Assistance to Prevent Water Pollution in Puget Sound

Assistance to Prevent Water Pollution in Puget Sound



2007 September -   A new Washington state 
program offers $2.5 million to help local governments in the 12 Puget 
Sound counties conduct small business technical assistance to reduce and 
prevent water pollution. Nearly 70 percent of the state's hazardous waste 
generators are in the Puget Sound region - thousands of small businesses. 
The Department of Ecology has invited local governments to submit funding 
proposals under a partnership established this year by the Legislature to 
aid Puget Sound. 
The Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction Program provides funding for 
local governments to hire "local source control specialists" in the Puget 
Sound region. 
Source control assistance will help businesses control, reduce or 
eliminate toxic pollution sources. Priorities include reducing pollutants 
that reach Puget Sound from toxic cleanup sites, storm water sources, or 
waste generation. 
The goal is to provide an opportunity for both rural and urban local 
governments located throughout the Puget Sound region to participate in 
the source control specialist program. 
Local governments in Clallam, Island, Jefferson, Kitsap, King, Mason, 
Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, Thurston, and Whatcom Counties are 
eligible. 
The Department of Ecology expects to award eight to 12 partnership 
agreements, ranging from $200,000 to $400,000 through June, 2009, 
depending on the response and available funds. 
The agency says it anticipates continued funding opportunities beyond 
Fiscal Year 2008-2009. 
With the funding, local governments will help small businesses and 
citizens safely manage hazardous and solid wastes. Source control 
specialists will work in partnership with Ecology to visit small 
businesses and provide technical assistance services intended to control 
pollution at its source. 
Local governments may identify any specific local priorities that would be 
included in the funding agreement and may include stormwater permitting 
business assistance programs, non-point source control efforts and that 
could be leveraged with supplemental funding. 

The Department of Ecology will enter into interagency agreements with 
local government to:

 1) conduct source control site visits and referrals, 
 
2) participate in the department's Environmental Results Program pilot,

3)conduct local government-specific technical assistance and education, and 

4) report measurable environmental results. 

The agency will award contracts based on its evaluation of letters of 
interest and proposals from local governments that are due by October 29. 
The Department of Ecology expects to finalize the partnership agreements 
in November. 

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