6-DEQ NWP 401 WQC_unprotected.pdf

This is a Water Quality Certification (WQC) document issued by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) in coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the Wastewater System Capacity Improvements Project in St. Helens, Oregon. The certification authorizes the construction and replacement of sanitary sewer infrastructure within Basins 4 and 6, designed to increase system capacity, improve reliability, and address conveyance deficiencies in the collection system. The document serves as an environmental compliance authorization required under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act, ensuring that the proposed construction activities comply with state water quality standards and applicable state laws.

The WQC document establishes conditions and requirements that the project applicant must adhere to throughout construction and operation. These conditions typically address water quality protection, stormwater management, erosion and sediment control, habitat protection, and monitoring requirements to ensure minimal environmental impact on state waters and aquatic resources. The certification represents a critical permitting milestone that must be obtained prior to issuance of the Army Corps of Engineers' Section 404 permit for any discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States within the project area.