January 26, 2022 SRRTTF Zoom Meeting

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

Date: Wednesday, January 26, 2022
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Zoom meeting link: Please email lara@whitebluffsconsulting.com for more information and to join.

Meeting Documents:

0- SRRTTF agenda_1262022
1 – SRRTTF Meeting Summary December 15, 2021
2a – 2021-12-31 ACE Commitment Report
2b – ACE Monthly Summary DEC 2021
3 – Task Force WGs Jan 26 2022 – PPT Update template
4a – SRRTTF_SPMD_PCB_Report_12-08-2021_draft_final
4b – 2020_2021_SPMDReportApproval_12_15_2021
5 – Toxics Proposal North Central High School   
6 – SanbornJustification
7- SRRTTF Comp-Plan-2021 Accomp
8 – Future meeting topics – Jan. 2022
9 – Task Force Meeting Ground Rules-Final Draft

Public Comment Period – Draft Spokane Water Quality Permits

Ecology invites interested people to review and comment on the Kaiser Aluminum Facility (WA0000892) and City of Spokane Facility (WA0024473) draft water quality permits from Dec. 29, 2021 – Feb. 11, 2022.

We are reviewing and drafting new 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 first two draft permits open for comment, we expect the rest of the draft permits to be available for comment in early 2022. 

Focus Sheet
View draft documents on our webpage  
Comment on City of Spokane  
Comment on Kaiser Aluminum

We are planning two identical workshops to explain the proposed changes to the permits 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, Feb. 1 at 1:30 p.m.
Join the webinar
Thursday, Feb. 3 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 they receive, we will make decisions on permit reissuance for each facility. We plan to complete this work by Spring 2022.

Karl Rains
Water Quality Planner
Karl.Rains@ecy.wa.gov
509-329-3601
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December 15, 2021 SRRTTF Zoom Meeting

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

Date: Wednesday, December 15, 2021
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Zoom meeting link: Please email lara@whitebluffsconsulting.com for more information and to join.

Meeting Documents:

00 – Task Force Meeting Ground Rules-Final Draft
0- SRRTTF agenda_12152021
1 – October 27 2021 draft SRRTTF mtg summary
2a – 2021-11-30 ACE Commitment Report
2b – ACE Monthly Summary NOV 2021
3 – Task Force WGs Dec 15 2021 – PPT Update template
3a – EPA Letter to SRRTTF_111521
3b – EPA SpokanePCB TMDL Timeline for Task Force Mtg 12-15-21
4 – SRRTTF_SPMD_PCB_Report_12-08-2021_draft_final
4b – 2020_2021_SPMDReportApproval_12_15_2021
5 – IPCBFreeWebPageOutstandingComments_SRRTTF E & O Response
5a – www.ipcbfree.org (password = the landscouncil)
6a – 2022-23.Toxics Spring Media Campaign Scope
6b – SRRTTF Digital Campaign Proposal
6c – iPCB TSCA Workgroup_pigment proposal
6d – Mini Data Synthesis Workshop scope and budget
6e – RFP for Graphic Design of Aquifer Atlas_12_06_2021
7 – TTWG Data Synthesis Workshop Management Questions
8 – draft SRRTTF Comp-Plan-2021 Accomp
9 – Future meeting topics – Dec. 2021
10 – 2022 Spokane Regional Toxics Task Force meeting schedule

EPA proposed consent decree to prepare PCB TMDL for Spokane River

Hi Task Force members and interested parties,

In response to the lawsuit filed by Sierra Club and Center for Environmental Law and Policy, EPA has a proposed consent decree to prepare a PCB TMDL for the Spokane River by September 30, 2024.

Here is a link to the official notice in the Federal Register, which was published today. The notice identifies opportunity for public comment for the next 30 days. Written comments on the proposed consent decree must be submitted to EPA by January 3, 2022:

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2021-12-01/pdf/2021-26085.pdf

We are adjusting the December 15 Task Force agenda to provide time to discuss this new development and implications for Task Force future.

December 1 Tech Track meeting/Other upcoming mtgs.

The next meeting of the TTWG will be held on Wednesday, December 1 from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm.  Please contact lara@whitebluffsconsulting.com for the Zoom meeting link.

Meeting documents:

TTWG_agenda 12-01-2021
PCB11_PhaseII_TTWG_12012021
draft SRRTTF Comp-Plan-2020 Accomp-R2_ldw edits 12-5-21
TTWG_meeting summary 12-1-2021_v2

Upcoming December SRRTTF work group meetings: (contact Lara Floyd for information and to join)

December 1:  iPCB/TSCA work group meeting at 10:00 am
December 6: Environmental Justice work group meeting at 10:00 am
December 14:  Education and Outreach work group meeting at 10:00 am

The next meeting of the SRRTTF will be December 15, 2021 at 8:30 am

2021 – 2023 Ecology WRRED Grants Program/EPA CWA Section 123 Grants application

The Department of Ecology is pleased to announce the opening of the application period of the Waste Reduction and Recycling Education (WRRED) Grants Program for the 2021-23 biennium. Ecology is providing funding from January 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023. The application period will run from November 2nd, 2021 to November 23rd, 2021.

