From the Riverkeeper: Today the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) released a study on PCBs in the Spokane River that concludes that, “significant reductions in polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) levels have occurred over the last two decades but concentrations still don’t meet state and Spokane Tribal standards.”
 
The study, “Spokane River PCB Source Assessment”, is based upon data collected between 2003 and 2007.  It finds that, “substantial reductions in PCB levels have occurred in fish from most parts of the river since previous samples were collected in the 1990’s.” 
 
“The Ecology study also corroborates that PCB levels in fish remain well above public health protection standards for fish consumption.  In short, PCBs remain a fiendish problem in the river and we’re clearly looking at a decades-long challenge to reduce this persistent toxin to levels where we can end restrictions on the consumption of fish caught in the river,” said Bart Mihailovich, Spokane Riverkeeper.

Ecology’s study states that to protect human health, “all sources of PCBs would have to be reduced by more than 95 percent. This includes reductions in the river at the Idaho border and sediment deposits.”  However, Ecology’s study also states that, “while it is unclear whether these drastic reductions will ever be realized, it is clear that further reductions of PCBs in the river is likely obtainable and is worth the effort.”
 
“While the Spokane Riverkeeper strongly agrees that further reductions in PCB’s in the Spokane River are likely obtainable and worth the effort we also think it crucial to keep our eyes on the prize,” said Mihailovich.
 
“Currently, the Department of Health has a fish consumption advisory on the entire Spokane River due to the high toxicity of fish,” said Rick Eichstaedt, attorney for the Spokane Riverkeeper.  “It’s a basic requirement of the federal Clean Water Act that fish caught in the Spokane River and other waterways are safe to eat.  That’s the goal.  And while we accept that ending PCB pollution and cleaning up existing PCB contamination is difficult, we are committed to seeing this through, to working with Ecology and river dischargers to get where the cleanup needs to go – the elimination of unsafe levels of PCB’s in Spokane River fish.”
 
The Riverkeeper supports steps necessary to take to clean up PCBs for the Spokane River:
Wastewater discharge permits for our wastewater plants and industries must have PCB limits put in place so we can be assured that the water quality standards of parts per quadrillion is being met.  While Ecology’s report indicates that the limits may never be realized.  The Clean Water Act requires that limits must be met. 
There are currently only four or five of presumably hundreds of industrial sites in Spokane that are permitted for stormwater discharge.  All of these sites need discharge permits so the citizens of Spokane can be assured the proper attention is being paid to contamination that comes off of industrial sites and the proper controls are put in place to protect the Spokane River.
“While it’s true we have a long ways to go to meet the state and the Spokane Tribe’s  water quality standards, there’s every reason to believe that the steps we can take to address PCB pollution will result in further decreases to the levels of PCB’s found in Spokane River fish,” said Eichstaedt.  “Ecology’s study raises a noteworthy technical question as to whether it is realistic to meet Spokane Tribal standards given that background levels of PCBs in other Washington waterways may actually be as high as or higher than the tribal standard.  Given how much work is needed just to get down to state standards, it’s not useful, now, to argue about whether the tribal standard is attainable.”
 
“None of what’s in the new study legally absolves Ecology of its duty under the Clean Water Act to produce a cleanup plan, known as a TMDL, for Spokane River PCBs,” said Mihailovich.  “We are encouraged by the study that states reductions are noticeable, and by actions taken by Ecology to ensure these reductions. 
 
In April, the Riverkeeper reached a settlement agreement with the City of Spokane that will require the City, which is the largest source of PCBs, to investigate and start cleaning up portions of its stormwater system that have shown to have high concentrations of PCBs. 
 
This week, Ecology released a draft of its new Municipal Stormwater General Permits for the city of Spokane and other surrounding municipalities that includes requirements for all new development to include Low Impact Development.  Low Impact Development, which includes measures like rain gardens, green roofs, and swales, helps manage stormwater, significantly reducing toxins such as PCBs from making their way to the Spokane River.
 
“These two endeavors will go a long way in helping reduce PCBs in the Spokane River and they were reached through good collaboration amongst local environmental groups, municipalities and agencies,” said Eichstaedt.

For more information contact Rick Eichstaedt or Bart Mihailovich at (509) 835-5211.

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