February 9, 2015 Administrative and Contracting Entity Meeting

Posted on February 3, 2015 by admin-srrttf

The next meeting of the Spokane River Regional Toxics Task Force Administrative and Contracting Entity (ACE) is:

Date: February 9, 2015
Time: 9 am – noon
Location: Spokane County Water Resource Center (Small Conference Room)
1004 N. Freya Street Spokane, WA 99202

Click here for a map

ACE Meeting Agenda 020915
Meeting Minutes, February 9, 2015

All ACE meetings are open to the public.

Washington Dept. of Ecology News: State adopts instream flow rule to protect Spokane River

Posted on January 28, 2015 by admin-srrttf

Jan. 27, 2015

ECOconnect January 27th, 2015

Contacts:

Brook Beeler, Washington Department of Ecology, 509-329-3478, and@ecyspokane

State adopts instream flow rule to protect Spokane River

SPOKANE – A new state rule will preserve and protect water levels in the Spokane River for fish, recreationists and businesses for many years to come.

The Washington Department of Ecology adopted an “instream flow rule” for the river’s main stem in Spokane County and a small portion of Stevens County. The rule allocates specific amounts of water to the river to protect fish habitat and other uses.

“I know this community cares about the river – it is the heart of the region,” said Ecology Director Maia Bellon. “Together, we can use our water wisely and preserve a clean and flowing river for generations to come.”

The rule protects the Spokane River and balances the needs of all water users by setting a regulatory threshold to determine when there is water available for new uses.

With the rule in place, Ecology can make decisions on existing applications requesting to withdraw groundwater from the Spokane Valley Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer, which is in direct continuity with the river.

Ecology acquired and placed into trust a senior water right with help from Washington Water Trust that will be used to support river flows and offset any new domestic well uses that could impact the river in the rule area.

The Spokane River plays an important role for wastewater management and hydropower in the region, and the rule will also help these and other instream uses.

Ecology considered recreational and navigational flows and primarily based water levels on studies completed by state biologists that describe how to protect fish habitat.

Ecology formally proposed the draft rule in September 2014 and solicited feedback from the community, receiving more than 1,800 comments. Each comment is carefully considered, summarized and responded to as part of the rulemaking process.

In Washington, the Legislature gave Ecology the responsibility to protect rivers and streams with an allocation of water set by establishing instream flow rules.

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February 4th, 2015 Technical Track Work Group Meeting

Posted on January 28, 2015 by admin-srrttf

Spokane River Regional Task Force
Technical Track Work Group Meeting

Date: February 4th, 2015
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Location: Washington Department of Ecology
N. 4601 Monroe St.
Spokane, WA 99205

Click here for a map.

Call In Number: 800-704-9804 Participant Code: 34863442#

Meeting Documents
– Tech Track 2-4-15 Meeting Notes DRAFT
– Tech Track WG Agenda 02-04-15 v5
– Workshop Action Items_updated 2.3.15
– PCBs in Spokane Valley Groundwater Project Work Plan memo 1-9-15 final
– Ground Water Review Progress Report Dec 2014
– Confirmed and Suspected Contaminated Sites List 9-3-14
– Preliminary PCB Data for SRRTTF 2-4-15
– SRRTTF 2015 Technical Workshop Summary DRAFT 02-05-15

Presentations
– SRRTTF_MassBalance_Dilks_2015_02_04

The 2nd Draft of State Solid and Hazardous Waste Plan Updata Available For Review and Comment

Posted on January 27, 2015 by admin-srrttf

Draft of State Solid and Hazardous Waste Plan 2015 available for review and comment.

The 2nd Draft State Solid and Hazardous Waste Plan Update (Moving Washington Beyond Waste andToxics) is now available for review and comment. Ecology will accept comments through February 20, 2015. This is the third and final opportunity for public input on the state plan update.

The second draft builds on the comments received on the first draft. This draft includes: Executive Summary; Foundations and Framework; Plan Goals and Actions; and a Glossary.

To Comment:

The 2nd Draft State Solid and Hazardous Waste Plan Update is a WORD document with comment boxes. You will need to save a copy to your computer to make your comments. When finished, email it to the address below. You can comment on as few or as many areas as you wish.

If you prefer, you may fax or mail comments to the addresses below. If you do not use the WORD document with comment boxes, please specify what each comment refers to by including section title, page number, and goal or action number, where applicable.

