Valley labor talks go to mediator again

Spokane Valley city employees and managers met for the second time with a state mediator Thursday to negotiate a labor contract.

In January, both sides asked the Public Employment Relations Commission to mediate after meeting an estimated 14 times since last April, according to documents filed with the commission.

The city hired Elizabeth Kennar of Summit Law Group to represent management in the case, while Audrey B. Eide represents the Washington State Council of County and City Employees.

Since labor talks started, both sides have agreed not to share details on negotiations with the public.

According to the documents, among the dozen unresolved issues are wages, promotions and medical benefits.

City employees petitioned to unionize in late 2003. Spokane Valley employs the equivalent of about 60 full-time workers. About 30 of those are affected by the current round of bargaining.

– Peter Barnes

EPA fines city in fatal sewage tank failure

The city of Spokane has been fined $7,275 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in conjunction with the catastrophic failure of a sewage processing tank on May 10, 2004.

One worker was killed and three others injured when too much sewage sludge was pumped into a “digester” tank, causing the roof to separate from the walls and then crash back into the tank. The worker who was killed was caught on the roof.

The EPA found that the city failed to comply with Clean Air Act requirements for managing hazardous materials. Flammable methane gas, a byproduct of the sewage processing, was being recaptured for use as energy at the Spokane plant on Aubrey L. White Parkway.

A separate investigation by the state Department of Labor and Industries cited the city for 16 violations of worker safety rules. The city appealed the state fines, which were reduced to $22,000. City officials said on Thursday they do not plan to appeal the EPA fine.

- Mike Prager

Tighter pollution limits may affect woodstoves

Tougher limits on woodstoves may be needed across Spokane County if federal regulators adopt stricter air pollution standards, officials said Thursday.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is seeking comment on lowering limits for particulate matter – dust and particles from smoke and other pollution that are a significant health concern for people with lung and heart ailments.

The proposed rules would lower the allowed amount of particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter – about 1/20 the width of a human hair – by almost half. If those limits had been in place the past six years, Spokane would have complied every year except 2002.

The EPA also is proposing a new standard for the allowed amount of particulate matter between 2.5 and 10 micrometers.

Ron Edgar, the local pollution control authority’s interim director, said if the standard is adopted, the new rules could be in place by the end of this year.

– Jonathan Brunt