What is the purpose of this permit?
This permit allows the regulated use of pesticides, herbicides, algaecides, adjuvants, tracer dyes, and marker dyes to control the growth of aquatic plants and algae within irrigation systems that flow to fresh
surface waters of the State of Washington.
What activities require this permit?
Irrigation water suppliers whose system is capable of discharging to or intersecting with points of compliance are required to have coverage under this general permit.
New applicants must submit a complete application for permit coverage a minimum of 60 days before applying pesticides that result in discharge to waters of the state.
How much will this permit cost?
Application fee: None
Annual fee: Please see
WAC 173-224-040 for the current permit fee schedule. Ecology will bill you for permit fees after permit coverage is issued.
Do I need to include anything with my application?
In addition to the permit application, the applicant must submit:
- Maps with the boundaries of the irrigation system,
- Points of compliance (Permit Section 4) and
- Pesticide application locations (Permit Section 5).
- A completed and signed State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) checklist is also necessary unless SEPA is completed at the local level. If SEPA is completed at a local level, include a completed and signed SEPA determination with your permit application. SEPA forms are available here: https://ecology.wa.gov/Regulations-Permits/SEPA/Environmental-review/SEPA-document-templates.
How long will it take to review my application?
See the Permit Timeliness Results below for average processing times.
New permittees must submit a complete application form at least 90 days prior to the planned activity that will result in the discharge to waters of the state. Permittees with an existing permit must reapply for coverage at least 180 days prior to the expiration date of this permit. The current permit expires June 15, 2017. See
https://ecology.wa.gov/Asset-Collections/Doc-Assets/Water-quality/Freshwater/Water-Quality-Permits/Aquatic-Pesticides-Permits/irrigationpermit051612 for details.
Where do I submit my application?
Please use the
WQWebPortal to fill out and submit your application.
How long is my permit valid?
Ecology general permits are reissued every 5 years. Current permittees must apply for permit renewal at least 180 days before the current version of the permit expires.
What is the appeal process for the permit?
An applicant or any interested party has a right to appeal this permit decision to the Pollution Control Hearings Board (PCHB) within 30 days of the date of receipt of this permit. The appeal process is governed by Chapter 43.21B RCW and Chapter 371-08 WAC. “Date of receipt” is defined in RCW 43.21B.001(2).
You must also comply with other applicable requirements in Chapter 43.21B RCW and Chapter 371-08 WAC.
Permit Timeliness Results
Permit Timeliness data collection is in response to a State Auditor’s Performance Audit and RCW 43.42A. Each regulatory agency developed a plan to improve permit clarity, predictability, and timeliness. Each agency considers the customers experience to ensure permit assistance is simple to use, easy to access, and designed in a customer-friendly manner. Agencies report progress to the Governor’s Office for Regulatory Innovation and Assistance (ORIA). ORIA prepares and distributes reports, with participation from the State Auditor’s Office and Results Washington. See latest report here: https://www.oria.wa.gov/ORIA-2020-PermitTimelinessProgressReport.pdf.
All permits submitted for reporting were entered into this Regulatory Handbook. Here are the results of the performance data:
Estimated Time Required By the Agency to Process a Permit Application (Definition)Average number of days from Receipt to Complete: 4Maximum number of days from Receipt to Complete: 4Estimated Time Required By the Agency to Issue a Permit Decision (Definition)Average number of days from Complete Application to Decision: 46Maximum number of days from Complete Application to Decision: 46(Summary results based on 1 submittals in 2015, no data for current year)
Where can I get permitting assistance?
Subject matter expert phone:
Irrigation System Aquatic Weed Control General Permit