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Department of Ecology News Release - November 30, 2004
04-217
SPOKANE - The public comment period has been extended another month and a public hearing will be held in December on the draft plan for protecting dissolved oxygen in the Spokane River and Lake Spokane.
The public comment period will now end Dec. 31 instead of Nov. 30. In addition, the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) will hold a formal public hearing from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 14, at Spokane Community College, Lair Sasquatch Room (124C), 1810 N. Greene St.
The purpose of the draft cleanup plan (also known as a total maximum daily load, or TMDL) is to help the lake and river meet state and federal water-quality standards for oxygen.
Currently, portions of the river and lake do not contain enough dissolved oxygen to support a healthy fish population. The river and lake contain too much phosphorus pollution and other organic materials that act like fertilizer, causing algae and other aquatic plants to thrive. As the plants decompose, they use up the oxygen in the water.
"We continue to be open to community concerns, especially from industries and towns that discharge into the river," said Ecology's Regional Director René-Marc Mangin. "We want to hear any and all ideas, and we hope the longer comment period will provide more time for people to actively participate."
The sources of the pollutants that deplete oxygen include industries and cities along the Spokane River in Washington and Idaho as well as polluted runoff from fertilizers, animal waste and failing septic systems. They also include industries, towns and polluted runoff from along the tributaries to the Spokane River, such as Hangman Creek.
To solve the problem, the current human-caused loading of pollutants that affect dissolved oxygen would need to be almost entirely eliminated during the months of April though October. New technology also is being explored to help dischargers meet water-quality standards.
At the hearing, Ecology staff will give a brief introduction before public testimony is taken.
To review the draft plan, visit http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/tmdl/watershed/spokaneriver/dissolved_oxygen/index.html
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Contact: Jani Gilbert, public information manager, 509-329-3495; pager, 509-622-3073
Frequently asked questions: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/0410073.html
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