City of Kent accepts stormwater grant

Kent City Council members approved a grant amendment allowing the city to discharge local stormwater to streams, rivers and lakes, at a meeting April 3.

The Municipal Stormwater Capacity Grant Amendment from the Department of Ecology has been provided by the Washington State Department of Ecology to help local governments implement requirements of the Western Washington Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permit as required by the federal Clean Water Act.  In Kent, the staff’s goal is to increase efficiency of the stormwater program and maximize grant funds to provide long term fiscal savings.

This is a federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit and a state discharge permit issued by the Washington State Department of Ecology. Public Works has been working to ensure that the Kent implements stormwater management practices consistent with permit requirements. The Department of Ecology is offering the city of Kent an additional $50,000 no-match grant under the Phase II Stormwater Capacity Grant program. This grant is an amendment to the $367,065 Stormwater Capacity Grant the City was awarded in 2010.

The amendment also provides an extra year for the city to spend the total amended grant amount of $417,065. The grant funds be spent on implementation of the Phase II NPDES permit requirements.

To date, the City has spent $166,000 of the total grant funds on: equipment to aid in the inspection and maintenance of stormwater infrastructure, spill-response supplies and training, education and outreach materials and other activities consistent with NPDES permit implementation.

Reach Sarah Kehoe at skehoer@kentreporter.com or 253-872-6600 ext. 5056.

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