Washington
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10 Bulletin - EPA 910/9-92-043
August 199E
First-of-its-kind Agreement Sets Course
to Keep Puyallup River Healthy
In an agreement believed to
be the first of its kind in the
country, more than 20
parties in Pierce County,
Washington—representing
industry, Indian tribes,
citizen and environmental
groups, local governments,
and state and federal envi-
ronmental agencies—have
set a course that allows
future growth in the Puy-
allup River watershed while
protecting water quality.
The agreement was an-
nounced last month by three
of its major sponsors, the
Washington Department of
Ecology, the U.S. Environ-
mental Protection Agency,
and the Puyallup Indian
Tribe.
EPA regards the agreement
as a landmark in water
quality management. Ac-
cording to Phil Millam, EPA's
regional water director, "The
agreement strikes a balance
between growth in the
Puyallup watershed and the
need for a healthy river. The
parties to the agreement
have individually committed
themselves to actions that
collectively will make sure
wastewater discharges won't
overload the Puyallup with
effluent that would cause
violations of state water
quality standards."
"Almost as important as the
agreement itself is the pro-
cess by which it was
reached," said Bob Duffy of
Ecology's water quality pro-
gram. "The groups that
produce pollution were asked
to devise their own plan —
state and federal agencies
did not tell them how to do
it."
The agreement, over a year in
the making, focuses on
pollutants commonly dis-
charged by municipal sewage
treatment plants and indus-
tries: ammonia and other
substances which create a
biochemical oxygen demand.
Ammonia can have a toxic
effect on fish and other
aquatic wildlife. Substances
that place a biochemical
oxygen demand (BOD) on the
river deplete the water of
oxygen needed to support
fish.
Although the Puyallup River
currently meets state water
quality standards for dis-
solved oxygen and ammonia,
a 1994 Ecology water quality
study of the river identified
the potential for future prob-
In This Issue...
'
EPA News to Update you on agency
activities
WaterWords to share stories from
communities around the Greater
Northwest
Spotlight to showcase success stories
and environmental stars
Ecosystem to provide news that goes
beyond water topics
Tools to clue you in on resources,
publications, opportunities, and
services
-------
lems. As a result, Ecology
set limits on the river's "re-
serve capacity" for handling
BOD and ammonia. The
agreement sets forth a plan
allocating the reserve capac-
ity so it will never be ex-
hausted and the river's
health will be protected well
into the future.
Participants in the agreement
represent a broad cross-
section of interests. Cities
have a stake because their
wastewater treatment plants'
discharges and runoff from
their streets affect the river.
Industries are involved due
the large amounts of water
they discharge. The
Puyallup Tribe of Indians
and the Muckleshoot Indian
Tribe were included because
of their land ownership and
their regard for protecting
natural resources. Also, the
Puyallup Tribe has been
delegated federal CleanWater
Act authority to administer
water quality standards in
the Puyallup River within its
reservation.
In addition to the Puyallups,
the Muckleshoots, Ecology,
and EPA, the parties to the
agreement are: Pierce
County, City of Bonney Lake,
Beatrice Cheese Company,
City of Buckley, Matsushita
Semiconductor, City of
Enumclaw, Sonoco Products,
City of Orting, Town of
Carbonado, City of Puyallup,
Town of South Prairie, City of
Sumner, Town of Wilkeson,
City of Tacoma, Trout Unlim-
ited, Citizens for a Healthy
Bay, Washington Department
of Fish and Wildlife, Wash-
ington State Department of
Social and Health Services.
For more information regard-
ing the agreement, contact
Alan Henning, EPA, at 206/
553-8293 or 1-800-424-
4EPA X8293, or E-Mail:
henning.alan@epamail.epa.gov.
EPA Seeks
Comment on Clean
Water Program
On July 7, EPA published a
notice in the FEDERAL
REGISTER seeking public
comment on the future of
many aspects of the water
quality standards program.
