Ecology Clarifies Its Emergency Closure Rule in Upper Kittitas County

Ecology:

"The Department of Ecology (Ecology) has clarified its current groundwater closure in upper Kittitas County with the filing of an amended emergency groundwater rule.

"The amended rule makes it clear that people with vested building permit applications or issued building permits in the upper county as of July 16, 2009, are not subject to the groundwater closure and may use permit-exempt wells.

"A vested building permit application is one that has been completed and submitted to the county, and issuance of a permit is expected.

"The amended rule was signed Friday, July 31, 2009, and is effective for a maximum of 120 days. A map of the affected area is available on Ecology’s web site at: www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wr/cro/kittitas_wp.html. Under the amended rule, metering will be required for all uses of the groundwater exemption for residential purposes."