Idaho Governor Otter and Post Falls Mayor Clay Larkin met behind closed doors on Wednesday to discuss how Idaho agencies that discharge wastewater to the river can avoid a costly court battle with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The Forum worked with experts to create a lay person’s guide to understanding what’s at stake and the debate behind Idaho dischargers challenging the DO TMDL.
The Post Falls City Council approved a resolution to file a lawsuit against the federal government over the Spokane River DO TMDL. The Hayden Area Regional Sewer Board is expected to join the suit.
The Post Falls City Council on Tuesday, July 6th will consider a resolution that affirms filing a lawsuit over phosphorus discharge permit regulations. The lawsuit stems from EPA’s acceptance of a DO TMDL that regulates phosphorus discharge in Washington. EPA, using modeling developed with Washington looking at wastewater treatment discharge impacts from Post Falls to Long Lake dam, expects to issue permits to Idaho dischargers within months.
Ted Sturdevant, director of the Washington Department of Ecology, said Wednesday that he stands behind his agency’s ambitious plan to reduce phosphorus flowing in the Spokane River. The Spokesman Review reports.
View letters related to the dispute resolution. Oral presentations April 5 and Spokane Fire Department Training Complex.
In late February, a dispute resolution process regarding the Dissolved Oxygen TMDL submitted by Washington Department of Ecology to EPA for approval was requested by the City of Post Falls, Hayden Area Regional Sewer Board, the City of Coeur d’Alene, and Inland Empire Paper company. On March 12th, Avista also requested dispute resolution.
Filings for DO TMDL dispute resolution and other background material are now available. Those seeking dispute resolution include the City of Post Falls and Hayden Area Regional Sewer Board, the City of Coeur d’Alene, Inland Empire Paper and Avista .