In Eastern Washington
And North idaho
by Rich Leon (Sierra Club’s Trail Guide editor)
In this book you will learn how Coffeepot Lake got its name. Where to find waterfalls in the desert scablands. The best place to find moose. Where to find the best views of the Palouse. The best places to find wild mushrooms. All this and much more as you go nature exploring with someone who has roamed the back country of Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho for the past 30 years.
Learn about how Coffeepot Lake got its name, where to find waterfalls in the desert scablands, the best place to find moose, where to find the best views of the Palouse, the best places to find wild mushrooms and much more as you go nature exploring with someone who has roamed the backcountry of Eastern Washington and North Idaho for the past 30 years.
Rich’s book contains 50 photographs of nature throughout our region. You can find these books at Auntie’s, Hastings, Northwest Map Service, REI, and on the web.
Spokane River Toxic Cleanup - Update
On Thursday, March 28 CELP and Sierra Club completed a 4-day hearing at the Pollution Control Hearings Board in Tumwater in our challenge to prevent further PCB pollution in the state's most polluted river, the Spokane River.
Helping provide larger context for the Spokane River lawsuits, on March 30 InvestigateWest published “Business Interests Trump Health Concerns in Fish Consumption Fight”
The Spokane River is a tri-state river: Idaho, Washington, and the Spokane Tribe are sovereigns. Tribal members eat fish from the Spokane River. Upstream, both Washington State and EPA (in Idaho) permit the discharge of pollutants to the Spokane River.
The Spokane River has the highest levels of PCBs in Washington State. PCBs are man-made chemicals that do not break down. Tiny amounts in water magnify thousands of times in the food chain and place humans and wildlife at risk. In humans, PCBs can cause neurobehavioral defects and developmental deficits in infants and children, and malignancies such as nonHodgkins lymphoma in adults.
Eating Spokane River fish represents a public health hazard, concluded the Washington Department of Health (DOH) and CDC’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. In 2008 the DOH issued fish consumption advisories.
The Spokane Tribe assessed the amount of fish its members consume, and set a water quality standard to protect its tribal members. The Spokane Tribe’s standard is the first “fish consumption” standard within Washington State.
Washington State identified the Spokane River as “impaired” for PCBs, and began writing a cleanup plan called a total maximum daily load (TMDL) as required by the federal Clean Water Act. Scientific assessments showed that PCB-containing discharges would need to decrease substantially to meet the Tribe’s human health standard.
In 2011 the Washington Department of Ecology (ECY) halted its PCB TMDL. The agency then re-issued permits for existing dischargers (without PCB effluent limits), and also issued an entirely new NPDES permit to Spokane County for a new sewage treatment plant.
Spokane County officials gambled $180 million and built the facility knowing that issuing the NPDES permit would be illegal. In November 2011, the Washington Department of Ecology issued the new NPDES permit anyway.
Richard Smith (of Smith and Lowney) represents CELP and Sierra Club in the state and federal lawsuits. During the 4-day hearing before the Pollution Control Hearings Board, we proved our case: the County’s new NPDES permit is illegal because it adds PCBs to an already impaired Spokane River. The legal challenge also reveals a shell game in which Spokane County plans to expand its new sewage plant plus use its capacity in an older City-County sewage facility – all with more PCBs going into the River over time.
The Pollution Control Hearings Board will issue a decision within the next 3 months. Still to come is our companion federal lawsuit that focuses on the failure of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to complete a PCB TMDL.
We thank members of our team, including Richard Smith (lead attorney of Smith and Lowney), attorneys Rachael Paschal Osborn and Suzanne Skinner, PCB toxicologist Peter deFur, and Brian Crossley water program director for the Spokane Tribe of Indians.
Links -
- PCB Litigation – Spokane River
Colville Tribes honored for Columbia River cleanup
Former Quincy mayor also honored for public health efforts
On February 23 in Spokane, Sierra Club's Upper Columbia River Group honored the Colville Confederated Tribes with its Watershed Hero Award. We will also give our first Environmental Justice Award to the former mayor of Quincy, Washington — Patty Martin — for her work to protect public health at risk from an influx of data centers. Winter Waters is held jointly with the Center for Environmental Law & Policy to help benefit our river and drinking water protection work in our region. More:
Citizens speak out: No Coal Exports
About a thousand people turned out for a public hearing in Spokane on Dec. 4 for the Army Corps of Engineers to gather comment on impacts from a proposal to build North America’s largest coal-export terminal in Bellingham. Coal trains from mines in Montana to Bellingham would pass through Spokane - up to 18 trains per day, each 1 - 1.5 miles long.
View: Spokane Hearing (slide show)
Link: www.PowerPastCoal.org.
Nature’s Advocate – the UCR Group’s Newsletter
Here are some of the stories we’re following in Nature’s Advocate:
•Spokane River PCB Litigation Update
•Stand up to Big Coal – Attend the Dec 4 public hearing
•Save Mt. Spokane update
•Sierra Club appeals State’s decision to take water from Similkameen Falls.
