Category Archives: Announcement

June 22, 2022 SRRTTF Meeting

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Date: Wednesday, June 22, 2022
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Location: Spokane County Water Resource Center (1004 N. Freya St., Spokane, WA)
Zoom meeting link: Please email lara@whitebluffsconsulting.com for more information and to join via Zoom if you cannot attend in person.

Meeting Documents:

0- SRRTTF agenda_6222022
1 – SRRTTF Meeting Summary May 25, 2022
2a – 2022-05-31 ACE Commitment Report
2b – ACE Monthly Summary MAY 2022
3 – Task Force WGs June 22 2022
4a – SedimentBiofilm SamplingScope_06152022draft
4b – HistoricalReviewJustification06152022
4 – SRRTTF_Dilks_06222022
5 – 20220622_MPEvaluation_Prelim Results
6 – Future Meeting Topics – June 2022

May 25, 2022 In Person SRRTTF Meeting

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The next meeting of the Spokane River Regional Toxics Task Force is:

Date: Wednesday, May 25, 2022
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Location: Spokane County Water Resource Center (1004 N. Freya St., Spokane, WA)
Zoom meeting link: Please email lara@whitebluffsconsulting.com for more information and to join via Zoom if you cannot attend in person.

Meeting Documents:

0- SRRTTF agenda_5252022 
1 – SRRTTF Meeting Summary April 27, 2022
2a – 2022-04-30 ACE Commitment Report
2b – ACE Monthly Summary
3 – Task Force WGs May 25 2022 – PPT Update template
4 – SRF SRRTTF Stormwater Media Campaign
5a – Expanded Synoptic_Artesian_CatchBasin Scope_05132022draft
5b – WaterColumnTrend_Mirabeau_Scope_05182022draft
SRRTTF Future 20220523_R1
6 – Future Meeting Topics – May 2022

May 18, 2022 Tech Track work group Zoom meeting/Public Comment Period City of Spokane Draft Spokane Water Quality Permit

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The next meeting of the TTWG will be held on Wednesday, May 18 from 9:00 am – 11:00 am.  Please contact lara@whitebluffsconsulting.com for the Zoom meeting link.

Meeting documents:

TTWG_agenda 5-18-2022
TTWG_05182022

Expanded Synoptic_Artesian_CatchBasin Scope_05132022draft
WaterColumnTrend_Mirabeau_Scope_05172022draft

Public comment period
Draft Spokane Water Quality Permit

We previously held a public comment period from Dec. 29, 2021 to Feb. 1 2022, on the City of Spokane proposed draft permit and fact sheet. After reviewing the comments, we made several changes to the permit and fact sheet in response to comments. As a result, we are providing an additional opportunity to review and comment on the proposed permit before we make a final decision. Please review and comment on the draft permit until 11:59 p.m. June 10, 2022.

In addition to correcting technical and typographical errors, we also changed the permit and explanatory language in the fact sheet for the following topics:
• Effluent limits; Section S1
• Mixing Zone for PCBs; Section S1.A, Table 2
• Mixing Zone flows; Section S1.B, Table 5
• Effluent monitoring for PCBs and other parameters; Section S2; Table 7
• Design limits for Next Level Treatment; Section S4
• Exfiltration testing; Section S5.H
• CSO Post Construction Monitoring Plan; Section S14.C.c
• Spokane River Regional Toxics Task Force; Section S17.B
• Compliance schedules for pH and PCBs: Section S18
• Reopener clause; Section G3

View draft documents on our webpage

Comment on City of Spokane

Next Steps
After reviewing the feedback we receive, we respond to comments and will make decisions on permit reissuance for the facility. We plan to complete this work by Summer 2022.

