The Washington State Clean Air Act provides a mechanism for facilities to request an enforceable limit on emissions of a pollutant from their operations. The clean air agency with jurisdiction can agree to this request and include emissions monitoring, reporting, and recordkeeping requirements to ensure that the requested limit is met.
On August 13, 2025, NWCAA issued Regulatory Order 52 (RO-52) to the Post Point Wastewater Treatment Plant. The Order, requested by the City of Bellingham and to which NWCAA agreed, establishes a limit on carbon monoxide (CO) air emissions from the existing incinerators. The Order requires continuous monitoring, recordkeeping and reporting to show whether the limit is being met. RO-52 does not approve, deny, or modify ongoing operation of the existing incinerators or any other equipment at the facility.
This is just one action that NWCAA and the City of Bellingham are taking to resolve alleged emission issues at Post Point. NWCAA and the City are engaged in ongoing discussions and the agency’s investigation is continuing at this time.
Post Point’s Application, RO-52, and the Worksheet that summarizes the technical basis for the Order:
NWCAA accepted public comments on the draft Order from April 12, 2025, through June 11, 2025, and conducted an in-person public hearing on the draft Order on June 11, 2025. Comments (written and verbal) were reviewed and grouped by content. NWCAA’s comment response is provided in the linked document below.
Hearing transcript with comments
Pursuant to Section 123.1 of the NWCAA Regulations, this Order shall become final unless, no later than thirty (30) days after the date that the Order is served, any person appeals the Order to the Pollution Control Hearings Board as provided by chapter 43.21B RCW.
Additional information regarding appeal procedures can be found at https://eluho.wa.gov/boards/pollution-control-hearings-board.