v .,-: :<*
Idahcfl,
Environmental
Quality Profile
Protection^
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Contents/Summary
River Water
Although Idaho's water quality is
generally good, portions of major
rivers may have marginal quality,
according to recent water quality
surveys. Mining has had effects
on the Spokane and Coeur d'Alene
Rivers while heavy metals from
unknown sources have affected the
Lower Salmon and Clearwater
Rivers. The lower Portneuf River
has been degraded by municipal,
industrial and agricultural
sources while Rock Creek has
Lakes & Impoundments
Most major problems in Idaho's
principal lakes appear to be due
to algal blooms stimulated by
agricultural runoff and septic
tanks. Photosynthetic activity
and algae decomposition can
adversely affect fish in
reservoirs. Agricultural
nutrients and discharges of
sewage effluent have affected
Underground Water
Although not originally listed as
needing to develop Underground
Injection Control regulations,
Idaho petitioned to be included
in the EPA's UIC listings. Idaho
will receive EPA grant money
through 1982 and is using it to
collect background data on
aquifers, inventory injection
4
suffered from irrigation return
flows. High suspended solids
have been found in the Bruneau
and Bear Rivers. Municipal
facilities become overloaded from
groundwater or stormwater
entering sewers, and at times low
streamflow does not allow for
maintenance of the water quality
standards and dissolved oxygen in
particular.
7
American Falls Reservoir.
Agricultural runoff from
non-point sources entering the
Snake River upstream from Oxbow
and Brownlee Reservoirs has
degraded those lakes. Excessive
alga1, growth due to summer
inflows from agricultural
non-point sources affects Lake
Lowel1.
wells and to evaluate the adequacy
of state laws and regulations.
Idaho has been implementing
protective activities in the
Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie
Aquifer, which provides drinking
water for 40,000 Idahoans and
300,000 Washingtonians in the
Coeur d'Alene and Spokane areas.
Solid & Hazardous Wastes
Proposed legislation to obtain
full state primacy for a hazardous
waste program will be submitted
for consideration by the 1983
Legislature. Idaho will continue
to manage the federal program for
the EP'A under a cooperative
arrangement by monitoring all
hazardous waste generation,
storage, transportation and
disposal activities within the
state.
Implementation of the Idaho Solid
Waste Plan will be a high
priority in 1983. Work will
continue to update the solid
waste regulations to deal with
Idaho solid waste problems more
effectively. Implementation of
waste energy recovery systems are
underway in several areas of the
state. Materials recycling
programs in the state are
suffering from high
transportation costs and small
volume.
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"Air
Since July 1, 1981, when funding
for the State air program was
terminated, EPA assumed as much
of that responsibility as it had
resources and authority. To
assure the protection of public
health, EPA's program focused on
monitoring the quality of State's
air. Most of the State continues
to meet health-based air quality
standards for total suspended
particulates (TSP), sulfur
dioxide (SO-), carbon monoxide
(CO), ozone (0 ), nitrogen
dioxide (NO-), and lead. However,
12
Silver Valley, Boise, Pocatello,
Soda Springs-Conda and Lewiston
areas continue to violate one or
more of these standards.
Recognizing the -public health and
economic consequences resulting
from non-attainment of air quality
standards, the Legislature voted
overwhelmingly to reestablish a
State air program. In FY 83, the
State will again assume the
primary responsibility for the
management of Idaho's Air
resources.
Idaho's Environmental Quality Profile
The Idaho Department of Health
and Welfare, Division of
Environment (IDHW-DOE) and the
Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) have jointly prepared this
Idaho Environmental Assessment
and Proposed Program.
The purpose of this document 1s
to provide the public with a
current assessment of
environmental problems in Idaho
and the related program efforts
of DOE and EPA that will be
directed at solving these priority
problems. This is a draft report
and it is intended for interested
Idaho citizens to have the
opportunity to provide guidance
on redirection of program
priorities. EPA and DOE would
like feedback to determine if
there are environmental problems
of a higher priority than those
described in this report that may
have been missed in our assessment.
Thus:
.what are the most serious
environmental quality prob-
lems in Idaho?
.Where should we be directing
our declining resources for
environmental clean-up?
,Are there better methods
for tackling these
envi ronmental
problems?
.Do we need to place more
emphasis on specific geogra-
phical environmental
problem areas? Where?
We are seeking the public's
opinions on these questions. The
result will be used to provide
additional direction for the
future programs.
Please direct any comments,
concerns or questions to:
Administrator
of Environment
Dr. Lee Stokes,
IDHW - Division
Statehouse
Boise, Idaha 83720
Phone: (208) 334-4061
Or
M. Lynn McKee, Director
Idaho Operations Office, EPA
422 West Washington Street
Boise, Idaho 83702
Phone: (208) 334-1450
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Water Quality Standards - History and Definition
unen Congress enacted amendments
to tne Federal Water Pollution
Control Act in 1972, a national
goal to achieve "fishable,
srfimmable" waters by 1983 was
set. The purpose of the Act is
to protect the quality of our
nation's waters for a variety of
uses, including public water
supply, wildlife, fish and
siellfish, recreation, navigation,
agriculture and industry. Each
water jse depends on certain
cnaracteristics , such as
temperature, concentration of
dissolved oxygen, or absence of
Bacteria, which can be measured
and used to evaluate water quality.
Idaho's Water Quality Standards
provide a comprehensive set of
criteria defining water qu a ' i ty
levels necessary to protect nj-ian
1 e a 1 t n , aquatic life and otner
desired uses of rivers and strea.ns
These criteria thus represent
water quality goals. '•lost of
Idaho's streams are -nanaged to
support cold water game fisn
species such as trout and sal-non;
however, some are managed as wan
water fisheries, supporting bass,
catfish and other fish requiring
less stringent criteria. Tie
water quality of individual
streams or stream portions is
determined at monitoring stations
by measuring temperature,
dissolved oxygen, acidity, etc.,
and comparing the results with
the cr i ten a .
C_r i ter i a Ca tegory
Tempera tu re
Dissolved Oxygen
pH
Aes theti cs
Sol ids
TABLE 1: CRITERIA CATEGORIES FOR THE WATER QUALITY INDEX
Explanation
Water temperature Influences the type of fish and
other aquatic life that can survive in a river. Excessively
high temperatures are detrimental to aquatic life.
