Industrial wastewater permits and discharge authorizations for the King County biotechnology industry

The King County Industrial Waste Program (KCIW) has issued permitting guidelines for area biotechology operations that discharge wastewater into the King County sewerage system.

Background: In 2005 KCIW initiated an evaluation of the local biotechnology industry. The purpose was to assess the need to develop a streamlined permitting process to assist these facilities in meeting local, state and federal wastewater discharge regulations. KCIW worked with representatives from local biotechnology industries and consultants to develop the guidelines, and reviewed them with industry and agency organizations.

Biotechnology Industry Sector Permitting Guidelines: In 2006, KCIW issued draft guidelines and requested and reviewed all comments from the biotechnology industry and the general public to develop the final Biotechnology Industry Sector Permitting Guidelines (33 KB).
This document is available in alternative formats by request by calling 206-263-3000.

Next steps: In July, 2006 KCIW sent a letter asking county biotechnology operations to review the guidelines to make sure that they are in compliance with the permitting conditions. KCIW informed them that it would require certain operations to submit a completed King County wastewater discharge permit application no later than October 15, 2006. The program will then review the applications to determine which facilities will require industrial wastewater discharge authorizations or permits.

For further information:

Code of Federal Regulations (CFR): 40 CFR – Part 439 Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Point Source Category (External link).