Tag Archives: Department of Ecology

August 10, 2016 Spokane River Regional Toxics Task Force Meeting

Posted on by

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

Date: Wednesday, August 10, 2016
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Location:
Liberty Lake Sewer & Water District Office
22510 E. Mission Avenue Liberty Lake, WA 99019
Click here for a map

To attend by phone:
Call In Number: 800-704-9804
Participant Code: 34863442#

Please note, the conference call in number will remain open until 15 minutes until after the meeting begins. It will continue to remain open as long as there are callers on the line. If you wish to join the meeting by phone late, please notify Kara Whitman (kmwhitman@wsu.edu) ahead of time.

Meeting Documents
–  SRRTTF 8.10.16 Meeting Summary_FINAL DRAFT
– SRRTTF August 10_2016 Agenda_revised
– SRRTTF 6-22-16 DRAFT Summary Notes_draft
10 August 2016 Task Force Borgias
10 August 2016 Hallinan
10 August 2016 Task Force Key

Terry Husseman Account (THA) Grants – Application Announcement

Posted on by
Application Opens: July 15, 2016; Application Closes: August 15, 2016 at 5:00 p.m.
 
Overview of the Terry Husseman Account (THA) Funding Opportunity
THA Grants support locally sponsored projects that restore or enhance the natural environment. Typical projects address water quality issues and fish and wildlife habitat protection or enhancement in or adjacent to waters of the state (i.e., streams, lakes, wetlands or the ocean). Projects that restore or enhance the natural environment may be proposed to address an environmental emergency. An environmental emergency is a risk to the natural environment, as a result of a natural or man-made disaster. Projects that are of a statewide significance propose innovative approaches or technologies that could be applied in multiple watersheds throughout Washington, and result in a significant improvement to the natural environment.
 
To be considered, projects must provide primary benefits to public resources (land or water stewardship) and affiliated infrastructure.
 
Grant Award Amounts
Grant awards can be up to a maximum of $50,000. The typical grant award is less than $20,000. High priority projects with costs up to $50,000 may be placed on a ‘wait-to-fund’ list if regional sub-account balances are low and more time is needed to successfully fund the project.
 
Application deadline
All application material must be received via the online process by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, August 15, 2016. **
 
Application evaluation period and notice of award decision
All application material will be reviewed, evaluated, and scored by a team of Ecology evaluators. You will be notified by a Regional Fund Coordinator (RFC) of the award decision, no later than Friday, September 23, 2016. If a project is chosen to be funded, the project’s projected start date will be October 14, 2016 or thereafter.
 
Application Schedule of THA Funding Cycle for 2016
Date
Program Milestone
Friday, July 15, 2016
EAGL grant application opens
Monday, August 15, 2016
EAGL grant application closes**
Tuesday, August 16 – Friday, September 16, 2016
Evaluation period for EAGL grant applications
Friday, September 23, 2016
Notices sent to applicants
Friday, October 14, 2016
Projected start date of agreements, if chosen to be funded
Future funding cycles will be offered in the spring and fall of 2017
 
** Applications for projects to address an Environmental Emergency may be submitted at any time. An environmental emergency is a risk to the natural environment as a result of a natural or man-made disaster. The project must meet all of the application criteria. The project must meet all of the application criteria.
 
** Applications for projects that have a Statewide Significance may be submitted at any time. A project of statewide significance is one that proposes innovative approaches or technologies that could be applied in multiple watersheds throughout Washington, and would result in a significant improvement to the natural environment. The project must meet all of the application criteria.
 
Questions
For more information about this funding opportunity, please email questions to Amy Krause at: amy.krause@ecy.wa.gov.
 