View: Nature’s Advocate.
We’ve been busy with our Summer and Fall Conservation Outings Program. Are you interested? We’ll be starting leadership training in December. Contact: Carolyn Leon lonestar4@aol.com or John Osborn John@waterplanet.ws
Slideshows from our 2012 Conservation Outings -
- PCB cleanup / Conservation Futures - Saltese Flat & Uplands slideshow
- PCB cleanup / Riverwalk & Centennial Trail slideshow
Wild forests of Mt. Spokane State Park threatened by proposed ski area expansion.
To help, and for more information:
- Sierra Club comments: click here
Flawed Federal Forest Plan risks Lake Coeur d'Alene, Spokane River.
To help, and for more information:
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-Sierra Club comments: click here
Sierra Club and CELP honor Spokane Watershed Heroes at Winter Waters Celebration. Feb. 18
Deb Abrahamson, founder of the tribal grassroots environmental organization SHAWL Society: Spokane Watershed Hero.
Mary Verner, distinguished Spokane Mayor and City Councilwoman, 2004-2011: Spokane Watershed Hero.
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- Sherman Alexie: Sonnet, with Honor
Agricultural Economist warns Legislature about funding irrigation projects in eastern Washington
January 19 Sierra Club and CELP release an economic review by a retired WSU economist Norm Whittlesey that is critical of a state-funded agricultural lobby group's report that purports to justify $250 million in state-issued bond debt to expand surface water irrigation to agricultural lands eastern Washington
Sierra Club endorses Move to Amend the Constitution
Last April, the Board of Directors adopted a policy resolution in response to the US Supreme Court decision in Citizens United, the case that struck down campaign finance reform provisions and protected corporate spending on political commercials as First Amendment speech. The board-adopted policy resolution called on Congress to take action that would "lead to overturning the holding in Citizens United, and offered reasons why this is important. http://www.sierraclub.org/policy/conservation/Citizens-United-Decision.pdf
In January, Sierra Club endorsed Move to Amend, a grassroots effort to get a constitutional amendment passed that would overturn Citizens United. We join a number of progressive organizations that have already endorsed. http://movetoamend.org/
Sierra Club Outings - 2011
explore, enjoy, and protect
Slide shows:
(1) Bicycling the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes
More information on Outings. If you are interested in becoming a Sierra Club Outings Leader, click here.
Cancer Rates in Quincy increased to allow for new Data Centers
On Monday local citizens, challenging some of the world’s largest technology companies over public health threats to Quincy, asked the state’s environmental court to reconsider a ruling in favor of Microsoft after new documents were revealed. Also in new developments, Microsoft asked the court to delay proceedings after the company completed emission tests on one of its massive diesel generators. Microsoft had planned to submit those results as evidence in court proceedings.
View - Quincy, Washington Server Farms website
PCBs: Spokane River needs a cleanup plan (TMDL)
PCBs pollute Washington’s waters. From the Duwamish to the Spokane, this group of industrial compounds associated with liver dysfunction and cancer is a risk to human life and wildlife. PCB manufacture is now banned in the U.S. EPA and Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) should be prompt in developing cleanup plans to protect the public interest. They are not – raising troubling questions. Click here for more.
Quincy, Washington Server Farms.
On September 29 a local citizen group appealed air quality permits issued by the State of Washington Dept of Ecology to Dell Marketing LP and Sabey Intergate-Quincy LLC. Citizen action is prompted by continuing public health concerns that the State is allowing nearly 150 locomotive-size diesel generators as part of unprecedented influx of datacenters. These appeals follow earlier appeals protesting the State’s pollution permits given to Microsoft and Yahoo!
View - Quincy, Washington Server Farms website
Water Rates, Conservation, and the Future of Water in the Spokane River & Aquifer
Cable 5 TV: Spokane Councilman Richard Rush interviews Robert Lindsay (Water Resources Manager for Spokane County), Rachael Paschal Osborn (public interest water lawyer), and Marnie Rorholm (City of Spokane’s Water Stwardship program).
View “City Council Connection”
River Advocates to EPA: Uphold the law, protect the Spokane River from toxic pollution
On July 18 Sierra Club and the Center for Environmental Law & Policy (CELP) filed a “60-day notice” directed to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for failure to require the Washington Department of Ecology to prepare a water quality cleanup plan for PCBs in the Spokane River. If EPA fails to act, the two organizations will file a federal lawsuit after 60 days.
for more, see: Sierra Club’s Spokane River Project
Deadline looming to save Mt. Spokane’s forests.
Please take a moment to write a letter and ask the Washington State Park Commissioners to protect Mt. Spokane's forests. The Commissioners will meet in Spokane on May 18. Their decision: protect these forests on the west and north slopes of Mt. Spokane -- or expand the ski area and clearcut ski runs into these forests visible from Spokane.
