Epa Wants Changes In State Water Rules

Because some Idaho water standards are not strict enough, the federal Environmental Protection Agency says it is proposing additions and modifications to the rules.

The federal agency plans May 12 afternoon and evening hearings in Boise on the changes. It’s part of a 30-day public comment period that starts with the publication of a notice in the Federal Register next week.

In a news release from the Seattle regional office, EPA said certain aspects of Idaho’s standards were not approved because they do not meet requirements of the federal Clean Water Act.

“One of the major purposes of the EPA proposal is to protect aquatic life in all water bodies in Idaho for which the state has not assigned a use classification,” EPA said.

Included the standards are temperature controls for the Kootenai River white sturgeon, bull trout and Snake River aquatic snails, all species under the Endangered Species Act.

EPA is proposing the standards because of an order issued two months ago by U.S. District Judge William Dwyer. In a case brought against EPA by the Idaho Conservation League and the Idaho Sporting Congress, Dwyer agreed that the state is taking too long to develop and adopt its own rules.

The judge turned the job over to EPA, and ordered the agency to have standards on the books by July 20.

The state already has revised some of the items being proposed by EPA. The state has revised three of the six items which were not approved by the federal government.

The state is working on changes to the remaining items. If those changes are approved by the federal government, EPA said it wouldn’t have to adopt its own rules for Idaho waters.

, DataTimes