Ecology Director upholds Spokane River DO TMDL
Washington Department of Ecology
Press Release
SPOKANE — The director of the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) has determined that the conditions in the Spokane River’s water quality improvement plan should be upheld. Ted Sturdevant’s decision follows a review of the plan by a dispute resolution panel that met April 5, 2010, to hear concerns raised by several stakeholders.
Ecology’s web page provides Sturdevant’s letter to organizations (Avista, City of Coeur d’Alene, Inland Empire Paper, City of Post Falls/HARSB, and Sierra Club) requesting dispute resolution. This web page also includes the dispute panel recommendation to Ecology’s Director.
When implemented, the Spokane River/Lake Spokane Dissolved Oxygen Water Quality Improvement Report, often referred to as the total maximum daily load (TMDL) report, will guide work toward bringing the Spokane River into compliance with water quality standards for dissolved oxygen.
The plan calls for a reduction in phosphorus pollution from industrial and municipal pipes by approximately 80,000 pounds of phosphorus a year. Phosphorus encourages algae growth, which then depletes oxygen from the water that fish need to live. Due to the sensitivity of the Spokane River system, the phosphorous limits for industrial and municipal discharges are among the most stringent in the country.
Dischargers will have up to 10 years to comply with new discharge limits specified in the water quality improvement plan, with extension up to 20 years possible under some limited circumstances.
Several of the dischargers objected to the new limits. In February, they asked to enter into dispute resolution. The dispute resolution process considers the concerns of stakeholders that have not been resolved during the TMDL development process. Inland Empire Paper company, the city of Coeur d’Alene, the city of Post Falls, the Hayden Area Regional Sewer Board, Avista Corp. and the Sierra Club requested dispute resolution.
Ecology created a panel of experts not previously involved in the TMDL development process to review the details of the disputes, listen to oral presentations by the disputants and make a recommendation to the Ecology director regarding whether the TMDL should be revised. Following the April 5 meeting the panel found that the issues raised don’t necessitate a change in the TMDL.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) still has to approve the water quality plan before it is considered final.
“The issue of equity and how it is defined was particularly difficult for the panel,” said Ted Sturdevant. “There is no clear solution that will satisfy all of the disputants, and we have worked long and hard to develop the best plan possible. Once the TMDL is approved by the EPA, we can start more detailed conversations about implementation. But we need to move ahead, so we can finally get past process and actually start reducing phosphorous in the river.”
Download an electronic copy of the Spokane River/Lake Spokane Dissolved Oxygen Water Quality Improvement Plan and Frequently Asked Questions to read more about the plan.
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Media Contacts:
•Jani Gilbert, Communications, 509-329-3495; cell, 509-990-9177; e-mail jani.gilbert@ecy.wa.gov.
•Cathy Cochrane, Communications, 509-329-3433; cell, 509-290-0685; e-mail ccoc461@ecy.wa.gov.
For more information:
•Electronic copies of the Spokane River/Lake Spokane Dissolved Oxygen Water Quality Improvement Plan: www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/0710073.html.
•See the Frequently Asked Questions at: www.ecy.wa.gov/pubs/0810028.pdf.
• Click here to learn about the dispute resolution process.