Send Your Comments To:

· Email: Cbou461@ecy.wa.gov

· Fax: 360-407-6715

· US Mail: – Cathy Bouge, Dept of Ecology /HWTR, PO Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600

COMMENTS ARE DUE BY: February 20, 2015. If you need more time, please contact us.

You can also talk with Ecology directly to provide your comments via email, phone or a meeting.

Janine Bogar: 360-407-6654, janine.bogar@ecy.wa.gov (solid waste)
Chris Chapman; 360-407-7160, chris.chapman@ecy.wa.gov (hazardous waste)
Website: www.ecy.wa.gov/wasteplan WA State Department of Ecology, P.O Box 47600, Olympia WA 98504-7600

Announcement: Information Sesssion about the Governor’s Toxics Bill and Proposal

Posted on January 21, 2015 by admin-srrttf

Darin Rice from Ecology’s Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction program will be visiting Spokane on January 26, 2015 to talk about the Governor’s Toxics Bill and proposal

” We have two different sets of rules for toxic chemicals. We regulate the disposal of spent toxic chemicals after their use in industrial processes, but not their use in products we use every day. The Governor is proposing both new legislation and additional funding for efforts to help the state tackle the concern of toxics in products. Ecology will outline the major components of the Governor’s toxics reduction bill and budget package.”

Date: January 26, 2015
CORRECTED Time: 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Location:
Department of Ecology
Eastern Region Office
4601 N. Monroe Street
Spokane, WA 99205

Members of the public are welcome to attend.
Click Here for the Governor’s brief, “Reducing Toxic Pollution”
Click Here for the Ecology focus sheet, “Reducing Toxics Threats”

January 23, 2015 Memorandum of Agreement Work Group Meeting

Posted on January 19, 2015 by admin-srrttf

Spokane River Regional Task Force
Memorandum of Agreement Work Group Meeting

Date: January 23rd, 2015
Time: 1:00 pm. to 3:00 p.m.

Location: Washington Department of Ecology
N. 4601 Monroe St.
Spokane, WA 99205

Click here for a map.

Call In Number: 800-704-9804 Participant Code: 34863442#

MOA Meeting Documents
– SRRTTF MOA-1-7-14_Version 4.0
– SRRTTF MOA 12-18-14_Version 3.0

Formal WA State Draft Water Quality Standards Rule available for public review: Human Health Criteria & Implementation Tools

Posted on January 16, 2015 by admin-srrttf

The Washington State Department of Ecology proposes to adopt amendments to Water Quality Standards for Surface Waters of the State of Washington – Chapter 173-201A WAC. This rule making addresses two specific areas of the water quality standards: (1) Development and adoption of new human health criteria, and (2) Revision and expansion of some of the tools in the standards that help in implementation. Ecology has published the rule proposal on its website on January 12, 2015. The public comment period on the draft rule and the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the rule is open through midnight March 23, 2015.

Information on the rule making, including documents, details about public hearings and webinar opportunities, and other related information, can be found on Ecology’s website at:

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/ruledev/wac173201A/1203inv.html

You can learn more about the proposed standards and provide comments at the following public hearings.

March 3 Spokane Centerplace Regional Events Center

2426 N. Discovery Pl., Spokane Valley 99216

6 p.m. open house; 6:30 p.m. presentation with Q&A session, followed by public hearing. This is an in-person-only public event.

March 4 Yakima Convention Center

10 N. 8^th St., Yakima 98901

6 p.m. open house; 6:30 p.m. presentation with Q&A session, followed by public hearing. This is an in-person-only public event.

March 12 Ecology Headquarters Building

300 Desmond Drive, Lacey 98503

Two sessions – you may attend either session in person or online by webinar.

Session 1: 1:30 p.m. open house; 2 p.m. presentation (webinar begins) with Q&A session, followed by public hearing.

Session 2: 6:30 p.m. open house; 7 p.m. presentation (webinar begins) with Q&A session, followed by public hearing.

You may provide comments at a public hearing or you may provide them in writing through one of the following methods:

· By Email: swqs@ecy.wa.gov

· By Fax: 360-407-6426

· By Mail:

Cheryl Niemi

Washington State Department of Ecology

Water Quality Program

P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600.

For more information, contact Cheryl Niemi at (360) 407-6440 or by email at swqs@ecy.wa.gov.

The proposed changes to the water quality standards are tied to toxics-reduction legislation Gov. Inslee is proposing to address toxics that enter the environment from unregulated, everyday sources, such as consumer products. Find out more by going to this website: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/water/standards/index.html