Public Notice: Proposed Permit for the Town of Harrah Wastewater Treatment Plant on the Yakama Reservation
Summary
EPA is proposing to reissue the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for the Town of Harrah Wastewater Treatment Plant located on the Yakama Indian Reservation in Washington.
The draft permit places conditions on the discharge of pollutants from the wastewater treatment plant to waters of the United States. In order to ensure protection of water quality and human health, the permit places limits on the types and amounts of pollutants that can be discharged from the facility.
The Town of Harrah owns and operates the wastewater treatment plant which serves a resident population of 640. The collection system has no combined sewers and there are no major industries discharging to the facility.
The facility discharges treated effluent to Harrah Drain, which is an irrigation canal with controlled flow between the months of April and October.
Applicant
Town of Harrah
8761 Branch Road
Harrah, WA 98933
Permit number: WA0022705
Tentative Determination
The Region 10 office of the EPA has tentatively determined to issue a discharge permit to the applicant.
Water Quality Certification
Section 401 of the Clean Water Act requires the state in which the discharge originates to certify that the discharge complies with the appropriate sections of the Clean Water Act, as well as any appropriate requirements of state law, including water quality standards that have been approved for Tribes with treatment as a state.
Since this facility discharges to Tribal waters and the Yakama Tribe has not been approved for treatment as a state for the receiving water, EPA is the certifying authority.
The NPDES permit will not be issued until the certification requirements of section 401 have been met. A draft 401 certification is included in the fact sheet below.
Comments regarding EPA's intent to certify should be directed to the EPA contact listed in this public notice.
Administrative Record
Electronic copies of the draft permit and supporting documents are available below:
- Draft NPDES Permit, Town of Harrah, Yakama Reservation, #WA0022705 (pdf)
- NPDES Permit Fact Sheet, Town of Harrah, Yakama Reservation, #WA0022705 (pdf)
A copy of the current permit is also available online at NPDES Permit for Town of Harrah Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Copies and other information may be also requested by contacting Cody Piscitelli ([email protected]), 206-553-1169.