EPA meeting in Yakima irks legislators

YAKIMA – Some state lawmakers from the Yakima Valley say the federal Environmental Protection Agency overstepped its authority by conducting a meeting with other government agencies on well water quality.

Rep. Bruce Chandler, R-Granger, Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Sunnyside, and Sen. Jim Honeyford, R-Sunnyside, sent a letter to Gov. Chris Gregoire, asking her to tell the EPA that leadership on groundwater rests with the state Ecology Department.

The problem of high nitrate levels in shallow drinking water wells came to light in a series of articles by the Yakima Herald-Republic newspaper in October. The series showed how a wide range of local, state and federal agencies had done little to remedy the contaminated groundwater that thousands of rural residents depend on for drinking water.

While the legislators’ opposition to federal intervention isn’t unexpected, the letter marked the first time they agreed something needs to be done about the problem.

“A response is warranted in this situation, but not from a federal agency based in Seattle,” Honeyford said in a news release accompanying the letter.

In the first meeting of its kind, the EPA led about 15 local, state and federal agencies in a brainstorming session last week to look for solutions to the problem.

“To draw a dividing line between EPA and other agencies, that’s not needed,” said Marie Jennings, drinking water manager. “We need to look at all resources available to address the problem.”

Jennings said the EPA has grant and loan programs that could finance public water systems if that turns out to be a long-term solution.