Points to make in your letter:
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•Support protecting the west and north slopes of Mt. Spokane as a "Natural Forest Area"
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•Point out that the ski area expansion will destroy native and ancient forests, as well as rare sub-alpine ecosystems.
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•These forests are important for wildlife (including wildlife corridors) and as watershed.
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•Views of Mt. Spokane will be marred by the clearcutting of ski runs.
Click here for your "pre-addressed" e-mail to Washington's Park Commissioners.
The Mt Spokane 2000 proposal can be found on the resources page of the web: www.savemtspokane.org. For a copy of the Sierra Club’s letter, click here.
A message and a warning
American Indian women aim to raise awareness of shared threat.
Spokesman-Review, April 23.
They were welcomed on Canada Island in Riverfront Park on Friday by the representatives of several Inland Northwest tribes, the sound of Native drumming and the roar of the raging Spokane River.
For full story, click here.
Links:
Conservationists head back to court to protect communities’ drinking water, challenge WSU water rights.
Water levels in the aquifer are dropping.
Conservationists have stepped in to protect the future of drinking water for 50,000 people in the Pullman-Moscow area. Click here for news advisory.
Dishman Hills hiking -- with Rep. Jay Inslee
Eastern Washington’s water and public land issues discussed
•Jon Snyder (Spokane City Council) who rode his bicycle to Disman Hills despite the snow,
•Chris Bachman, Sierra Club volunteer working to save native forests of Mt. Spokane (see story below),
•Sam Mace, SOS, working to breach the 4 dams on the lower Snake River to save the salmon runs from extinction (Judge Redden’s decision expected in June),
•John Osborn (lower photo), Sierra Club volunteer, standing between Rep. Inslee and Sam Mace, working to protect rivers and drinking-water aquifers.
(photos: Paul Fish, John Osborn)
Global Warming, Coal, and our Future
Historic agreement reached to phase out coal-burning in Washington state
In Washington State, Sierra Club volunteers are focused on Washington’s only coal plant in Centralia.
The Pacific Northwest is facing a series of pressing energy issues. If you have expertise or just committed to a sustainable energy future for the Inland Northwest, then please contact Brad Hash or John Osborn. Or for more information, contact Beyond Coal: Washington.
Dr. Rivers - Watershed Hero 2011
This year 130 people attended Winter Waters, co-sponsored with the Center for Environmental Law & Policy (CELP).
A special thanks to all of you who attended to thank and honor Dr. Rivers. Special thanks to Eymann Allison Hunter Jones ps, to donors of auction items and food, and for students and the volunteers with the planning committee who made the event possible.
Sierra Club - restoring the beauty and power of Spokane Falls
The tests are the result of the settlement between Sierra Club / Center for Environmental Law & Policy and Avista Corporation on the management of dams on the Spokane River. The purpose is to evaluate possible modifications to water flows to restore the beauty of Spokane Falls on behalf of the public. for more on this historic effort, click here.
On Sierra Club’s work to restore the Spokane River in TIME Magazine
Going Green:
Greener Dishwashing: A Farewell to Phosphates
- Bryan Walsh (November 13, 2010)
Sierra Club Blasts EPA’s Approval of Spokane River Dissolved Oxygen Clean-Up Plan
On Friday, May 21, Sierra Club’s Upper Columbia River Group criticized the decision by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to approve the Spokane River water quality cleanup plan for dissolved oxygen.
“After twelve years and four different versions of the Spokane River TMDL, you would hope that the agencies would finally get it right, but they did not,” said Rachael Paschal Osborn, Sierra Club’s Spokane River Project Coordinator. “This water quality plan is not sufficient to clean up the Spokane River.”
Sierra Club has participated actively in development of the TMDL since 2001 and commented on each of the four versions. Versions two and three of the TMDL were withdrawn due to Sierra Club concerns.
The EPA-approved version, issued today, contains several serious flaws:
•The plan contemplates issuance of a permit for Spokane County’s brand new wastewater treatment plant, which will allow additional pollution to be put into the Spokane River without assurance that existing pollution will be cleaned up.
•The plan contemplates use of a “septic offset” program that assumes that groundwater is contributing phosphorus to the River even though the scientific studies indicate it is not.
•The plan assigns a “responsibility” for dissolved oxygen improvement to Avista for Long Lake Dam, but does not quantify the amount of pollution that Avista must remove from the system.
•The Plan creates disincentives for polluters to tackle the problem of non-point source pollution.
•The plan is designed to allow a weakening of water quality standards in ten years.
“Various polluters on the River expect to buy “credits” for pollution from the County’s septic tank elimination program – it’s like three-card monte for the Spokane Aquifer,” continued Osborn. “Now you see it, now you don’t.”
More information can be found at Sierra Club’s website on phosphorus pollution and the Spokane River
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Upper Columbia River Group - Sierra Club
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Spokane, WA 99210
