Judge orders EPA to work with Ecology to meet PCB standards for the Spokane River
U.S. District Judge Barbara Rothstein ordered EPA to “work with Ecology to create a definite schedule with concrete goals, including: clear statements on how the [Spokane River Toxics] Task Force will assist in creating a PCB TMDL in the Spokane River by reducing scientific uncertainty; quantifiable metrics to measure progress toward this goal; regular checkpoints at which Ecology and the EPA will evaluate progress; a reasonable end date, at which time Ecology will finalize and submit the TMDL for the EPA’s approval or disapproval; and firm commitments to reducing PCB production from known sources in the interim.”