To survive, fish and aquatic life must have certain
levels of oxygen in the water. Low oxygen levels can be
detrimental to these organisms.
pH is the measure of acidity or alkalinity of water. Extreme
levels of either can imperil fish and aquatic life.
Refers to oil, grease, and turbidity which are visually
unpleasant. For the Index, this group is mostly represented by
the turbidity parameter, which is a measure of the clarity of
the water, because it is much more widely measured than any of
the others within the group.
Dissolved mineral and suspended material such as mud or silt.
Excess dissolved minerals can interfere with agricultural,
industrial and domestic use. Excess suspended solids adversely
affect fish feeding and spawning and may have adverse secondary
impacts on dissolved oxygen.
Rad i oact iv1ty
Fecal Coll form Bacteria
Trophic (Nutrient Enrichment)
Orga n ic Tox1c1ty
Inorganic Tox i c 1 ty
May be 1n water as a result of radioactive waste discharges or
fallout. Excess levels can harm aquatic and other life forms.
These bacteria indicate probable presence of disease-re 1 ated
organisms and viruses not natural to water (i.e. from human
sewage or animal waste).
Indicates the extent of algae or nutrients in water. Nutrients
promote algae growth. When algae flourish they make the water
murky, and the growths make swimming and fishing unpleasant.
Decomposition of dead algae can decrease dissolved oxygen
concentrations to the levels harmful to fish.
Includes pesticides and other organic poisons having similar
effects and persistence.
Heavy metals and other elements; excess concentrations are
poisonous to aquatic and other life forms. Also includes
excessive dissolved gases 1n water which can affect the
metabolism of aquatic life.
he general water quality picture
n Idano, as represented by 35
onitoring stations, has exhibited
ittle apparent change over the
ast seven years. Trends indicate
mprovement in the aesthetics and
Water Quality Trends
amount of solids being discharges
in many of the stream segments.
Segments exhibiting the greatest
improvement are the Upper and
Middle Snake due to the removal
of most of the discharges from
potato processing and the Portneuf
River due to tranfer of discharges
from the City of Pocatello and
the Simplot plant to i new land
appl ication system.
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Quality of Idaho's Principal Rivers
«ater Quality in Idaho is
generally good to excellent;
however, at certain times of the
year portions of major rivers
nave marginal quality with respect
to state and national water
quali ty goals.
"ollutants that reach the state's
streams have two general origins:
'Point sources', such as
wastewater from industries and
sewage treatment plants that enter
streams at an easily identifiable
location; and less easily
identifiable 'non-point sources'
tnat consist of stormwater from
urban areas, irrigation tail-water
and runoff from forest and mining
areas and dryland farms (such as
non-irrigated wheat farms).
Water quality criteria most
often exceeded are those for
temperature, bacteria, nutrient
levels and sediment. The
significance of organic toxics is
not known since adequate
information to make such a
determination has not been
collected. To attain the water
quality goals, NPDES and municipal
wastewater facility grant programs
for point sources and best
management practices for non-point
sources either have been
implemented or are planned.
Table 1 gives the major parameters
measured and used in determining
the relative quality of various
streams (the Water Quality Index).
~he most polluted streams 1n Idaho
(i.e. those that exceed the water
quality limits most frequently)
are the South Fork Coeur d'Alene
River in north Idaho, and Panther
Creek, Big Deer Creek and
Blackbird Creek 1n the Salmon
River drainage. Much of the
South Fork Coeur d'Alene River Is
affected by high levels of heavy
metals from past and present
mining and ore-producing
activities within its basin.
Pollution from these activities
also contributes to water quality
problems in the Spokane and
main-stem Coeur d'Alene Rivers.
The Portneuf River has been
degraded by a combination of
municipal, industrial, agricultural
and natural sources. The upper
Portneuf River is heavily impacted
by sediment from rainfall and
snowmelt runoff from dryland
agricultural areas.
TYnce the summer of 1980,
however, much of the municipal
and industrial wastewater has
been diverted from tne lower
reaches of the river resulting in
significant water quality
improvement. Rock Creek, which
flows through Twin Falls, is
heavily polluted by Irrigation
wastewater entering its lower
reaches. Improved soil management
practices continue to reduce this
pollution. Both the Portneuf
River and Rock Creek impact
segments of the Snake River.
Panther, Big Deer and Blackbird
Creeks are affected by acid mine
drainage from the old Blackbird
Mine near Cobalt. The native and
anadromous fisheries (trout, dolly
varden, salmon, etc.) have been
eliminated from portions of each
of these streams. (For Panther
Creek, the largest of these
streams, the fisheries have been
almost entirely eliminated in a
reach from the confluence with
the Salmon and extending for 35
miles upstream.)
Many water quality problems are
attributed to agricultural runoff
from irrigation return flows,
particularly in Southern Idaho
and from dryland farming in the
Palouse area and in Eastern Idaho.
Still other stream reaches are
affected by discharges from
municipal and industrial sewage
treatment plants. High
concentrations of heavy metals
from unknown sources are
primarily responsible for the
Lower Salmon and Clearwater
Rivers' marginal ratings. The
remaining streams, located in
more remote areas of the state,
lack significant agricultural,
urban and industrial activities
and generally meet water quality
goals.
Figure 1: Water Quality Index Value* for Idaho's Principal Rivers
WORST 3 CONSECUTIVE MONTHS
Lower Portneuf
Lower Bruneau
S F Coeur O'Alene
Lower Boise
Rock Creek (Twin Falls Co )
Middle Snake
Coeur O'Alene
Little Wood
Lower Snake
Bear
Clearwater & Significant Tribs
Salmon
Kootenai
St Joe
Weisef
Upper Snake
Clark Fork/Pend Oreille
Blackloot
8ig Wood
Henrys Fork
Pavette Incl N & S Forks
WQI VALUE " ANNUAL AVERAGE WATER OlJAL TV NDE '
20 40 60 80 100
•> •
•
m
•_
Acceptable * Marginal ' Unacceoiac:* "
Minimal or Iniermiuent or Moderate Sever PoHunon
No pollution Pollution
Host of the other principal
streams monitored in Idaho are
significantly degraded
intermittently during the year.
