July 21, 2010 in City, Idaho

City’s lawsuit blasts EPA river cleanup plan

Associated Press
 
Tags:clean water acthaydenMike GridleyPost FallsSpokane RiverSpokane River cleanupU.S. Environmental Protection AgencyWashington Department of Ecology

Post Falls and the Hayden Area Regional Sewer Board are suing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in federal court over a plan to clean pollution in the Spokane River.

In the lawsuit, the city and sewer board say the EPA violated the Clean Water Act in May by approving the interstate cleanup plan, which was developed by the Washington Department of Ecology. The city and sewer board contend the plan transfers a disproportionate burden of cleaning Washington’s water onto Idaho citizens.

The Coeur d’Alene Press reports both the EPA and Post Falls officials declined to comment on the lawsuit. Coeur d’Alene city attorney Mike Gridley says his city also plans to sue the EPA, and the lawsuit will likely be consolidated with the one brought by Post Falls.

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Three comments on this story so far. Add yours!

  • IHike4Fun on July 21 at 9:41 a.m.

    This is like we in Spokane having to pay on our car licenses to fund the monorail in Seattle. In this case Washington comes up with a plan and expects Idaho to pay for it.

    Wasn’t ‘no taxation without representation’ one of the main causes for the original American revolution?

  • MrNatural on July 21 at 10:50 a.m.

    Back to the drawing board…This cleanup plan has been going on for many years with threats and input coming in from all sides and resolve has been like herding cats. Eventually, hopefully the EPA will finally settle the collaborative effort to protect the Spokane river from pollution. I don’t blame the Washington State Department of Ecology for at least having the guts to put some ruling down on paper finally. What I’m surprised about is the eleventh hour involvement by the Idaho folks…didn’t you spuds know this process-ruling has been going on for about the last 5 years? Where were you all this time while this was being developed?

  • Orange on July 21 at 6:21 p.m.

    What’s upstream and caused most of the damage to the river?

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