New permits strengthen protection of Spokane River

SPOKANE – Three draft water quality permits are ready for public review. The Washington Department of Ecology reviews and reissues the permits on a five-year cycle to ensure facilities are continuing to protect water quality.

“We consider clean water needs, environmental conditions, and reasonable treatment options when developing permit requirements,” said Water Quality Section Manager Jim Bellatty. “We believe these permits contain realistic, workable solutions for reducing toxins and other pollutants in the river.”

As part of a major effort to achieve a clean and healthy Spokane River, three of five water quality permits are being updated. The permits require facilities to treat wastewater to clean water standards in order to protect the river, which suffers from low dissolved oxygen and high amounts of toxic chemicals such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

The public can review updated permits for the city of Spokane, Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District and the Kaiser Aluminum Trentwood Works through Aug. 29.

The updated permits will include strict limits on phosphorus and other common pollutants and intermediate targets for meeting final limits of PCBs, and will require continued participation in the Spokane River Regional Toxics Task Force.

The task force, facilitated by the William D. Ruckelshaus Center, has been working since 2012 on a comprehensive approach to simultaneously identify and reduce all sources of PCBs in the Spokane River Basin.

PCBs remain in the environment and build up over time in fish, animals and people.

Phosphorus and other nutrients in the Spokane River and Lake Spokane cause depletion of dissolved oxygen that fish and other aquatic life need to survive. Excess nutrients can also cause toxic algae blooms that can harm people.

Ecology is hosting an open house to kick off a 60-day public comment period on the permits at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 30, at its Eastern Regional Office, 4601 N. Monroe St., Spokane.

Ecology also will hold a workshop followed by a public hearing at 6 p.m. Aug. 2 at the Mirabeau Park Hotel and Convention Center, 1100 N. Sullivan Road, Spokane Valley.

Comments can be sent by email to Shara-Li Joy at shara-li.joy@ecy.wa.gov, or by mail to 4601 N. Monroe St., Spokane, 99205.