Typically, a stream will meet the
water quality standards throughout
most of the year; however, during
the summer low-flow hec.vy-usage
periods, these standards may not
be maintained. Some streams, such
as the Boise River below Lucky
Peak Dam, exhibit problems during
winter low-flows.
Figure 1 gives the worst three
month and the average annual
Water Quality Index of various
Idaho river and stream reaches
with respect to the water quality
categories evaluated.
Figure 2 shows the location of
the major streams in Idaho.
Many stream reaches, particularly
in the more arid portions of the
state, exceed the temperature
criterion. Excessive fecal
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coliform bacterial levels occur
in some of Idaho's southern
streams, due primarily to runoff
from grazing and animal confinement
areas. Over half of the stream
segments evaluated show excessive
nutrient concentrations during at
least part of the year. These
are mostly over-enriched by runoff
from irrigated and dryland
agriculture, although treated
sewage may contribute to these
problems in some streams, such as
the Boise River. Streams with
high suspended solids levels due
to agricultural runoff include
the Bear River near the Wyoming
border, the Bruneau River and the
Portneuf River.
Many-of these water quality
problems will be the target of
OOE's and EPA's program effort
during FY 83. An exception is
the South Fork Coeur d'Alene River.
Due to past mining practices,
mine wastes (drainage and
tailings dumps) are extensive
through "Silver Valley" and very
little can be economically done
to reverse or eliminate the
contaminated runoff.
Consequently, the resource
commitment to solve these
problems would be great in
relationship to the -envi ronmental
gai ns.
Figure 2: Major Streams and Geographical high priority
areas in Idaho
Point Sources of Pollution
In Idaho, industries and
municipalities that discharge
waste into streams are required
to apply for permits issued by
EPA under the National Pollution
Discharge Elimination System (NPOES)
These permits define the level of
pollutants that can be discharged
to Idaho's streams and still
maintain water quality as
established in the standards.
However, due to resource
limitations, EPA does not
generally issue (or reissue)
pe'rmits to minor dischargers in
Idaho. In most other states, the
NPOES programs have been delegated
to state agencies which carry out
this responsibility. Idaho has
not qualified for delegation in
the past because of low state
penalities available for
enforcement. Through the NPDES
permitting process, point source
pollutants are to be removed to
acceptable levels before
wastewater reaches the river.
Problems still exist, however,
including inadequate wastewater
treatment, overloading of
facilities from groundwater
and/or stormwater entering into
sewers and inadequate stream flow
to provide mixing of the effluent
from industrial and municipal
wastewater treatment facilities
during the summer periods when
water quality normally 1s lower.
Food processing industries,
mining and ore processing
facilities are other major point
sources requiring improvements.
EPA resources for permitting
municipal and industrial
discharges will be less than last
year's level, as will DOE's.
First priority will be given to
issuance and reissuance of
permits and compliance monitoring
in the environmentally impacted
geographic areas. Pre-treatment
programs will be developed in
some cities providing for control
of certain industrial wastes
prior to discharge to municipal
sewage treatment systems.
Through the Construction Grants
Program, EPA provides financial
assistance to the state for the
construction of municipal sewage
treatment systems. DOE has been
awarded partial delegation for
the Idaho Municipal Facilities
Construction program and is
providing active management of
this program. This delegation
trend will continue and all
activities will be assumed by DOE
by the end of FY 83 with the
exception of certain construction
management activities which will
be performed by the Corps of
Engineers. DOE and EPA will
continue to emphasize the
upgrading of municipal sewage
treatment facilities to provide
secondary treatment.
To meet Idaho's Water Quality
Standards on some rivers,
treatment beyond secondary may be
required for a few municipal
discharges. EPA is working with
both Idaho and Washington to
establish a coordinated plan for
control of phosphorus in the
Spokane River in order to meet
Washington's water quality
standards.
Operation and maintenance (O&M)
of municipal facilities will
continue to be a priority element
of the Municipal Facilities
Construction Program and O&M
manual development and review
will be emphasized. Training
programs for treatment plant O&H
staff will be continued at Boise
State University in cooperation
«i th DOE. A new training
fac i1i ty is now under
construction for 8SU through a
100% EPA grant.
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Non-point Sources of Pollution
Non-point sources of pollution
are generally not easily treated
and "best management practices"
;3MPs) must be applied to achieve
control. For example ,
agricultural best management
practices might include adequate,
controlled waste storage areas to
keep organic wastes from reaching
streams, or contour plowing to
prevent erosion of soil into
rivers.
The responsibility for developing
methods to control non-point
source pollution has been given
to local and state agencies
assigned to develop water quality
management plans as provided by
the Federal Water Pollution
Control Act.
Agriculture continues to be one
of the most significant non-point
sources of water pollution in
Idaho'. A statewide agricultural
Pollution Abatement Plan was
completed in 1979 .
T"his voluntary program is being
implemented primarily through the
208 planning process and State
cost-share program in ten high
priority areas: Rock Creek, LQ
Drain and Cedar Draw in Twin
Fal1s County, Paradi se
Creek-South Fork Palouse River
and Cow Creek in Latah County,
Marsh Creek in Bannock County,
the lower Boise River in Canyon
County, Willow Creek in
Bonneville County, Little Malad
River in Oneida County, and
Hangman Creek in Benewah County.
Activities on Federal lands are
the responsibility of either the
Forest Service or Bureau of Land
Management. BMPs have been
developed. However, a program t
insure implementation is lacking
at the state level due to
inadequate funding. On Federal
land, implementation of BMPs
varies from forest to forest, an<
there is no monitoring to insure
that good practices are utilized
Currently, the major efforts
being made are the development fl-
an education/information program
to make timber harvesting
operators aware of the impacts cr
poor practices and a road
construction methods study.
Mining activities are another
major non-point source of
pollution. DOE is working
closely with the Noranda and
Cyprus mining companies to
minimize water quality impacts a
these operations progress.
