Our intent for holding the open houses is to provide transparent and easy to understand information on what a variance from the water quality standards means, and why we are considering PCB variances for the Spokane River. We have several tools to reduce PCBs in the river and help our regulated community meet the water quality standards. Along with our partners, we've developed several plans that set targets to improve the health of the Spokane River, Lake Spoka… Ecology is seeking informal comments to a preliminary draft polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) variance rule for the Spokane River. Poster 2: Water quality variance process. 6. controls more stringent than those required by sections 301(b) and 306 of the act would result in Some of these options aren't mutually exclusive. �u,2���Jld3�.�}a8��4C� �-l�_dm".0t5�yo�@�j1+�-@��dA �����(����Yo )N��K Œ� 9^-V Five entities with NPDES permits to discharge to the Spokane River applied to Ecology for individual discharger WQS City of Spokane – Riverside Park Water Reclamation Facility A variance is a time-limited tool within federal and state water quality regulations that could allow dischargers to continue reducing PCBs through pollution minimization plans and the use of the best feasible technology until they reach Clean Water Act permit limits. The future health of the Spokane River is being watched very closely, ... Spokane County, and Liberty Lake — have applied for a variance from that water quality … This was positive step forward. They would then be granted leeway in the timelines and methods by which they clean up their pollution and by which they define a “clean” River. A variance would allow industrial and municipal dischargers to determine and propose their own pollution limits. The rulemaking would adopt one or more variances to the water quality standards for organic compounds known as polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs. All Rights Reserved. Chapter 173 -201A WAC. The City of Spokane's water meets or exceeds all state and federal regulations governing the safety of your drinking water. Having technical difficulties? 110 0 obj <> endobj ... A WQS variance is a path to improve water quality over time. Ecology is considering adopting one or more variances to the water quality standards that meet the requirements of WAC 173-201A-420 (Variance section), for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) for the Spokane River, in water resource inventory area (WRIA) 57. We believe these variances will increase pollution in the Spokane River and create a “playbook” for bypassing pollution standards in the United States. 139 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<0789B60C67F60D4DB07C79414B4C82BE><2E6D9A81436011479B5CEBF22055BC4A>]/Index[110 55]/Info 109 0 R/Length 132/Prev 245289/Root 111 0 R/Size 165/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream We have started the rulemaking process to consider variances as a first step to reissuing permits. Then the concept of a variance, or a lower bar to clean the river to, was put forward as a way to ultimately meet the high standard. While supported by Task Force members, the Spokane Riverkeeper opposes use of variances. The Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) has indicated that a variance application should include an information submittal with the following six components (Niemi 2018a): 1. This would give the Spokane River the first toxics variance in the nation, providing a playbook to apply this regulatory “off ramp” to other states and waterways. 10 and HQ) to evaluate the different paths to variances. %%EOF ... Poster 3: Ways to reduce PCB discharges to the Spokane River. A WQS variance is a path to improve water quality over time. Washington’s Department of Ecology is looking for ways to meet water quality standards for chemicals called PCBs in the Spokane River. "In our Spokane River, this is really important for us because this water quality standard is the bar by which we measure a clean river," White says. The preliminary draft rule would support five individual discharger variances to meet PCB water quality standards for the Spokane River. We are considering the variances in response to five applications received from point source dischargers to the Spokane River. 