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Seaport tenants play a crucial role in protecting water quality in Puget Sound. Any polluting activity has direct effects on the Lower Duwamish, Shilshole Bay or Elliot Bay. The Port is actively working with current tenants to improve operations and better manage stormwater runoff to protect the natural environment. This page provides stormwater information geared toward for Port tenants and their properties.
Stormwater Permit Coverage | Industrial Permit Responsibilities | Boatyard Permit Responsibilities | Municipal Permit Education | Municipal Permit Illicit Discharge | Municipal Permit Construction Projects | Municipal Permit Operations and Maintenance | Municipal Permit Source Control and SWPPPs | Other Stormwater Requirements |
For more information, see our FAQs and Stormwater Resource page.
The Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) regulates how the Port handles stormwater runoff on all of the Port's properties. Stormwater regulations are part of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System of permits created by EPA. Approximately 70% of Port tenants are covered by one of the following permits:
The 30% of tenants not covered by an Industrial or Boatyard general permit are subject to the conditions of the NPDES Phase I Municipal Stormwater Permit issued to the Seaport in 2007. Get a general overview of the Port's activities related to the Municipal Permit.
View maps indicating what Permits properties are subject to - North Extent Map (347 KB, PDF), South Extent Map (366 KB, PDF) If you have additional questions regarding stormwater permit coverage, please refer to your lease or contact your Property Manager.
Key aspects of the stormwater permits that apply to tenant properties are discussed below:
Routinely, tenants who hold an Ecology Industrial Permit are responsible to comply with the requirements of their Industrial Stormwater General Permit. The requirements include:
Tenant activities covered under the Industrial Stormwater General Permit are not covered by the Port's Municipal Permit.
Routinely, tenants who hold an Ecology Boatyard Permit are responsible to comply with the requirements of their Boatyard General Permit. The requirements include:
Tenant activities covered under the Boatyard General Permit are not covered by the Port's Municipal Permit.
Tenants covered under the Port's Municipal permit will receive visits from the Environmental Coalition of South Seattle (ECOSS) to assist with identification and application of appropriate Best Management Practices (BMPs) to help protect water quality. Tenants should ensure that their staffs understand their role in protecting water quality and preventing pollutants from being washed downstream. ECOSS will also assist tenants in developing an appropriate Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan as discussed below.
Tenants are responsible for eliminating any non-stormwater connections to the storm drainage system and should take care not to dump or discharge any substance (other than rainwater runoff) into the storm drainage system. Any non-stormwater discharge into the storm drainage system is considered an illicit discharge and is prohibited under the Port's Illicit Discharge Policy (77 KB, PDF). Learn more about the Port's IDDE Program including the Seaport's efforts to map the storm drainage network. IDDE is also addressed in our frequently asked questions.
If you observe or suspect that an illicit discharge has occurred, please refer to the Seaport's Environmental Incident Reporting Guidelines (89 KB, PDF).
New development projects and re-development projects on Port property must adhere to strict standards to protect water quality. When performing construction projects on Port property, tenants are required to notify their Property Manager. In addition, tenants must acquire any permits or meet requirements for projects under their control. Please contact your Property Manager or refer to your lease and preferential use language for additional information.
If your construction project will disturb more than one acre, you must apply for a Construction Stormwater General Permit from the Department of Ecology and develop an appropriate erosion and sediment control plan to protect downstream water quality. All tenants are required to obtain their own Construction Permits and meet all requirements of those permits during the construction process.
Tenants are encouraged to consider low impact development (LID) alternatives when designing new projects. LID is a stormwater management strategy that emphasizes conservation and use of existing, natural site features to more closely mimic natural rainwater runoff patterns. The success of LID strategies (such as permeable paving, vegetated roofs, and rainwater collection systems) is highly dependent on local conditions. Tenants should work closely with Port staff and their designing engineer to determine if LID alternatives are feasible on their site.
Most tenants are responsible for maintaining stormwater structures on their property. These structures include French drains, catch basins and manholes that may have inserts to collect oil and grease. Port staff can assist tenants with maintenance or repairs to these structures. To request or report issues please contact your Port Property Manager. Your lease and preferential use language can also be helpful in understanding your requirements. If you have additional questions regarding operation and maintenance practices, please contact your Property Manager.
Tenants who hold an Ecology NPDES permit are required to have a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) as part of the permit. This includes Industrial, Boatyard, Construction and Individual NPDES permits. The Municipal Permit requires most other tenants to develop a SWPPP to identify structural and operational mechanisms to protect water quality.
Structural mechanisms include installing covers over storage areas and shut-off valves around fueling areas. Operational Controls include sweeping debris and pollutants away from the storm drainage system and maintaining spill response supplies in clearly marked areas.
The Seaport provides a template to assist tenants in developing a SWPPP (template - 1 MB PDF). This SWPPP template consolidates The SWPPP template not only helps tenants to easily create a SWPPP, but it also provides an easy reference for the Best Management Practices (BMPs) required of ALL businesses in the City of Seattle (see the City of Seattle Municipal Code).
Did you know that businesses located on Port property are also subject to the requirements in the City of Seattle Municipal Code for day to day stormwater management? The City of Seattle manages stormwater though Seattle's Stormwater, Grading and Drainage Code (Chapter 22.800-22.808 of the Seattle Municipal Code) and four associated Director's Rules. For more information on the City's stormwater code read their Client Assistance Memo 501: Making sense of Seattle's Stormwater, Grading and Drainage Code.
For additional information and stormwater resources, please visit the Stormwater Resources page.