One approach for controlling
non-point sources of pollution
has been through the '208
planning process'. A number of
high priority pollution problems
have been addressed through this
program and solutions are
successfully being implemented.
The 208 program is being phased
out due to lack of Federal
funding. There remain several
'208 projects' in progress in
Idaho, the last of which are
scheduled for completion in 1984.
A proje.ct in the Rock Creek
watershed providing for
implementation of BMP's is being
funded through the Rural Clean
Water Program.
Runoff from timber harvesting is
also a major cause of non-point
source problems. The Idaho
Department of Lands (IDL) has the
responsibility for controlling
poll'ution from logging practices
on state and private lands
through the Forest Practices Act.
Runoff from abandoned and
inactive mining operations, which
is difficult and expensive to
control, creates problems in the
South Fork and main Coeur d'Alene
Rivers. There are also problems
due to uncontrolled discharges
and pond leakage. State plans to
rehabilitate the South Fork have
been hampered by lack of funds.
DOE and EPA will explore other
means for dealing with non-point
source pollution problems.
Implementation of existing
projects will be given a ligh
priority.
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Idaho Lake Water Quality
7
Inland lakes and waterways
constitute one of Idaho's most
Important recreational and
commerciaT resources. Lake water
quality In Idaho 1s among the
best in the nation. Only a few
of the major recreational lakes
have significant water quality
problems that Impair their use.
Figure 3 shows the principal
recreational lakes In Idaho and
the status of the lakes for
various recreational uses.
If a lake is undisturbed by human
activities, it undergoes a
natural process of aging known as
eutrophication. Man's
activities, however, may
accelerate this process by
Introducing nutrients to lake
waters through Improper land use
and waste disposal practices.
Land use practices on farm land,
forests and construction sites
often result 1n erosion of
nutrient-rich soils Into streams
feeding lakes. Significant
quantities of nutrients are
discharged by sewage treatment,
certain industrial plants and
runoff from urban areas, pastures
and feedlots.
Water quality agencies In Idaho
are concerned with the status of
Idaho's lakes because many uses
of the lakes and development
around the lakes will affect the
aging process. Highly eutrophic
lakes are characterized by dense
algal blooms, floating mats of
Figure 3: Principal Recreational Lakes in Idaho and a rating of their condition
NAME
Brownlee Res.
American Falls Res.
Wilson Lake
Lake Walcott
Portneuf Res
William Lk./Lemhi Co.
Crane Creek Res
Lake Lowell
Lower Granite Res.
Oxbow Res.
Hell's Canyon Res
Paddock Valley Res
Fernan Lake
Chatcolet Lake
Cascade Res
Henry's Lake
Island Park Res.
Magic Res.
Twin Lakes/Kootenai Co.
Cocolalla Lake
Salmon Falls Cr. Res.
Lower Goose Cr. Res.
Fish Cr Res.
Lost Valley Res.
Palisades Res.
Upper Payette Lk.
Dworshak Res
Sage Hen Res.
Anderson Ranch Res.
Alturas Lake
Lucky Peak Res.
Arrowrock Res.
Priest Lake
Lake Pend Oreille
Lake Coeur d'Alene
Hayden Lake
Payette Lake
Deadwood Res.
Redfish Lake
Bear Lake
Spirit Lake
Upper Priest Lake
Bulltrout Lake
Mackay Reservoir
Little Camas Res.
Little Wood Res.
SURFACE /
{ACRES) *
15.000
56.000
600 jj
12.0001
1.5001
2001
1.0001
9.600
8.900
1,500
2.500
1.000
300
600
30.000
2.500
7.000
1.800
850
800
1.500
1.000
250
800
16,000
500
17.000
300
4,000
1,200
2.800
4.000
24.000
94.000
30.000
4.000
1.000
3.000
1.500
25.000
1.300
5.000
900
1.000
1.000
600
CAUSE OF PROBLEM
Upstream Sources
Natural/Agric Nonpomt/
Municipal/Industrial Pt. Sources
Upstream Sources
Upstream Sources
Agncultrual Runoff
Recreational Impacts
Natural/Agric. Runoff
Agricultural Runoff
Upstream Sources
Upstream Sources
Upstream Sources
Natural/Agric. Runoff
Septic Tanks/Agnc. Runoff
Agricultural Runoff
Agric. Runoff/Munic Pt Source
Recreational Impacts
Septic Tanks/Natural Runoff
Agnc. Runoff/Munic. Pt. Sources
Septic Tanks/Agnc. Runoff
Agnc. Runoff/Rec Impacts
D Condition Good
• Moderate Problem
10 Significant Problem
E3 Status Unknown
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8
vegetation, and a murky
appearance. ^1 gae are found
Taturally in every body of water,
but when stimulated by abundant
nutrients, sunlight, and warm
temperatures, they rapidly
multiply to become a nuisance to
recreational users and seriously
affect water quality for other
uses. These nuisances may
curtail or even eliminate
recreational activities (such as
swimming, boating and fishing),
impart tastes and odors to water
supplies, and cause toxic
conditions which adversely affect
other aquatic life in the lakes.
For example, when sufficient
quantities of these aquatic
plants die, the decaying process
nay consume quantities of
dissolved oxygen sufficient to
kill fish and other aquatic life.
'he recreational use of lakes in
itself can affect water quality.
Power boats may release mixtures
of oil and gasoline and
associated contaminants to the
water. Removal of vegetation
along shorelines to enhance
public access can lead to
erosion.
Most major impairments of the
principal lakes in Idaho appear
to be due to algal blooms
stimulated by nutrients from
agricultural runoff and septic
tanks.. Runoff from agricultural
non-point sources entering the
Snake River upstream of Oxbow and
Brownlee Reservoirs has degraded
those two water bodies. Lake
Lowell, an off-stream reservoir
near Boise, receives heavy
recreational use by residents of
the Boise Valley. Excessive
algal growth in the summer
impairs such use. The conditions
are primarily due to nutrients
from summer inflows from
agricultural non-point sources
and the large waterfowl
population which utilizes the
lake. However, because of the
significant impact due to
waterfowl , control of the
agricultural sources of nutrients
may not achieve a solution to
thi s problem.
