Water Quality Case Study
Situation:
Our client, a prominent homebuilder based in Washington, was faced with changes in the General Stormwater Pollution Control Permit applicable to all of their developments statewide. The client requested that we review its existing stormwater control policies and procedures and recommend strategies for ensuring continued compliance with state and federal law before the new permit took full effect.
Challenge:
Develop new approaches to stormwater control to allow the client to meet the greatly enhanced monitoring and reporting requirements contained in the new General Stormwater Permit.
Solution:
As a first step, the lawyers at Marten Law Group worked closely with the client to understand how they dealt with stormwater control issues during the property acquisition and development process. Understanding the client’s business was key to developing practical solutions to the new Permit requirements. After careful review and consultation with the client, the firm developed a comprehensive solution that included retaining an expert consultant to conduct regular site inspections and make reports to the Washington State Department of Ecology and revising the client’s land sales contracts to more thoroughly define and allocate stormwater control responsibilities under the new permit.
Result:
Despite a changing regulatory environment, the firm helped the client maintain an excellent record of stormwater compliance and to continue development of their properties in a safe and effective fashion.