The Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council on Nov. 19 voted to issue the draft National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) waste discharge permit for the Grays Harbor Energy Center.

Staff recommended issuance after a permit renewal application was out for public comment Sept. 29–Oct. 28 and received no comments, according to Sarah Randolph, the facility’s FSEC site specialist. She told the council staff will bring the draft permit and fact sheet forward for issuance; the council approved the staff recommendation and directed issuance of the NPDES permit.

Randolph also outlined a separate Title V air operating permit (AOP) update. The AOP (Title V) was out for comment Oct. 6–Nov. 5 and drew three opposing comments; staff are coordinating responses with the Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCA) and expect the AOP to go to the EPA for a 45-day review, with council consideration expected in January 2026.

Council members asked for and received clarification that the action before them that day was specifically the NPDES permit issuance and that the AOP/acid‑rain alignment constitutes a separate process that will return to the council after EPA review. During the motion there was on-the-record confusion about the permit number that staff clarified before the vote.

Next steps: staff will finalize issuance paperwork for the NPDES permit and will return the AOP package for council consideration following EPA review.