The water quality of American
Falls Reservoir is affected by
nutrients from dryland and
irrigated agriculture, winter
discharges of treated sewage
effluents from Pocatello,
phosphate deposits in the soils
and from many springs in the
area.
Many of the lakes in the
Panhandle area of Northern Idaho
are presently of high quality.
However, development around the
lakes is increasing and the lakes
are extensively used for
recreation. Some of the lakes
are showing signs of degradation.
In order to protect these
valuable resources, lake shore
management plans are being
developed to insure that
development occurs with minimal
impacts on lake water quality.
Federal funding to deal with lake
water quality problems has been
through the 208 and Clean Lakes
programs. Idaho presently has
two Clean Lakes grants; one to do
a lake classification analysis to
determine the trophic status of
Idaho's lakes and the other to
study pollution sources and to
develop a protection plan for
Bear Lake. The Clean Lakes
program also is being phased out
because of cuts in Federal
fundi ng.
Without Federal funding or
increased State funds, little
progress may be made in improving
degraded lake water quality.
Drinking Water Quality - Public Water System Program
The Safe Drinking Water Act,
passed in 1974, gave EPA primary
responsibility for establishing
drinking water standards and
assuring national program
consistency, but intended that
the states implement programs
ensuring that public water.
systems are in compliance with
standards. Idaho has assumed
primary responsibility for
working with public water systems
to implement drinking water
standards. Emphasis has been
placed on voluntary compliance
with the National Interim Primary
Drinking Water Regulations, but
when voluntary efforts fail, more
formal enforcement procedures
have been pursued.
In most cases, contamination of a
water supply system is due to
bacteria. Disease may result
from consuming small quantities
of contaminated water. The
national drinking water standards
address treated water quality
characteristics, as measured by
periodic tests. EPA recognizes
that these are minimum standards
and are not adequate in
themselves to protect public
health. Therefore, EPA
encourages states to implement
comprehensive programs (i e:
operator training and plan
review) that go beyond addressing
only finished water quality.
The primary means to assure safe
drinking water is for public
water systems to have properly
operated, wel1-maintained,
adequately designed facilities.
That means a major part of a
state's program is evaluation of
facility design and inspection of
water systems to determine
facility deficiencies which can
create health hazards.
Approximately one-fourth of the
water supplies in Northern Idaho
are not meeting minimum state
monitoring requirements, or have
never been inspected by the
state.
There is concern by water quality
agencies that current Idaho rules
and regulations governing
subsurface sewage disposal may
not prevent pollution of drinking
water sources or health hazards
in the populated areas in
Southwest Boise (Ada County) and
over the Snake Plain and Rathdrum
aqui fers .
The drinking water program is
funded with state monies and EPA
grant monies made available to
IDHW. The state will maintain
the drinking water program to
provide the maximum level of
public protection that resources
allow. First priority will be to
ensure that drinking water
systems violating the maximum
contamination levels for
bacteria, chemical, radiochemical
and turbidity contaminants are
surveyed and the problems
corrected. Public notification
when drinking water maximum
co-ntainment levels are violated
will also receive major emphasis.
If IDHW should lose existing
District Health Department
support due to inadequate Federal
and State funding, less emphasis
will be given to non-community
public water systems and fewer
public water supply system
sanitary surveys may be
conducted .
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Groundwater Protection
The Safe Drinking Water Act also
established a program to protect
underground sources of drinking
water. EPA's role is to develop
national Underground Injection
Control (UIC) regulations,
provide oversight and ensure
national program consistency.
Congress intended for the states
to implement the UIC program and
that EPA would list the states
needing the program. Idaho,
although not initially listed,
petitioned to be included in the
UIC listing. EPA awarded UIC
grants to Idaho (Department of
Water Resources) in 1979, and
those grants Mere continued
through 1982. Idaho is using
developmental grant funds to
collect background data on
aquifers, inventory injection
wells and evaluate the adequacy
of state laws and regulations.
The Idaho Department of Water
Resources, in cooperation with
DOE, has applied for aelegation
of the UIC program which would
provide protection against
groundwater degradation through
regulation of injected fluids.
A surface impoundment assessment
[pits, ponds and lagoons) has
been completed by the University
of laano. While the stuay
indicates there is potential for
contamination of groundwater by
impoundment, few actual cases of
groundwater contamination have
been documented. 'Sole source
aquifer designation1 is another
feature of the groundwater
protection program, in whicn an
aquifer may be designated as tne
only source of drinking water for
a particular area. The Spokane
Val1ey-Ratndrum Prairie Aquifer,
first designated a sole source
aquifer in 1978, provides
drinking water for about 40,000
Idaho residents and 300,000
Washington residents in tne Coeur
d'Alene and Spokane areas. The
designation requires that EPA
review groundwater impacts of
projects proposed for Federal
funding and prohibits sucn
funding for any project which nay
contaminate this important
aqui fer.
Where there is rapid development
in rural areas that affects vital
groundwater systems, DOE and EPA
have been helping local agencies
develop management plans to
prevent degradation. The
Panhandle Health District adopted
and is implementing regulations
for sewage disposal over the
Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer. EPA is
encouraging Spokane County to
adopt similar regulations. Ada
Planning Association has
final'zed a wastewater nanagement
Dlan in coordination witn the
development of a comprehensive
land jse plan which will ne';p
prevent groundwater dejradat'on
in r'jral areas of Ada Count./.
This plan also summarizes and
consolidates all adopted central
sewer facility plans, procedjres
for amending area plans ana area-
wide policies for their
coordination and imp'ementation.
The Southeast Idaho Council of
Governments has developed a plan
addressing prevention of
groundwater degradation in
Bingham County. The District
Seven Health Department has
developed a plan to prevent
contamination of tne Snane Ri^er
Aquifer in the si< count'es
naking up its district.
The importance of protecting
groundwater resources is
recognized by Idano and E'A. E3^
will continue 'j provide iran:
support to I9WR ana I3HW 'or
development of an underground
injection control program.
However, 208 grant funds for
planning to protect against other
sources of groundwater
degradation will be discontinued
due to tne pnase out. of nonies
for this program. DOE is
developing a groundwater
nanagement plan that ml!
establish a groundwater pollution
control/protection strategy ana
will define steps needed to
implement this strategy.
