EPA Proposes Reissuance of NPDES Permits for the Lummi Wastewater Treatment Plants at Gooseberry Point and Sandy Point; Public comment period: 12/23/03 -- 01/22/04

Gooseberry Point wastewater treatment plant, owned by the Lummi Indian Business Council and operated by the Lummi Sewer and Water District, is located near Portage Point at the southern end of the Lummi Reservation; The facility provides secondary treatment and disinfection of wastewater from homes and several schools and commercial establishments. The proposed NPDES permit authorizes the discharge of wastewater in about 22 feet of water about 925 feet from shore in Hale Passage.

Sandy Point wastewater treatment plant, owned by the Lummi Indian Business Council and operated by the Lummi Sewer and Water District, is located near the northwestern corner of the Lummi Reservation; the facility provides secondary treatment and disinfection of wastewater from domestic wastewater. The proposed NPDES permit authorizes the discharge of wastewater in about 44 feet of water about 1458 feet from shore in the Strait of Georgia.

The Region 10 Office of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has tentatively determined to reissue these discharge permits to the above listed applicant.

This Notice will also serve as Public Notice of the intent of the State of Washington, Department of Ecology to consider certifying that the subject discharges will comply with the applicable provisions of Sections 208(e), 301, 302, 303, 306 and 307 of the Clean Water Act. The NPDES permit will not be issued until the certification requirements of Section 401 have been met.

Persons wishing to comment on the tentative determinations contained in the draft permits or wishing to request that a public hearing be held, may do so in writing or, by e-mail to wilson.sharon@epa.gov, within 30 days of the date of this public notice. A request for a public hearing shall state the nature of the issues to be raised as well as the requester's name, address and telephone number.

Comments must be received within the 30 day comment period in order to be considered in the formulation of final determinations regarding the applications. All comments should include the name, address and telephone number of the commenter and a concise statement of the exact basis of any comment and the relevant facts upon which it is based. All written comments and requests must be submitted to EPA at the above address to the attention of the Director, Office of Water.

Persons wishing to comment on State Certification should submit written comments within the comment period to Richard Grout, Washington Department of Ecology, 1204 Railroad Street, Suite 200, Bellingham WA 98225.

The draft NPDES permits and other related documents are on file and may be inspected at the above EPA Region 10 Seattle address any time between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Copies and other information may be requested by writing to the EPA at the above address to the attention of the NPDES Permits Unit, or by calling (206) 553-0523.

Copies of the draft permits and fact sheets can also be found by visiting the Region 10 website at

The draft permits and fact sheets are also available at the following locations:

EPA Washington Operations Office,