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Grant County leaders ask
House panel for
help with DOE water quality plan
Local leaders who have
headed up efforts to control water quality in Moses Lake and other
Eastern Washington waters told a House committee today they want answers
from the Department of Ecology before the agency steps in to impose
strict new pollution-control regulations. The delegation from Grant and
Stevens counties spoke in favor of House Bill 3129 during a public
hearing before the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.
The bill is prime sponsored by Rep. Janéa Holmquist, R-Moses Lake, and
co-sponsored by
Rep.
Bill Hinkle, R-Cle Elum. The measure requires DOE to provide
sound data to the communities affected before adding Moses Lake and the
Colville River to a list of “polluted waters” under the Federal Clean
Water Act. The listing would give the state agency broad powers to
regulate activities around the lake to control the total maximum daily
load (TMDL) of phosphorus.
“The good news is that we’ve got the agency’s attention,” said Holmquist
of the bill to halt the state TDML process. “DOE has been intent on
seizing control of the water-quality efforts, and just recently has
acknowledged that it really does not have sound data to justify its
authority to do so. Our community, through the work of local water
users, city and county agencies, the Moses Lake Irrigation and
Rehabilitation District and, most recently, a local advisory committee,
have been addressing Moses Lake water quality for 25 years. I continue
to support local efforts rather than having the state step in to hijack
the process and mandate a new set of rules without the data to support
its actions.”
“Local citizens are the ones invested in the water quality of Moses
Lake,” said Hinkle. “They are also the solution.”
The bill would prohibit DOE from proceeding with the TMDL process for
Moses Lake and the Colville River without making all reasonable efforts
to provide data that has been requested and allowing local leaders
sufficient time to distribute and analyze this information.
The 13th District lawmakers acknowledge that the bill has only a slim
chance of passing out of the Democrat-controlled House. But today’s
hearing has given Eastern Washington communities a chance for their
voices to be heard. The bill is supported by the Eastern Washington
Council of Governments, which includes Douglas, Ferry, Grant, Lincoln,
Okanogan, Pend Oreille and Stevens counties.
Holmquist and Hinkle are also supporting Senate Bill 6119, a companion
measure introduced by Sen. Bob Morton, R-Orient. That bill has been
approved by the Senate Natural Resources, Energy and Water Committee and
is awaiting action by the Senate.
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For more information, contact:
John Handy, Assistant
Communications Director - (360) 786-5758
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