A move for local control
By BRIAN WALKER
Staff Writer
Local agencies that discharge treated wastewater to the Spokane River support Idaho's intent to assume the role of writing, administering and enforcing water quality discharge permits from the Environmental Protection Agency.
"The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality understands the challenges local jurisdictions face and has specific knowledge of local water quality issues," said Russ Connole, Post Falls public services director.
"Working directly with DEQ will allow us to have a more active role in creating permit language that not only protects water quality in our local waters but can also develop locally-focused solutions. Working with DEQ's Coeur d'Alene office will be much more efficient than the challenges of coordinating with the EPA office based in Seattle."
An informational meeting on IDEQ's application and a public hearing will be held at the Coeur d'Alene Library, 702 E. Front Ave., on Friday. The information will be presented from 2 to 3:30 p.m. The hearing starts at 4 p.m. and will run as late as 6 p.m.
The public comment period on Idaho’s application to assume regulatory authority for administering the Clean Water Act permitting program in Idaho closes Oct. 11.
Final action by EPA to approve the program and transfer permitting authority is slated for July 2018.
EPA will continue to write and enforce discharge permits for tribal waters within Idaho.
In addition to Post Falls, Coeur d'Alene and the Hayden Area Regional Sewer Board (HARSB) discharges treated wastewater to the river. Local remits issued by EPA in 2014 will remain in effect five years and become state discharge permits administered and enforced by IDEQ.
"It will be great to have direct, local resources that are based in Idaho to help us to continue to enhance our efforts to keep our streams, rivers and lakes in pristine condition," said Sam Taylor, Coeur d'Alene deputy administrator.
Dan Redline, IDEQ's regional administrator, said the state received legislative approval to make the application for the change in 2014.
Ken Windram, a HARSB member, said his agency has a good working relationship with IDEQ.
"The only concern I have is that IDEQ gets enough funding and staff to do the discharge permit tasks," he said.
As part of the authorization agreement, EPA would retain:
- oversight of state’s program;
- right to object to permits that are inconsistent with the Clean Water Act and federal discharge regulations;
- right to federalize a state permit if the state does not adequately address EPA’s objection;
- retains enforcement authority over all dischargers; and
- right to conduct periodic program reviews.