Solid and Hazardous Wastes
Concern about improper management with water pollution being one of
of storage, collection,
transportation, treatment and
disposal of solid and hazardous
wastes causing public health
hazards; the scarcity of land
disposal sites; and, the
'.oss of resources and
energy through waste
materi als prompted
Congress to pass the
Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act (RCRA) of
1 r 6 .
Municipal open dumps were
generally abandoned or
converted for more
ddequa te sani ta ry
nanagenent as landfills.
Unfortunately a great
-.ajori ty of these
'anafills are little more
than open dumps. Progress has
been made in identifying these
"dumps", and in monitoring
groundwater at these sites,
however, the inventory to
classify disposal sites is
yet complete.
the major concerns. Rainwater
draining over a fill and
filtering into the ground through
the wastes will carry harmful
cnemicals and bacteria into
not
Open burning of wastes has been
vlrtually eliminated in Idaho,
but environmental problems
"?- Jispusa! witn
daily cover jnd proper rompaction
will reduce many of these
probi ems .
Sewage sludge disposal is
an increasing problem is
water pol1ut i on
regulations aecome Tiore
strict and landfill spao
becomes scarce.
Alternatives for waste
materi als , such as
incineration and the use
of sludge jn farra and
forest lands, are being
tried.
The lack of federal and
S ta te funds will
practical'.,/ eliminate tne
surveillance 3* nuni •:: aa*
solid waste disposal sites and
continuation of tie open Ju.np
inventory of other waste types.
In addition to nazardous wastes
seing regulated by the RCRA, the
Toxic Substances Confol Act
(TSCA; controls handling and
disposal of PCS and trie cederal
Insecticide, Fungicide and
Rodenticide Act '.FIFRAj controls
the jse of pesticides used in
Idano agriculture.
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10
No najor problems have occurred
from disposal of hazardous waste
in laaho aue to regulations
reauirind envi ronmental l"y sound
on-site or off-site Disposal.
Most of the federally regulated
types and quantities of hazardous
wastes are disposed of at EPA and
state approved chemical disposal
sites in southwestern Idaho.
Other volumes of waste are either
shipped to a secure chemical
landfill in Oregon or are
disposed on-site pursuant to
special state/EPA permit
conditions.
Waste types and quantities which
are not regulated by the federal
program will continue to be
addressed by the OOE and local
municipal landfill authorities to
alleviate potential hazardous
rfaste disposal problems.
Figure 4: Waste Disposal Practice*
44 4% General On-Site Disposal
2 4% Sewered. Recycle
1 9% Private Off-Site Disposal
2 6% Unknown. Burning
1 1 7% Landfill
37 0% On-Site Storage
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Resource Recovery
11
Federal funding has been
discontinued for both the
financial assistance and
technical assistance panels
programs used by state and local
waste management authorities to
develop and implement
comprehensive solid waste
management plans. The plans were
to include environmentally sound
disposal methods and resource
recovery and conservation
programs.
plan, develop and bring on line a
full scale solid waste energy
recovery facility utilizing
municipal waste. The plant at
Heyburn consists of a fifty
ton-per-day Consumat incinerator
with a heat recovery boiler
providing part of the steam needs
of the adjacent Simplot potato
processing plant. In Kootenai.
County the Coeur d'Alene sanitary
landfill has been retro-fitted
with a methane recovery system
Figure 5: Location of Hazardous Waste and Resource Recovery Facilities
OPERATING CHEMICAL LAND FILLS
ENERGY RECOVERY PLANT FEASIBILITY
STUDY UNDERWAY
LOCALITY WHERE RECYCLING FACILITY
AVAILABLE {MORE THAN ONE TYPE
HOUSEHOLD WASTE-GLASS. PAPER.
ALUMINUM. ETC.)
Some municipal wastes can be
recycled to obtain material such
as metal and newspaper and much
of the rest can be incinerated to
3enerate energy such as steam or
electrici ty.
Cassia County was the first
political entity in the state to
designed by EMCON Associates and
is providing space heating for
the city's shop complex. In
Lewiston, the Potlatch Forest
Products Company has brought on
line an electrical generation
complex that is powered by wood
wastes.
Ada County, Idaho, is studying
the feasibility of converting
waste to energy. A
Teehn i cal Report has been
pub 1i shed . It gives an economic
analysis of a resource recovery
faci1i ty as publ ically
constructed, owned, and operated.
The anlysis demonstrated that
such a facility was not
economically feasible largely due
to high interest rates associated
with initial capital costs. The
project has been deferred until
economic conditions are more
favorable. Analysis recommended
that private construction,
ownership, and operation be
purchased as the feasibility of
the project is renewed.
An Energy Recovery and Solid
Waste Disposal Feasibility Study
has just been completed for
Shoshone County by Harper Owes of
Seattle, Washington. In Bannock
County, the Commissioners are
exploring the feasibility of an
energy recovery plant.
FigureS shows the location of
operating chemical landfills and
recycling facilities and energy
recovery facilities in Idaho.
The economics of recycled
materials are typically very good
in other areas, but recycling
programs in Idaho suffer from
high transportation costs and
smal1 volume.
Other wastes with a potential for
recovery include tires,
lubricating oil and wood waste,
which present serious disposal
problems.
Discarded tires gradually work to
the surface in a landfill where
they trap water, become a
breeding place for mosquitoes and
pose a fire hazard. Waste
lubricating oil is used on roads
as a dust suppressant, but can
contaminate air and water. Lead
in the oil makes indiscriminate
burning or disposal undesirable.
Wood waste, which can pollute
water resources and consume
significant space in landfills,
is presently being used to
produce steam in several Idaho
timber mills and utilities.
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12
Air Quality Standards - History and Definition
'he Clean Air Act of 1970
directed EPA to establish
National Ambient A1r Quality
Standards ("ambient" refers to
outdoor rattier than indoor
conditions) and in 1977,
amendments to the Act required
that the standards be met as soon
as possible and practical. In
the case of primary
(health-related) standards, the
new deadline is December 31,
1982. The Act required that all
states adopt implementation
plans, now commonly referred to
as State Implementation Plans or
SIP's which provided for
implementation, maintenance and
enforcement of these standards.
