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A. The purpose of this chapter is to protect water resources in the city by establishing development regulations and minimum standards to reduce the risks of contaminants entering water resources as defined at VMC 14.26.110.

B. In furtherance of this purpose, the city prohibits the discharge of contaminants to water resources as set forth in VMC 14.26.117 and requires certain operations to utilize best management practices as set forth in VMC 14.26.120, 14.26.125, and 14.26.130.

C. The city also recognizes that achieving successful pollution control must include a water resources pollution prevention education component for businesses, industries, and the general public. In implementing this chapter, the city will offer education and technical assistance to businesses, industries, and the general public to explain how to implement water resource protection and pollution control practices. Enforcement actions will normally be implemented when:

1. Education and technical assistance measures are unsuccessful at protecting the public interest;

2. Best management practices are not followed; or

3. Persons willfully contaminate the water resources of the city.

D. It is not the intent of this chapter to have the city pursue enforcement actions against businesses, industries, or persons whose actions or activities result in the discharge of de minimis amounts, as defined at VMC 14.26.110, of contaminants into the water resources of the city.

E. The city finds this chapter is necessary to protect the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the city and the integrity of the city’s water resources for the benefit of all by:

1. Minimizing or eliminating surface and groundwater quality degradation;

2. Preserving and enhancing the suitability of waters for recreation, fishing, wildlife habitat, aquatic life and other beneficial uses; and

3. Preserving and enhancing the aesthetic quality and biotic integrity of the water.

F. The city recognizes the importance of maintaining economic viability while providing necessary environmental protection. This chapter helps achieve both goals.

G. It is the purpose of the 2016 amendments to this chapter to adopt ordinances and other enforceable mechanisms required for compliance with the city of Vancouver’s stormwater permit, and for compliance with the federal underground injection control (UIC) program, through application of best management practices (BMPs) for stormwater management. The regulatory basis requiring the 2016 amendments is as follows:

1. To meet requirements of the Federal Clean Water Act, the State of Washington Department of Ecology has been given the authority to issue municipal stormwater permits to designated communities throughout the state that discharge stormwater into surface water bodies. On January 17, 2007, the Washington State Department of Ecology issued the city of Vancouver a Western Washington Phase II municipal stormwater permit under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program. The permit requires that the city of Vancouver adopt low-impact development principles and best management practices, and stormwater control and pollution prevention measures, with the goal of improving waters of the state.

2. The underground injection control (UIC) program was created by Congress to protect underground sources of drinking water from discharges of fluids to the ground. Chapter 173-218 WAC was adopted by the Washington State Department of Ecology to regulate stormwater discharges to groundwater through drywells and other types of underground infiltration systems that are not regulated under the NPDES permit.

H. It is the purpose of the 2022 amendments to this chapter to adopt ordinances and other enforceable mechanisms required for continued compliance with the city of Vancouver’s stormwater permit, and for compliance with the federal underground injection control (UIC) program, through application of best management practices (BMPs) for stormwater management. On July 1, 2019, the Washington State Department of Ecology reissued the city of Vancouver a Western Washington Phase II municipal stormwater permit under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program. The permit requires the city of Vancouver to carry out a program to prevent and reduce pollutants in runoff from areas that discharge to the stormwater drainage system by implementing a source control program that applies BMPs to pollution-generating sources associated with existing land uses and activities. The goal of the program is to reduce degradation of water resources. (Ord. M-4372 § 1, 2022; Ord. M-4179 § 50, 2016; Ord. M-3920 § 4, 2009; Ord. M-3600, 2002)