HB 1609

Abstract

Nutrient and sediment credit generation and transfer; limit certain transfers to private sector. Limits certain transfers of nonpoint nutrient credits to those credits generated by the private sector. The bill provides that while any locality may, without the involvement of a third party, generate its own nutrient or sediment credits and request that such credits be certified by the Department of Environmental Quality, such certifications shall only be used for the purpose of determining whether the project complies with certain credit generation requirements. The bill authorizes any publicly owned water treatment works that is constructing or expanding a treatment facility to permanently retire a portion of its wasteload allocation under certain circumstances. This bill is identical to SB 747.

Nutrient credit use; land-disturbing activity by wastewater utility. Provides that when a publicly owned wastewater treatment works conducts land-disturbing activities in order to construct or expand a facility, it may comply with the water quality requirements associated with such land-disturbing activities by generating and using point source nutrient credits, point source phosphorus credits, and sediment credits through the operation of its existing treatment facilities. The bill requires the treatment works to notify the Department of Environmental Quality of its plan, to adopt a ratio of 10 point source nitrogen credits for each point source phosphorus credit used, and to classify the credits as permanent using a means acceptable to the Department. The bill limits to 10 pounds per year the application of point source phosphorus credits to a single project other than a water reclamation and reuse project.

Nutrient credit use; land-disturbing activityby wastewater utility. Provides that when a publicly owned wastewatertreatment works conducts land-disturbing activities in order to constructor expand a facility, it may comply with the water quality requirementsassociated with such land-disturbing activities by generating andusing point source nutrient credits through the operation of itsexisting treatment facilities. The bill requires the treatment worksto notify the Department of Environmental Quality of its plan andto adopt a ratio of 10 point source nitrogen credits for each pointsource phosphorus credit used. The bill contains technical amendments.