What is involved in the NPDES permitting process?

The permitting process is quite extensive and is aimed at maintaining high water quality. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality would be responsible for issuing a permit to discharge the Sandy River, and they require a number of studies and engineering evaluations. The City’s consulting engineers have already conducted water quality studies of the current river flows and a geomorphology study and fisheries biology evaluations to determine the most stable location of the river for an outfall. DEQ would require additional studies such as a mixing zone study, an “antidegradation” study to evaluate any impacts to the river, groundwater quality sampling and analysis, additional geotechnical investigations, and wetlands delineations prior to issuing a permit.