups help the DOE maintain their focus for clean waters.
NOTE: I changed the name of the page to Permit Review (rather than Water Quality Permits)
Thanks
