Ecology to lay off as many as 9

By Adam Wilson | The Olympian • Published April 15, 2008

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The state Department of Ecology plans to lay off up to nine workers in its 250-person Water Quality Program, prompted in part by declining construction statewide.

The division works to prevent pollution of the state's lakes, rivers and other bodies of water. It sets guidelines for handling discharge, such as stormwater runoff from new developments.

The permits it issues have an annual cost of anywhere from $79 to $700,000 and set guidelines for how pollution will be handled.

The agency projected income growth when it set its budget a year ago because planners expected increasing construction projects to require more permits.

But the economy has slowed, those expectations have been trimmed back twice, and the agency faces a $1.8 million shortfall by the end of the fiscal year in June 2009.

"We are continuing to hold vacancies, reassign work and reduce nonstaff- related cost wherever possible," agency spokeswoman Sandy Howard said Tuesday.

The revenue from the permits, which makes up 35 percent of the division's budget, seems to be stabilizing, she said. "But additional reductions are necessary to compensate for expenditures earlier in the biennium and balance the program for the next biennium."

The Washington Federation of State Employees represents workers in Ecology. Union spokesman Tim Welch said the union is considering the situation.

"Obviously whenever there is a (layoff proposal) we are concerned, and we want to look at alternatives to that," he said.

It is possible the union could file a formal complaint, and Howard said the agency still hopes to reduce the number of layoffs.

The agency plans to finalize any reductions by July 1, she said.