This page is a resource for participants in the 2029 Western Washington Early Comment Ad Hoc Process.

Western Washington permittees, stormwater professionals, and interested stakeholders can use this page to learn about the process, track meeting dates, access updates, and follow the work of Topic Groups. Participation is open to anyone.

The goal of this effort is to develop a series of white papers on key permit-related topics that may help inform Ecology’s 2029 municipal stormwater permit reissuance process.

Join the Mailing List

To be added to the Western Washington Ad Hoc Process mailing list, please contact:

Laurie Larson-Pugh
Washington Stormwater Center
[email protected]

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Next Meeting

Western Washington Ad Hoc Plenary Meeting

Date: TBD, January 2027
Location: Virtual meeting via Zoom

Meeting focus:
Hold the Plenary Ad Hoc Group confluence meeting with participation from all Topic Groups.

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Overview

During the 2019 and 2024 MS4 Permit reissuance development processes, an ad hoc group of Western Washington permittees and interested stakeholders explored whether a more collaborative approach could lead to stronger permits and better working relationships among stakeholders, including Ecology.

This effort became known as the Ad Hoc Process. It provided an opportunity to:

• Develop a shared understanding of permit language and its purpose.
• Identify and suggest permit changes that may result in substantial improvements.
• Build more productive relationships among stormwater stakeholders and Ecology.

In late fall 2025, Ecology’s Phase II Permit Writer expressed interest in restarting the Ad Hoc effort to help inform reissuance of the 2029 Western Washington permits.

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Ad Hoc Process Ground Rules

The Ad Hoc Process will follow these ground rules:

• The Phase I and Phase II Western Washington Municipal Stormwater Permits are Ecology’s to write. Ecology has legal responsibilities and must follow its required regulatory process.
• These ad hoc discussions are advisory. They do not supersede or replace any Ecology process.
• The process is open and transparent. Everyone is welcome to participate.
• Participation does not prevent anyone from submitting separate ideas or comments directly to Ecology.
• Participation does not prevent anyone from pursuing the formal permit appeal process.
• Topic Groups will work toward shared understanding and recommendations.
• If a Topic Group does not reach a shared recommendation, its white paper should describe the range of perspectives and indicate the level of support for each perspective.
• When appropriate, Topic Groups may use existing regional forums, such as STORM and ROADMAP, to organize discussions.

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White Paper Resources

Ecology offered the following tips for preparing Ad Hoc Process white papers.

White papers should provide suggestions on permit changes that may:

• Improve understanding or clarity of permit requirements.
• Improve implementation.
• Lead to better water quality results.
• Provide rationale or justification for proposed changes.
• Include relevant data sources or literature, when available.
• Identify existing permit language that may be an impediment to implementation.
• Include exact permit language or edits, when useful. Exact language is welcome but not required.

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Ad Hoc Process Structure

Plenary Ad Hoc Group

The Plenary Ad Hoc Group serves as the umbrella organizing group for the process and is open to all participants.

The Washington Stormwater Center provides a virtual meeting and information-sharing platform to support discussions.

The Plenary Ad Hoc Group may:

• Coordinate outreach and engagement.
• Serve as a shared resource for Topic Groups.
• Receive work products from Topic Groups.

The Plenary Ad Hoc Group does not have authority to edit Topic Group work products, except for formatting and grammar changes.

Ad Hoc Topic Groups

Ad Hoc Topic Groups focus on specific technical or policy issues.

Topic Groups are responsible for:

• Selecting a lead or co-leads.
• Scheduling their own meetings.
• Discussing permit-related topics.
• Writing their own white papers.
• Sharing permit suggestions at a future Ad Hoc Group confluence meeting.
• Submitting white papers for Ecology’s consideration as it develops the 2029 Phase I and Phase II Western Washington Municipal Stormwater Permits.

Ad Hoc Organizing Committee

The Ad Hoc Organizing Committee supports the overall process.

The committee may:

• Schedule and support Plenary Ad Hoc Group meetings.
• Develop meeting agendas and process ground rules.
• Collect and organize topic recommendations.
• Prepare an optional white paper template.
• Communicate with permittees, stakeholders, and Ecology.
• Orient new participants.

Current representatives include Thurston County, King County, City of Redmond, and Skagit County.

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Ad Hoc Organizing Team

Contact any of the following individuals for more information about the Ad Hoc Process or to express interest in joining the Ad Hoc Organizing Team.

Lead Coordinator

Laurie Larson-Pugh
Washington Stormwater Center
[email protected]

Co-Coordinators

Diane Hennebert
King County
[email protected]

Aila Marci
City of Redmond
[email protected]

Rachel Konrady
City of Kirkland
[email protected]

Jason Quigley
Skagit County
[email protected]

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Proposed Schedule

All meetings are expected to be hosted virtually via Zoom.

Timeframe	Activity
January–June 2026	Present the concept and schedule to regional groups. Hold a planning meeting to identify topics, planning team participants, and stakeholder invitees.
January–June 2026	Use a Washington Stormwater Center survey to refine discussion topics and identify possible Topic Group roles.
January–June 2026	Organize the Ad Hoc Team.
July 22, 2026	Hold the Plenary Ad Hoc Group kickoff meeting.
August 2026–January 2027	Topic Groups develop white paper recommendations and submit them to the Plenary Ad Hoc Group. Draft white papers may be posted for comment.
Late January 2027	Hold the Plenary Ad Hoc Group confluence meeting with participation from all Topic Groups.
Early February 2027	Submit Topic Group white papers to Ecology.