Amy Krause

July 20, 2016 Technical Track Work Group Meeting

Posted on by

he next meeting of the SRRTTF Technical Track Work group is:

Date: Wednesday July 20, 2016
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:

SRRTTF 7 20 16 Tech Track Meeting Summary
–  Tech Track WG agn 07-20-16_revised
–  Spokane LT Prelim data update for 7-8-16
–  PCA Effectiveness_Appendix A
–  SRRTTF 07 27 16 Agenda draft 07-14-16
–  PCB Control Actions worksheet_draft _07-18-16

 

Ecology News: Water Quality-Related projects funding- Training Workshops Available

Posted on by

The Department of Ecology’s Water Quality Program has scheduled four training workshops for applicants seeking funding for water quality-related projects during the State Fiscal Year 2018 (SFY18) Funding Cycle. A workshop will be held in each of Ecology’s four regions. The workshops are scheduled for 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the following dates and locations:

August 17 in Spokane at the Spokane Convention Center
August 18 in Ellensburg at Central Washington University
August 24 in Lacey at Saint Martin’s University
August 25 in Everett at Xfinity Arena

For details please see the attached PDF announcement of the workshops, or go to our SFY18 Funding Cycle webpage at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/funding/Opp/WQC/CyclePages/WQC2018.html for a copy of the announcement and other information. (NOTE: The webpage will soon be updated to include the announcement.)

If you have questions, you may contact Daniel Thompson at 360- 407-6510 or email daniel.thompson@ecy.wa.gov.

Ecology News: Draft Rulemaking Chapter 173-350 WAC Solid Waste Handling Standards

Posted on by

Draft Rulemaking Chapter 173-350 WAC  Solid Waste Handling Standards

 

Comments on the draft rulemaking from Jeff Donovan: Cochran vs Sediment-Soil Standards (3); From Jeff Donovan_solid waste rule

Here is the timeline for involvement:  http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/rules/wac173350/1308time.html

Comments are due September 6, 2016.

Of particular interest are the soil and sediment standards:  http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/rules/pdf/Ch173350focus235995.pdf

And Appendix I in 173-350-995.

A copy of the marked up rule can be found at  http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/rules/pdf/Ch173350PrelimDraftPub.pdf)

 

Ecology News: Quality Assurance Project Plan: Spokane River Atmospheric Deposition Study for PCBs

Aside

Quality Assurance Project Plan:  Spokane River Atmospheric Deposition Study for PCBs is now at https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/publications/SummaryPages/1603112.html .

There is currently a data gap for the atmospheric deposition of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and toxics in general, in eastern Washington.  The only studies that exist for the atmospheric deposition of PCBs in Washington State come from the Puget Sound region.Filling this data gap is an important first step in determining the significance of the role that PCBs in atmospheric deposition play as a source of PCBs to the Spokane River watershed and ultimately to concentrations found in the Spokane River.This study will measure seasonal PCB concentrations and flux in dry deposition and bulk (wet + dry) deposition in the Spokane River watershed.  Dry deposition will be measured by analyzing PM10 (particulate matter ≤ 10 microns) from a high volume sampler located in an urban area of Spokane.  Bulk deposition will be collected with passive samplers at two urban locations and at a regional background location.  Samples will be analyzed with high resolution method EPA 1668c for PCB congeners.  Sampling will commence in early 2016 with quarterly collection periods over the course of one year (through early 2017).

Secondary objectives to be addressed by this study include:

  • Determine if the Spokane Waste to Energy facility is a potential source of PCBs to atmospheric deposition by modeling PCB emission data using AERMOD, a plume dispersion model.
  • Provide data for estimating the contribution of PCBs in bulk atmospheric deposition to stormwater in Spokane’s Cochran stormwater basin.  The City of Spokane will be collecting PCBs in stormwater from the Cochran basin starting in spring of 2016.

If you have questions, please contact Brandee Era-Miller at 360-407-6771 or at bera461@ecy.wa.gov.