Karl Rains
Eastern Regional Planner
Karl.Rains@ecy.wa.gov

April 27, 2022 In Person SRRTTF Meeting

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The next meeting of the Spokane River Regional Toxics Task Force is:

Date: Wednesday, April 27, 2022
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Location: Spokane County Water Resource Center (1004 N. Freya St., Spokane, WA)
Zoom meeting link: Please email lara@whitebluffsconsulting.com for more information and to join via Zoom if you cannot attend in person.

Meeting Documents:

0- SRRTTF agenda_4272022
1 – SRRTTF Meeting Summary March 23, 2022
2a – 2022-03-31 ACE Commitment Report
2b – ACE Monthly Summary MAR 2022
3 – Task Force WGs April 27 2022 – PPT Update template
4 – SRRTTF_Dilks_04272022
5 – Historical_PCB_Assessment_Draft_04202022_redline
6 – MissionReachSourceAssessmentMonitoriongReport_04142022_redline
SRRTTF_SPMD_PCB_Report_04-26-2022_draft_final
7a – Expanded Synoptic SamplingJustification_04142022draft
7b – CatchBasinJustification_04142022draft
7c – ArtesianWell2022Justification_04142022draft
7d – HistoricalReviewJustification04142022
7e – SedimentBiofilm SamplingJustification_04202022draft
7f – MirabeauJustification04202022
7g – ObjectDetectionJustification_04202022
8 – Future Meeting Topics – April 2022

April 20, 2022 Tech Track work group Zoom meeting/EPA proposed rule link

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The next meeting of the TTWG will be held on Wednesday, April 20 from 9:00 am – 11:00 am.  Please contact lara@whitebluffsconsulting.com for the Zoom meeting link.

Meeting documents:

TTWG_agenda 4-20-2022d2docx
TTWG_Dilks_04202022 presentation
MissionReachSourceAssessmentMonitoriongReport_04142022_redline
Historical_PCB_Assessment_Draft_04142022_redline
ArtesianWell2022Justification_04142022draft
CatchBasinJustification_04142022draft
Expanded Synoptic SamplingJustification_04142022draft
HistoricalReviewJustification04142022
MirabeauJustification04142022
SedimentBiofilm SamplingJustification_04142022draft

A Proposed Rule by the Environmental Protection Agency published on 04/01/2022
Restoring Protective Human Health Criteria in Washington

Public comment period Draft Spokane Water Quality Permits/Pollution Prevention Grant Opportunities

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Ecology invites comments on the Spokane County and Liberty Lake Sewer & Water District draft permits from March 18 – May 3, 2022.  We are drafting updated water quality permits to ensure the five wastewater treatment facilities that discharge into the Spokane River continue to meet clean water requirements. These are the final two draft permits open for comment. Previously, we held comment on the Kaiser Aluminum Facility and City of Spokane Facility draft water quality permits from Dec. 29, 2021 – Feb. 11, 2022. We also have a comment period open for Inland Empire Paper from March 4 –April 18, 2022.  

View draft documents on our webpage  
Comment on Spokane County  
Comment on Liberty Lake
We are planning two identical workshops to explain the proposed changes to this permit and to answer questions prior to the formal public hearings. Hearings provide an opportunity for people to give formal oral testimony. Oral testimony will receive the same consideration as written comments. The public hearings will begin immediately following each workshop and will conclude when testimony is complete.

Tuesday, April 19 at 2 p.m.
Join the webinar  
Tuesday, April 26 at  6 p.m.
Join the webinar  

The workshops and hearings offered via webinar allow individuals to view the presentation and provide testimony via computer, phone, or mobile device. Ecology will not be offering in-person hearings due to safety concerns from COVID-19.

Next Steps
After reviewing the feedback we receive, we respond to comments and will make decisions on permit reissuance for the facility. We plan to complete this work by Spring 2022.

Karl Rains Water Quality Planner
Karl.Rains@ecy.wa.gov
509-329-3601

Pollution Prevention Grants

Watch our Webinars to Learn How to Apply for $23 Million in Pollution Prevention Grants
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making available recordings of four webinars hosted by the agency to educate stakeholders on $23 million in pollution prevention (P2) grant funding opportunities for states and tribes. Proposals are due by April 11, 2022.