Under certain conditions, an
extension to December 31, 1987
can be granted for carbon
monoxide and ozone. The Clean
Air Act is currently under review
Dy Congress and it is expected
that significant amendments will
ae made to the Act.
The more highly concentrated a
pollutant, the worse its effect
on humans and their environment.
Because some pollutants have both
chronic and acute effects on
health, standards are based on
their average concentration over
vario : lengths of time, with a
margin of safety included.
Pollutants that exceed secondary
standards have detrimental
impacts on the puolic welfare and
cause deterioration of many
consumer products. Exceeding
primary standards poses a threat
to public health. If the
pollutant concentration reaches
the alert level, individuals,
industry and government should
curtail outdoor activities, use
of automobiles and certain
industrial operations.
Federal standards have been set
for six major pollutants: Total
Suspended Particulates (TSP),
Sulfur Dioxide (S07), Carbon
Monoxide (CO) , Ozone (0) ,
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO.) and lead.
Pollutants monitored in Idaho are
TSP, SO , lead and CO. NO.,
photochemical oxidants and
hydrocarbons are not being
monitored at this time. NO-
levels measured in Ada County and
Boise in the past were about 35
percent of the ambient air
quality standard. The most
serious air pollution problems in
Idaho are due to TSP, SO., lead
and CO concentrations inexcess
of the stands rds .
Table 2 lists the effects on
health and property that normally
result when the Federal standards
are exceeded. Figure 6 shows the
areas in Idaho where the A1r
quality Standards are exceeded.
Areas within Idaho where source
emissions, combined with
influencing weather conditions,
cause air quality standards to be
exceeded have been designated
"non-attainment". All other
areas are classified as
"attainment". The original
determination of non-attainment
was based on data for 1965
through 1977. Areas presently
classified 'attainment' may have
exceeded the standards during
1980 and are also illustrated in
this report.
Though EPA is currently
administering the air quality
program in Idaho, the State will
reassume that responsibility by
August 1, 1982. In the interim,
EPA will continue its program
while planning to make a smooth
transition of functions and
equipment back to the State.
Figure 6: Air Quality Status of Existing polutants excluding
the air quality standards in Idaho.
@ TSP alert and SOs Primary levels exceeded
© TSP and SOz Primary levels exceeded
© CO alert level exceeded
D TSP standard exceeded or considered
to be exceeded due to fugitive dust.
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Total Suspended Particulates
13
Suspended particulates are solid
or liquid particles of different
sizes having health effects that
vary with particle size and
composition. Particulates can
aggravate asthma and chronic lung
diseases; they increase coughing
and chest discomfort. Some
particulates can be toxic or
cancer-causing (lead or asbestos
particles, for example).
Particulate pollution may
interfere with visibility, injure
vegetation and increase building
cleaning and maintenance costs.
Suspended particulate matter is a
widespread problem throughout the
Northwest. Some particulate
emissions come from 'point
sources', which are easily
identified stationary industrial
sources of emission such as
smokestacks. The rest, which
cannot be pinpointed to a
specific source, are 'area
sources', such as space heating
(resident and commercial heating
units) and fugitive dust.
Fugutive dust can be created by
industrial and agricultural
operations and by vehicles on
paved as well as unpaved roads.
In areas with little major
industrial development and low
population density, fugitive dust
is composed mostly of natural
soil particles and is believed to
be less harmful to the health.
For this reason, many areas are
considered to be attaining air
quality standards even though
particulate standards are
exceeded. Data from these areas
show the percentage of samples
that exceeded standards based
upon the number of days
monitored. (Particulate samples
are routinely collected once
every s i x days) .
The major point sources of total
suspended particulates in the
Pocatello and Conda-Soda Springs
areas, are ferti1i zer and
industrial chemical processors.
In the latter area, fugitive dust
from roads and fields also
contributes to TSP levels in
excess of standards. In
Lewiston, the wood products
industry and a kraft pulp mill
are the chief point sources. In
the Silver Valley area, the
Sunker Hill Company's smelting
operation has been a major source
of TSP. Based upon curtailment
of this operation, in October
1981, the air quality in the
Silver Valley is being carefully
monitored and assessed.
In these four areas,
ambi ent air quali ty
be i ng viol a ted , the
continue to develop
where the
s tandards are
State will
State
Table 2: Effects of Major Air Pollutants on Health and Property
POLLUTANT
Total
Suspended
Particulates
Sulfur Dioxide
HEALTH EFFECTS
PROPERTY EFFECTS
Carbon Monoxide
Ozone
Nitrogen Dioxide
Lead
Correlated with increased
bronchial and respiratory disease,
especially in young and elderly
Upper respiratory irritation at low
concentrations, more difficult
breathing at moderate
concentrations (3000 ug/m^),
correlated with increased cardio-
respiratory disease, acute lung
damage at high concentrations.
Physiological stress in heart
patients, impairment of psycho-
motor functions, dizziness and
headaches at lower concentra-
tions, death when exposed to
1000 ppm for several hours
Irritates eyes, nose, throat,
deactivates respiratory defense
mechanisms, damages lungs.
Combines with hydrocarbons in the
presence of sunlight to form photo-
chemical smog, irritates eyes, nose,
throat, damages lungs
Primary concern with young
children. Most pronounced effects
on nervous system (damage may
occur at low levels), kidney
system, and blood forming system
(high levels may have severe and
sometimes fatal consequences
such as brain disease, palsy, and
anemia). Blood levels >30mg,
deciliter are associated with an
impairment in cell function
Corrodes metals and concrete.
discolors surfaces: soils exposed
materials; decreases visibility
Corrodes and deteriorates steel
marble, copper, nickel, aluminum,
and building materials; causes
brittleness in paper and loss of
strength in leather; deteriorates
natural and synthetic fibers, "burns"
sensitive crops.
Corrodes limestone and concrete
structures
Deteriorates rubber and fabrics;
corrodes metals; damages
vegetation
Corrodes metal surfaces;
deteriorates rubber, fabrics, and
dyes
Injures plants through absorption
of soil Affects nervous, system of
grazing animals.