Ecology News: Water Quality Program State Fiscal Year 2017 Final Funding Offer List and Intended Use Plan Published

Posted on by

The Department of Ecology’s (Ecology) Water Quality Program is pleased to announce the publication of the State Fiscal Year 2017 (SFY17) Final Funding Offer List and Intended Use Plan (Final List). The Final List describes how Ecology intends to use state and federal dollars to fund projects focused on improving water quality across the state. The Final List s available at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/iwq/funding/Opp/WQC/CyclePages/WQC2017.html.

 This year Ecology received 155 project proposals requesting approximately $207 million in funding. To ensure that funds were directed to the highest priority projects, Ecology water quality specialists evaluated and scored all eligible project proposals. Scores were compiled, and a statewide priority list was developed. Projects offered funding are based upon the priority list, the type of project, and the funding source. After rating and ranking all eligible proposed projects, Ecology offered approximately $109 million to 54 projects. Projects offered funding include: 17 nonpoint source pollution control activity projects; 2 local onsite sewage system repair and replacement projects; 9 stormwater facility projects; 9 wastewater facility projects in hardship communities; and 17 wastewater facility projects in non-hardship communities.

 For more information about the SFY17 Funding Cycle, please visit the Water Quality Grants and Loans website at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/funding/funding.html.

June 15, 2016 Combined Task Force Meeting and Technical Track Work Group Meeting

Posted on by

The next meeting of the Task Force and the Technical Track Work group is:

Date: Wednesday June 15, 2016
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.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#
This meeting is a combined Full Task Force Meeting and a Technical Track Work Group Meeting. Please review the documents prior to the meeting.

Meeting Documents:
– SRRTTF_TTWG 06-15-16 summary notes_DRAFT
–  Tech Track WG agn 06-15-16 Revised 3
–  SRRTTF-TSCA-HR-2576-letter-to-Congress-MAY-2016_Revision 1 (Discussion and Potential Decision Item)
–  “Magnitude of Source Areas & Pathways DRAFT” (Decision Item)
– SRRTTF_LimnoTech_06_15_2016b (pdf)
–  SRRTTF_LimnoTech_06_15_2016b (pptx)

Ecology News: Little Spokane River PCBs Final Report available and Quality Assurance Project Plan for the Spokane and Troutlodge Fish Hatchery PCB Evaluation Finalized

Posted on by

Little Spokane River PCBs: Screening Survey of Water, Sediment, and Fish Tissue

“The lower section of the Little Spokane River is in Category 5 of the 303(d) list for PCBs in fish tissue. This study evaluated current PCB levels in fish to validate the 303(d) listing. Sediment and water were also analyzed”.

Final Report can be found at https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/publications/SummaryPages/1603001.html

 Quality Assurance Project Plan:  Spokane and Troutlodge Fish Hatchery PCB Evaluation is now at https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/publications/SummaryPages/1603104.html

The Spokane River Toxics Task Force has been identifying sources of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) to the Spokane River with the goal of reducing PCB inputs to the Spokane River.  Previous studies have identified PCB contamination in fish raised in hatcheries.  Several studies have correlated PCB concentrations in fish tissue to concentrations in hatchery feed.

This proposed study will investigate PCB concentrations in hatchery fish from Troutlodge, a facility in Soap Lake, WA, and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (WDFW) Spokane Fish Hatchery, located on the Little Spokane River.  In addition, effluent from the Spokane Fish Hatchery will be evaluated for PCBs.  PCB concentrations will also be measured in settleable solids and fish food from the Spokane Fish Hatchery.  A PCB annual load contribution estimate from hatchery fish from both hatcheries and effluent from the Spokane hatchery to the Spokane River will be calculated.

In order to determine concentrations of PCBs in hatchery fish being removed from the river, two composites of fish collected from the Spokane River will be analyzed for PCBs.  An attempt will be made to collect fish during the fall from the same age class as those collected in the spring from the hatcheries.

If you have questions, please contact Siana Wong at swon461@ecy.wa.govor at 360-407-6432.  Or you may contact Brandee Era-Miller atbera461@ecy.wa.gov or at 360-407-6771.