Three of the webinars reviewed general information about P2 and the grant application process to help potential applicants submit high-quality applications to EPA for consideration. The fourth webinar was targeted to the specific needs of federally recognized tribes.

The two grant opportunities provide funding for states and tribes to develop and provide businesses with information, training, and tools to help them adopt P2 practices. A new P2 grant of approximately $14 million is funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. For the first time, this funding is available with no grantee matching requirement, increasing access to funds for all communities. There is also a second grant opportunity for the traditional P2 grants program for approximately $9 million.

Eligible applicants include states, state entities such as universities, U.S. territories and possessions, and federally recognized tribes and intertribal consortia. EPA anticipates announcing the grant recipients on a rolling basis starting in late summer.  

Learn more about P2 grants
View the webinars

March 23, 2022 SRRTTF Zoom Meeting

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The next meeting of the Spokane River Regional Toxics Task Force is:

Date: Wednesday, March 23, 2022
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Zoom meeting link: Please email lara@whitebluffsconsulting.com for more information and to join.

Meeting Documents:

0- SRRTTF agenda_3232022
1 – SRRTTF Meeting Summary February 23, 2022
2a – ACE Commitment Report FEB 2022
2b – ACE Monthly Summary FEB 2022
3 – Task Force WGs March 23 2022 – PPT Update template
4 – Fish and biofilm report final 031622
5 – Holistic draft final 031622
6 – Spokane River PCBs in Biofilm, Sediment, and Invertebrates, 2018 and 2019 – Screening Study Results (wa.gov)
7 – ObjectDetectionJustification03162022
8 – Historical_PCB_Assessment_Draft_03102022_draft
8b – SRRTTF_InitialHistoricalReview_03232022
9 – Mission Reach Source Assessment Monitoring Report 3_10_2022 draft
9b – SRRTTF_MissionReach2021Monitoring03232022
10 – Future Meeting Topics – March 2022

 

March 16, 2022 Tech Track Work Group Zoom Meeting

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The next meeting of the TTWG will be held on Wednesday, March 16 from 9:00 am – 11:00 am.  Please contact lara@whitebluffsconsulting.com for the Zoom meeting link.

Meeting documents:

TTWG_Meeting summary 3-16-2022
TTWG_agenda 3-16-2022v2
TTWG Small Workgroup notes_2-24-22_Scoping Prioritized
ObjectDetectionJustification
Studies Historical_PCB_Assessment_Draft_03102022_draft MissionReachSourceAssessmentMonitoriongReport_03102022_draft 
Synoptic Survey Scope Expansion
TTWG_InitialHistoricalReview
TTWG_MissionReach2021Monitoring03162022

The next meeting of the SRRTTF will be Wednesday, March 23 @ 8:30 am

February 23, 2022 SRRTTF Zoom Meeting

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The next meeting of the Spokane River Regional Toxics Task Force is:

Date: Wednesday, February 23, 2022
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Zoom meeting link: Please email lara@whitebluffsconsulting.com for more information and to join.

Meeting Documents:

0- SRRTTF agenda_2232022
1 – SRRTTF Meeting Summary January 26, 2022
2a – 2022-01-31 ACE Commitment Report
2b – ACE Monthly Summary Jan. 2022
3 – Task Force WGs Feb 23 2022 – PPT Update template 
4 – Fish and biofilm report final
5 – Holistic draft 5
5a – Dr. Rodenburg PMF SRRTTF meeting 2-23-22
6 – SRRTTF_SPMD_PCB_Report_02-15-2022_draft_final2
7a – Mission Reach Candidate Studies_rev 2-7-2022
7b – Watershed-wide candidate studies_rev 2-7-2022
7c – CandidateStudies_02232022
8 – Alternate Org Approaches
9 – Future meeting topics – Feb. 2022