0 Spokane River - Recreation, Aquatic Life, Fish Consumption . The process is currently in the middle of a “State Environmental Policy Act" (SEPA) process. %PDF-1.5 %���� We review and reissue clean water permits to ensure the five wastewater treatment facilities that discharge into the Spokane River continue to meet clean water requirements. In November 2016, PCB water quality standards for the Spokane River changed from 170 parts per quadrillion to seven parts per quadrillion. It carves its way through the county and into the Columbia River. Spokane River Regional Toxics Task Force: no WLAs –all voluntary alternative to TMDL –no mandated pollution, waste load allocations for permits ... Issue 6: How will a variance meet downstream Water Quality Standards. A variance for toxic PCBs has never been done before. Adopting a variance rule to meet a water quality standard would be a first for Ecology. The new clean water requirements include strict limitations on pollutants like phosphorus and PCBs. UPDATED: Fri., May 10, 2019. �7L� ���,d`��/ص��������%@� �� A WQS variance is a regulatory tool that modifies the waterbody’s condition and criteria to allow a permit holder to discharge effluent at a more lenient standard than required by law for a time-limited period. By Cheryl Niemi, Water Quality Program Washington Department of Ecology Spokane River Permit Tools Workshop, August 8, 2018 Spokane Valley, WA Contact Cheryl Niemi at 360-407-6440 cnie461@ecy.wa.gov 1 Water Quality Standards Tools: Site specific criteria, variances, and use attainability analyses. A variance is an exception to the normal standard of pollution that is legally permitted to be flushed into the river. It is an important natural resource to all area residents for many different reasons. reduce discharges of PCBs to the Spokane River to meet the total PCB water quality criterion and designated uses associated with that criterion.. A process known as a variance for toxic pollution would allow for a temporary reduction in state water quality standards for industrial and municipal dischargers – with no guaranteed end date or enforceable return to the standards that are currently state law. Spokane River Dischargers November 14, 2019 9:00 a.m. –3:30 p.m. ... Water Quality Standards for Surface Waters of the State of Washington. When we think of water quality issues in Spokane County, our attention turns to the Spokane River. Day 2 of the conference will open with a plenary session on the possibility of one or more Washington dischargers pursuing a variance to meet polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) water quality standards for the Spokane River. Because of this exemption, the water quality of the river suffers due to the higher amounts of pollution being put into the river. News > Spokane EPA says it will revert to looser standard on PCBs in Spokane River, other Washington waterways. h�b```f``:������ Ā B,@Q�W``x�q�;1�VH�k�� ``P� R `u@�����HK�X$�A�� �M�"�� Reducing PCBs in the Spokane River Ecology is considering a temporary change to the water quality standards, called a variance, to allow wastewater dischargers time to implement greater reductions of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Often the only plan of action to remedy the problem of variances is legal action against the permiting agency, or as wel call it pollution permit accountability. Copyright 2020 Spokane Riverkeeper. Read the issues we identified with the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance in our scoping comments HERE. Five pollution dischargers have applied for variances. Currently the agency is proposing to allow for so-called “pollution variance” to allow for temporary lower standards for the chemicals from dischargers in the region. In the Spokane River this form of pollution is in the form of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) which are especially problematic because of their ability to … The Inlander | July 9, 2019: Environmental groups question how Ecology is critical of Trump water quality rollbacks while trying to create workarounds of its own, The Inlander | November 18, 2019: Three big things Ecology has to tackle before allowing Spokane River polluters to bypass PCB limits, The Spokesman-Review | Fri., June 28, 2019: Local governments, industries submit plans to limit pollution in Spokane River as conservation groups cry foul, The Spokesman-Review | Wed., Sept. 25, 2019: Limits on cancer-causing pollutants in Spokane River to be subject of EPA hearing in Seattle, The Spokesman-Review | Sat., Nov. 16, 2019: Ecology officials offer answers about controversial ‘variance’ for pollutants in Spokane River. We're currently working with the river community to evaluate the tools available to reissue the permits and identify the path forward for a clean Spokane River. Daily discharge, cubic feet per second -- statistics for Jan 21 based on 6 water years of record more; Min (1949) 25th percen-tile Median Mean 75th percen-tile Most Recent Instantaneous Value Jan 21 Max (2018) 3210: 3440: 4480: 5480: 6700: 8420: 12400 We are working with EPA (Reg. “Scoping” (identification of the issues that should be in an Environmental Impact Statement has already occurred. 