20130331 DOE Cmt Ltr 10252013
STATE OF WASHINGTON
DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY
PO Box 47775 Olympia, Washington 98504-7775 (360) 407-6300
711 for Washington Relay Service Persons with a speech disability can call 877-833-6341
October 25, 2013
Tami Merriman, Associate Planner
City of Yelm
Community Development Department
105 Yelm Avenue West
Yelm, WA 98597
Dear Ms. Merriman:
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the prethreshold consultationfor the Weber
Property Flood Plain Relocation projectlocated on Rhoton Road Southeastas proposed by
Randy Weber.The Department of Ecology (Ecology) reviewed the environmental checklist and
has the following comment(s):
FLOODPLAINS MANAGEMENT: Donovan Gray (360) 407-7253
Work in a 100yr floodplain requires a floodplain development permit. The site is adjacent to
the floodway of Yelm Creek. Work within a floodway will require a floodway (aka ‘no-
rise’) analysis to demonstrate no rise in the base flood elevation. Watercourse alteration
notification and maintenance requirementsmay apply under 44 CFR 60.3(b)(6). If
significant changes to the existing flood regime as shown on the effect Flood Insurance Rate
Maps (FIRMs) are anticipated the proponent must inform the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) of the changes no later than 6 months from when this
information becomes available. This is usually done through the Letter of Map Revision
(LOMR) process. The proponent should note that under the FEMA/National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS) Biological Opinion the only allowable mitigation for impacts to
ESA listed species in the Protected Area is avoidance.
TOXICS CLEANUP: Mohsen Kourehdar (360) 407-6256
If contamination is suspected, discovered, or occurs during the proposed SEPA action,
testing of the potentially contaminated media must be conducted. If contamination of soil or
groundwater is readily apparent, or is revealed by testing, Ecology must be notified. Contact
the Environmental Report Tracking System Coordinator at the Southwest Regional Office
(SWRO)at (360) 407-6300. For assistance and information about subsequent cleanup and to
identify the type of testing that will be required, contact Mohsen Kourehdar with the SWRO,
Toxic Cleanup Program at the phone number given above.
SEPA REVIEWER: Sonia Mendoza
WATER QUALITY CONTACT: Deborah Cornett (360) 407-7269
Erosion control measures must be in place prior to any clearing, grading, or construction.
These control measures must be effective to prevent stormwater runoff from carrying soil
October 25, 2013
Page 2
and other pollutants into surface water or stormdrains that lead to waters of the state. Sand,
silt, clay particles, and soil will damage aquatic habitat and are considered to be pollutants.
Any discharge of sediment-laden runoff or other pollutants to waters of the state is in
violation of Chapter 90.48 RCW, Water Pollution Control, and WAC 173-201A, Water
Quality Standards for Surface Waters of the State of Washington, and is subject to
enforcement action.
Proper disposal of construction debris must be on land in such a manner that debris cannot
enter water of the state (e.g., Yelm Creek) and stormdrains draining to waters of the state or
cause water quality degradation of state waters.
Clearing limits and/or any easements or required buffers should be identified and marked in
the field, prior to the start of any clearing, grading, or construction. Some suggested methods
are staking and flagging or high visibility fencing.
A permanent vegetative cover should be established on denuded areas at final grade if they
are not otherwise permanently stabilized.
Properties adjacent to the site of a land disturbance should be protected from sediment
deposition through the use of buffers or other perimeter controls, such as filter fence or
sediment basins.
All temporary erosion control systems should be designed to contain the runoff from the
developed two year, 24-hour design storm without eroding.
Provision should be made to minimize the tracking of sediment by construction vehicles onto
paved public roads. If sediment is deposited, it should be cleaned every day by shoveling or
sweeping. Water cleaning should only be done after the area has been shoveled out or swept.
Wash water from paint and wall finishing equipment should be disposed of in a way which
will not adversely impact waters of the state. Untreated disposal of this wastewater is a
violation of State Water Quality laws and statutes and, as such, would be subject to
enforcement action.
This project may require a construction stormwater permit (also known as National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and State Waste Discharge General Permit for
Stormwater Discharges Associated with Construction). This permit is required for projects
which meet both of the following conditions:
1.One or more acres of soil surface area will be disturbed by construction activities.
2.The site already has offsite discharge to waters of the state or stormdrains or will have
offsite discharge during construction.
An application with instructions can be downloaded from Ecology's website at:
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/stormwater/construction/ -Application. Construction
site operators must apply for a permit at least 60 days prior to discharging stormwater.
Ecology’s comments are based upon information provided by the lead agency. As such, they
may not constitute an exhaustive list of the various authorizations that must be obtained or legal
requirements that must be fulfilled in order to carry out the proposed action.
October 25, 2013
Page 3
If you have any questions or would like to respond to these comments, please contact the
appropriate reviewing staff listed above.
Department of Ecology
Southwest Regional Office
(SM:13-4969)
cc:Deborah Cornett, WQ
Donovan Gray, SEA
Josh Klimek, HQ/WQ
Mohsen Kourehdar, TCP
Randy Weber (Applicant)
Ivana Halvorsen, Barghausen Consulting Engineers, Inc. (Contact)