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Department of Ecology News Release - January 8, 2010
10-006
YAKIMA – A state water quality standards certification for operations at the existing Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery on Icicle Creek in Chelan County was issued Jan. 7, 2010, by the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology).
The federal Clean Water Act, Section 401 water quality certification, grants the state the authority and opportunity to address environmental and regulatory concerns related to federal decisions. The certification review is designed to ensure that federal permits are conditioned to comply with state water quality standards and other relevant state laws and regulations protecting the environment.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USF&WS) captures, spawns and rears spring Chinook salmon at the hatchery as mitigation for the construction of Grand Coulee Dam on the Columbia River.
USF&WS is seeking to renew its federal wastewater discharge permit, known as a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, for the hatchery. The state water quality review certifies that hatchery operations and the draft discharge elimination permit meet state standards. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is leading the NPDES permit renewal process.
The Leavenworth hatchery certification includes conditions designed to avoid, minimize or compensate for the effects it has on aquatic resources. The certification includes limits and treatment requirements for wastewater discharges, and monitoring and reporting requirements pertaining to water temperature and fish habitat in Icicle Creek affected by hatchery operations.
Any future construction or new proposals would require additional environmental review and permitting consideration.
The final 401 certification is available online at: www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/fed-permit/cro/CRO_Decisions.html.
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Media Contact: Joye Redfield-Wilder, 509-575-2610; jred461@ecy.wa.gov
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