This competitive grant program provides up to $60,000 dollars to qualified local governments and nonprofit organizations for local or statewide education programs designed to help the public with waste reduction, recycling, composting, and litter control. The program requires a 25% match of the total eligible costs either in cash or contributed services for a total project maximum of $80,000.

Please see the updated program guidelines for more specific information and to review the application evaluation criteria that will be used to assess each application: https://apps.ecology.wa.gov/publications/SummaryPages/2107035.html

More information is available on the program’s webpage: https://ecology.wa.gov/WRRED

EPA is Seeking Applications to Reduce Toxics in the Columbia River Basin

Applications due: February 8, 2022

Clean Water Act Section 123 Columbia River Basin Restoration Program Request for Applications: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10 (EPA), is issuing two Request for Applications (RFA) from eligible entities to improve water quality in the Lower Columbia River Estuary and/or the Middle and Upper Columbia River Basin through specific actions to reduce toxics, increase monitoring, and/or increase public education and outreach. The Columbia River Basin Restoration Program (CRBRP) will assist tribal, state, and local governments; nongovernmental entities, and others as they implement the Columbia River Basin Toxics Reduction Action Plan and the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan and conduct activities to support EPA national goals for the Columbia River Basin.  Eligible projects must address at least one of the following project categories: eliminating or reducing pollution; cleaning up contaminated sites; improving water quality; monitoring to evaluate trends; reducing runoff; protecting habitat; or promoting citizen engagement or knowledge. Priority for funding will be given to projects which are consistent with federal fiscal years 2021 and 2022 (FY21/22) funding priorities as described in the RFA.   

EPA is offering an informational session, via webinar, to be held on three different dates. We encourage potential applicants to attend one of the sessions to learn more about the Columbia River Basin Restoration Program and the grant application process. During the webinar, EPA will highlight any changes to the program, review eligibility criteria, funding limits and mandatory cost share requirements. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions. Pre-registration is not required.

  • Wednesday, November 17, 1-2:30pm (Pacific)
  • Wednesday, December 1, 9-10:30am (Pacific)
  • Wednesday, December 14, 9:30-11am (Pacific)

More information about this funding opportunity and the informational webinars can be found at: EPA’s Columbia River Basin Website .

Applications must be submitted electronically by Tuesday, February 8, 2022 11:59 pm (Eastern) through www.grants.gov by following the instructions in the RFA. 

 

November 3, 2021 Tech Track Zoom meeting/Other upcoming meetings

The next meeting of the TTWG will be held on Wednesday, November 3 from 11:00 am – 1:30 pm.  Please contact lara@whitebluffsconsulting.com for the Zoom meeting link.

Meeting documents:

TTWG_agenda 11-03-2021
TTWG_meeting summary 11-3-2021_v2
TWGpresentationPCBdog11-3-2021
Spokane Reach PCB Canine Survey Narrative
2020_2021_SPMDMonitoring_11_03_2021
SRRTTF_SPMD_PCB_Report_10-27-2021_draft 
Gravity Consulting presentation: https://www.dropbox.com/s/dchnrqstrbe1dxz/SRRTTF_Presentation_110321_Gravity.pptx?dl=0
WA Ecology.SRRTTF
PCB11_PhaseII_TTWG_11032021 

Upcoming November SRRTTF work group meetings: (contact Lara Floyd for information and to join)
November 1:  Environmental Justice work group meeting at 10:00 am
November 3:  iPCB/TSCA work group meeting from 9:30 am – 10:55 am
November 9:  Education and Outreach work group meeting at 10:00 am

The next meeting of the SRRTTF will be December 15, 2021 at 8:30 am

October 27, 2021 SRRTTF Zoom Meeting

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

Date: Wednesday, October 27, 2021
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Zoom meeting link: Please email lara@whitebluffsconsulting.com for more information and to join.

Meeting Documents:

0 – SRRTTF agenda_10272021
1 – SRRTTF Meeting Summary Sept. 22, 2021
2a – 2021-09-30 ACE Commitment Report
2b – ACE Monthly Summary SEP 2021
2c – Task Force WGs Oct 27 2021 – PPT Update template
3 – SRRTTF RFP Braided River Consulting September 2021
4 – PCBs in Building Materials_SRRTTF_20211027
5 – SRRTTF letter to EPA Oct 2021_Draft
5a – Att1 – EPA Letter to SRRTTF_022415
5b – Att2 – SRRTTF letter to EPA on TSCA et al_May 2018
5c – Att3 – Letter from EPA Chris Hladick to SRRTTF_2018
6a – SRRTTF Environmental Justice Work Group-Draft goals and work plan 20211025
6b – iPCB Website Comments
6c – www.ipcbfree.org (password = the landscouncil)
7 – Task Force Discussion – Technology
8 – Future meeting topics – Oct. 2021