Stormwater

How YOU make a difference

Clean water is a resource we all share and have a collective duty to protect.  Pollutants that enter the stormwater system flow to Padilla Bay and have negative impacts on aquatic life and human health.  Thank you for taking the time to learn about the POSC’s Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) and the role you play in ensuring water quality is protected.

Being aware of how your actions could impact stormwater is the first step in preventing pollution.  When rainwater runs off of surfaces, it picks up pollutants that can be harmful.  Pollutants can be obvious, like an oil spill on pavement, or hard to see, like dust from tires and paint flecks off a pressure washed building.  Even things that are “natural” like grass clippings and dog poop are considered pollutants and can have negative impacts when they enter waterways.  So do your part and ensure “Only Rain Down the Drain”!

10 Best Practices While Working on Port of Skagit Property

1. Keep all equipment and vehicles in good working order and well-maintained.
2. Use drip pans or other containment when transferring fluids and fuels. Fueling must be conducted at least 25’ from any catch basin.
3. Sweep up work areas rather than using water.
4. Store materials inside or under cover, especially metal, chemicals, and tires.
5. Use proper construction management techniques to prevent erosion and sediment in stormwater. Protect nearby drains and ditches when doing work.  Make sure the site is secure before leaving for lunch and at the end of the day.
6. Tools, vehicles, and equipment can NOT be washed here. Use a commercial car wash for vehicles and large equipment.  Use construction management BMPs to contain and properly dispose of concrete wash-out.  Aircraft can only be washed at the wash bay by the terminal.
7. Cut grass and vegetation debris should never be left in stormwater ditches or ponds. Collect it for composting and proper disposal.
8. Dispose of all trash properly; keep dumpster lids closed.
9. All spills must be immediately reported to the POSC administrative office: 360.757.0011
   

   IF A SPILL IS UNCONTROLLED OR POSES AN IMMEDIATE RISK TO HUMAN OR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ALWAYS CALL 911 FIRST.

   After business hours /weekends / holidays, please call the POSC Duty Phone: 360.631.7132

10. We are here to help! We have lots of information and resources to share.  If you need more information on stormwater pollution and spill prevention, please call or stop by the POSC office anytime.

The Port of Skagit County (POSC) is a permittee under WA State Department of Ecology’s Industrial Stormwater General Permit (ISGP). The Permit requires POSC to provide training for all contractors and vendors entering these areas. The goal of this training is to inform you of your potential impacts to stormwater and the actions you must take to prevent pollution. The Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) is a document that POSC has created to identify potential sources of pollution within the permit coverage area and the Best Management Practices (BMPs) to be used to prevent pollution. These BMPs listed above are practices that have been proven effective at preventing pollution and were selected from the 2024 Stormwater Management Manual for Western Washington. The SWPPP is developed and maintained by POSC’s Environmental Manager. It is available for review in the POSC Administrative Office anytime during business hours. The ISGP requires that we document the delivery of this training to all contractors and vendors working within the permit area. Please email the Port’s Environmental Manager at [email protected] with any questions about this training or if you require it in an alternative format.

Your completion of the form below signifies your acknowledgement of your role and responsibility in preventing stormwater pollution.