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14
Implementation plan revisions to
improve air quality while
allowing economic growth and
recovery.
3articulate control devices such
as bag-houses, electrostatic
precipitators and scrubbers have
Been installed on many industrial
sources, and some plants are
scheduled to further reduce
emissions in the future.
As existing plants are modified
and new facilities are
constructed, the best technology
available to control suspended
particulates will be required.
Control of fugitive dust is more
difficult to achi eve.
Paving roads and parking areas
can help, as well as improved
"houskeeping" in industrial areas
(such as covering hoppers and
conveyor belts or other equipment
transporting raw materials).
Construction sites can be wetted
down to reduce dust. However, it
1s expected that reduction of
fugitive dust will be gradual due
to the high cost of control.
Although most of the industries
that produce significant amounts
of particulates have installed
required control devices,
particulate problems, especially
those resulting from area sources
and poor operation of control
equipment, still remain.
Ada Planning Association has
expressed interest in obtaining
more specific information on
residential wood combustion and
its effect on the particulate
problem in the Boise Valley.
Sulfur Dioxide
Sulfur dioxide is formed when
coal or oil containing sulfur 1s
burned, or when sulfur is burned
1n an industrial process.
Breathing air continuing sulfur
dioxide can produce health
effects similar to those for
suspended particulates. When
sulfur dioxide combines with
moisture in the air to form
acidic mist and rain, it can pose
an increased health hazard. In
addition, it corrodes buildings,
is harmful to vegetation and can
deteriorate the water quality of
lakes and streams far from the
source of the pollutant. These
are three areas in Idaho where
the sulfur dioxide standards have
been exceeded.
The principal cause of sulfur
dioxide violations in the State
has been due to smelting of
non-ferrous ores (lead and zinc)
and the production of sulfuric
acid for the phosphate fertilizer
industry. In Kellogg, where the
Bunker Hill Company has been
smelting and refining lead and
zinc, rugged terrain of the
Silver Valley inhibited adequate
dispersion of sulfur dioxide.
Since curtailment of operation in
October 1981, monitored levels of
sulfur dioxide have dropped well
below primary standards.
Redesignating this area to
attainment will be considered.
The major source of sulfur
dioxide in the Pocatello area is
a J. R. Simplot plant, which
produces fertilizers and
industrial chemicals. The
company is installing controls
that should reduce their
emissions by 25 percent. The
3eker Industry's phosphate
fertilizer plant near Soda
Springs is the major source of
sulfur dioxide in that area;
primary sources are two sulfuric
acid plants, both of which
operate in compliance with
applicable emission regulations
when their control equipment is
functioning properly.
The State will continue with
development of state
the Implementation plan revisions
each of these non-attainment
areas.
for
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In 1978, EPA established an-air
quality standard for lead, which
1s to be achieved by November,
1982. The State has been, and
EPA will continue, gathering data
to Identify areas where the
standard 1s being exceeded.
Violations of the lead standard
have occurred 1n the Kellogg area
Lead
where the major sources are the
Bunker H111 Company's lead
smelter and general areawide
contamination resulting from 60
years of milling and smelting
operations. However, operation
of the lead smelter was curtailed
1n October 1981, and Is not
likely to resume. Following the
curtailment, monitored levels of
15
lead dropped sharply below the
primary standard. Though it is
obvious that emissions of lead
and TSP from the smelter have
ceased, it will be necessary to
continue monitoring through the
drier summer and fall months to
determine the impact of fugitive
dust on levels of lead in the
Silver Valley.
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide 1s a colorless,
odorless, tasteless gas - high
Concentrations can cause
'unconsciousness or even death.
At concentrations above the
primary standard, this pollutant
can Interfere with mental
alertness and physical activity
especially for persons with heart
or lung disorders. Carbon
monoxide 1s a by-product of
fossil fuels combustion. Its
major source 1s motor vehicles,
and the most severe violations of
standards are recorded where
automobiles are concentrated 1n
urban areas. Ada County exceeded
the primary standard level of
carbon monoxide about 15 percent
of the time and the 'alert level'
once during a 339-day study of
the c1ty's air.
The EPA 1s working closely with
the Ada Planning Association to
develop a program to reduce
carbon monoxide below the ambient
standard. Legislation that would
have allowed the enforcement of a
vehicle emissions
Inspection/maintenance (I/M)
program to be tied 1n with auto
registration in Ada County did
not pass the 1981 Legislature.
Alternative enforcement options
have been and will continue to be
evaluated. A free voluntary
vehicle emissions test program
was operated December 15, 1981
through April 3, 1982.
This program was largely funded
through community donations and
volunteer support.
Motor vehicles are responsible
for about 90 percent of the CO
emissions; therefore, plans for
reducing such emissions center on
Improvements to automobiles and
to the transportation system as a
whole. As older cars are
replaced by models with
up-to-date pollution control
equipment, CO levels should
decline. Regular vehicle Inspec-
tion and maintenance will ensure
that emission control devices are
functioning effectively. An
inspection and maintenance
program will be Included 1n the
1982 Transportation Control Plan.
Implementation of th1-s plan 1s
expected to result 1n attainment
of the CO standard by 1987.
Other measures for mitigating
some form of the problem are
based upon reducing the number
and length of vehicle trips,
traffic flow Improvements,
transit Improvements, increased
carpoollng, and parking
management.
CO problems are compounded by
adverse climate conditions.
During the winter months, extreme
stable inversions develop which
severely inhibit the dispersion
of pollutants resulting in high
pollutant concentrations. Also,
it is difficult to maintain
efficient combustion processes in
cold weather. Automobiles take
longer to warm up and emit
substantially more air pollutants
than at warmer ambient
temperatures; carbon monoxide
emissions during engine warm-up
may account for up to 65 percent
of the total vehicle emissions
produced, depending upon the size
of the engine. Therefore,
maintaining a warm engine or
reducing average engine size may
be effective 1n reducing
cold-start emissions. The
proposed low temperature
emissions standard should help
alleviate the cold-engine, cold
weather problem. The local
strategy of encouraging
multipurpose trips when possible
will also help reduce this
problem.
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