Spokane River DO TMDL home > Updates on the Dispute Resolution Process

Updates on the Dispute Resolution Process

On February 26, 2010 the Department of Ecology received three letters from Spokane River Dissolved Oxygen TMDL stakeholders requesting Ecology to initiate a dispute resolution process.

Ecology’s Water Quality Program has a policy (1-25) that establishes the requirements and process for dispute resolution related to TMDLs:

www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/tmdl/documents/1-25Pol-TMDLDispResolrev.pdf

FAQ: TMDL Dispute Resolution Process (Ecology publication)

Dispute Resolution Process Outcomes

Ecology Director, Ted Sturdevant, reviewed and considered the recommendation from the dispute resolution panel. He decided to move forward with the TMDL approval as it is currently. Ted recognizes the need for clarity on some issues and wants to move into development of the detailed TMDL implementation plan. Many of the disputes will be addressed (including the equitability of wasteload allocations and a pollutant trading/offset framework) in the creation of this plan.

• Director’s letter to the disputing parties:
  • Avista
  • City of Coeur d'Alene, ID
  • Inland Empire Paper Company
  • City of Post Falls, ID and HARSB
  • Sierra Club
• Dispute Panel recommendation to Ecology’s Director
• US EPA Memo response to Limnotech comments on Spokane TMDL Model Stability
• Dispute Summary Matrix
• Press Release

 

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Dispute Presentations - April 5, 2010

 

Link to video hosted by TV Washington	Link to presentation materials
Session 1 Video	City of Coeur d'Alene, ID Hayden Area Regional Sewer Board Inland Empire Paper Co.
Session 2 Video	City of Post Falls, ID Avista Corp. The Sierra Club
Session 3 Video	Ecology Response to Disputing Parties

 

Please direct any questions or comments to:

Dustin Bilhimer, Spokane DO TMDL Dispute Resolution Coordinator

Water Quality Program

Washington State Department of Ecology

Phone:  360-407-6480

Email:  Dustin.Bilhimer@ecy.wa.gov

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