164 0 obj <>stream Currently five facilities on the Spokane River have applied for a water quality standard variance related to PCBs. PCB Variances for the Spokane River Connecting to Audio: After joining the webinar, look for the ‘Audio Connection’ pop-up. The Washington Department of Ecology is considering an unprecedented move to weaken water quality standards for PCBs in the Spokane River. They believe water quality standards will be weakened and the pathway to achieving the standard lacks certainty. • Pursuant to sections 303 and 101(a) of the Clean Water Act (“CWA” or … Please reject the applications for PCB variances for the five National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit holders in the Spokane River. We take your health – and ours – seriously. 5. physical conditions related to the natural features of the water body, such as the lack of a proper substrate, cover, flow, depth, pools, riffles, and the like, unrelated to water quality, preclude attainment of aquatic life protection uses. For more information on variances from the DOE, click here. Select the ‘Call Me’ option (best audio quality) The webinar will call your phone We will do a sound check 10 and 5 minutes before the scheduled start of the webinar. Spokane Riverkeeper is a 501 (c)(3) tax exempt organization registered with the IRS - EIN# 84-5175870, Environmental groups question how Ecology is critical of Trump water quality rollbacks while trying to create workarounds of its own, Three big things Ecology has to tackle before allowing Spokane River polluters to bypass PCB limits, Local governments, industries submit plans to limit pollution in Spokane River as conservation groups cry foul, Limits on cancer-causing pollutants in Spokane River to be subject of EPA hearing in Seattle, Ecology officials offer answers about controversial ‘variance’ for pollutants in Spokane River. In the Spokane River this form of pollution is in the form of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) which are especially problematic because of their ability to accumulate dramatically up the food chain. What are the legal pathways to a clean river, and what are the options for industry polluters if they cannot meet the water quality standards? This development represents an end run around those 2016 EPA pollution limits for PCBs. h�bbd```b``V��A$�uɱ��3�$X�e.����`�!�d����6�d��`�y��-�Q 2a��� ��U@l� ��$� endstream endobj startxref It is stalled until court cases over the ultimate water quality standard for PCBs are settled and variances are written to the ultimate standard. Two years ago the EPA imposed a strong new standard to work towards for toxic pollution like PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls). In November 2016, the Spokane River water quality standard for a bio-accumulative toxin called “polychlorinated biphenyls” (PCBs) was re-evaluated by the EPA under the Clean Water Act and strengthened from its previous standard of 170 parts per quadrillion (picograms or ppq) to 7 ppq. In the Spokane River, those standards are being threatened, putting the health and safety of our river and all its users at risk. Although variances are meant to be a stepping stone toward meeting the requirements for pollution discharge, there is no guaranteed end date in which the variance will end. Testing and monitoring Spokane's drinking water is a 24 hour job, 7 days a week. What is Ecology doing now to assess variances as a tool for the Spokane River and prepare for the AOs? Each year, more than 2,000 tests are performed on Spokane's water for 80 contaminants. A variance is an exception to the normal standard of pollution that is legally permitted to be flushed into the river. There are three public and two private sector dischargers operating wastewater treatment facilities that may pursue this option. SPOKANE RIVER VARIANCE REQUESTS AND THE PROCESS AHEAD In April 2019, Ecology received its first formal requests for a variance under its new variance regulations. improve the quality of the Spokane River over time. The Spokane River dischargers are the first municipal and industrial dischargers in the state of Washington to test whether Ecology’s new variance implementation tool offers a realistic path forward in making progress toward improved water quality while allowing a reasonable time for the public and private sector to comply with more stringent requirements. endstream endobj 111 0 obj <. SPOKANE – The Washington Department of Ecology has been working with dischargers along the Spokane River to meet the human health criteria standards (fish consumption rule) for water quality and reduce polychlorinated biphenyls, (PCBs).However, Ecology’s work has been complicated by the federal government’s efforts to roll back environmental protections. This can result in months to years of illegal pollution being flushed into the river that technically falls under a legal exception. 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