The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) is issuing an order to San Juan County regarding water quality at the Friday Harbor transfer station. Please see the attached copy of the order for details.

In summary, the order directs the county to address industrial stormwater issues at the facility by applying for coverage under the industrial stormwater general permit, and to comply with that permit’s requirements. This will lead to measures to prevent the release of contaminated stormwater from areas exposed to rainfall, where solid waste is handled, processed or stored.

Compliance with the stormwater permit is required while the existing facility remains in use. Although Ecology has been flexible to this point on solid waste requirements, the county needs to meet those requirements as well, unless an additional variance is approved. The existing solid waste variance expires May 14.

Ecology likely will require a stormwater permit if the transfer station is relocated.

When the new facility is built or the existing facility is improved, it should be designed and operated so stormwater does not come into contact with solid waste operations.

San Juan County officials are aware of the stormwater problems and are cooperating to come into compliance with stormwater requirements.

For more information, please call me at the number below, Richard Grout, manager of Ecology’s Bellingham Field Office, at 360-715-5200, or Peter Christiansen, section manager of Ecology’s Solid Waste and Financial Assistance Program, at 425-649-7076.