The Advance Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking on
the Water Quality Stan-
dards Regulation requests
comment about possible
regulatory and policy
changes to strengthen and
modernize the water quality
standards regulation, includ-
ing facilitating watershed
approaches. EPA will take
comments until January 4,
1999, and will hold three
public meetings. The first
meeting wilj be held August
27 and 28 in Philadelphia.
Two additional meetings,
specific locations yet unde-
termined, will be held in the
midwest and west in late
September and October. The
FEDERAL REGISTER notice
and information on the
public meetings are available
on the Internet at: http://
www.epa.gov/OST/Rules/
anprm.html. For more
information, contact Rob
Wood at 202/260-9536.
Nutrient Strategy
to Protect
Waterways
One key goal of the
President's Clean Water
Action Plan—a comprehen-
sive initiative to restore and
protect America's waters—is
development of water quality
criteria for the nutrients
nitrogen and phosphorus by
the year 2000. Excess nutri-
ents can degrade water
quality, reduce oxygen levels
with harmful results for
aquatic life, and may contrib-
ute to microbial diseases
such as pfisteria. In June,
EPA released a national
strategy that outlines the
approach for developing
numeric criteria for nutrients
and adopting nutrient provi-
sions of state water quality
standards (clean water
goals). Under the strategy,
EPA will prepare nutrient
guidance documents for
waterbodies such as rivers,
lakes, coastal waters, and
wetlands over the next sev-
eral years. States can use
these documents as they
develop numeric criteria for
nutrients as part of state
water quality standards. The
Nutrient Strategy is available
on the Internet at: http://
www.epa.gov/OST. Or, call
Mike Letourneau, EPA, at
206/553-1687 or 1-800-424-
4EPA X1687, or email
letourneau.mike@epamail.epa.gov.
Clean Water
Strategy
Documents Chart
Future Course
In June, EPA released the
Water Quality Criteria and
Standards Plan, which
presents a vision and strat-
egy for EPA, states, and
tribes to work together over
the next decade to improve
water quality standards. The
Plan describes seven new
program initiatives that EPA
will undertake in the coming
years. It will be available
soon on the Internet at:
http://www.epa.gov/OST/
standards/quality.html or
contact Bill Swietlick at
202/260-9569.
On June 10, EPA released
the National Water Program
Agenda for 1998-1999. The
Page 2
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Water Agenda presents how
the Clean Water Action Plan
and the new Safe Drinking
Water Act Amendments fit
into EPA's Office of Water's
broader planning activities
for its goal to achieve clean
and safe water. Over the
coming year, EPA will finalize
a multi-year plan that inte-
grates the steps needed to
implement the Clean Water
Action Plan, the Safe Drink-
ing Water Act Amendments,
the Office of Water's tribal
strategy, and other long term
activities of the agency.
The National Water Program
Agenda can be found on the
Internet at: http://
www.epa.gov/OW/ownews/
agenfin.html.
Clean Water
Action Plan
Available
The President's Clean
Water Action Plan,
featured in the May 98
issue of WaterTalk, repre-
sents a comprehensive
new initiative to restore
and protect our nation's
waters. The plan
emphasizes collaborative
strategies built around
watersheds and the
communities they sus-
tain. Containing 111
action items, the plan
focuses on preventing
polluted runoff, protect-
ing human health and
habitat, improving federal
coordination, supporting
community based plan-
ning, and increasing
funding for clean water.
Free copies of the 89-
page booklet are available
from EPA's regional
Public Environmental
Resource Center at
1-800-424-4EPA or
206/553-1200.
National Inventory
Takes Stock of
America's Waters
EPA recently released its
1996 National Water Qual-
ity Inventory, a biennial
survey of the nation's water
quality. Consistent with data
reported in the 1994 inven-
tory, 40 percent of the
nation's surveyed waters
remain too polluted for swim-
ming, fishing, and other
recreational activities. For
rivers and streams, runoff
from agricultural lands
remains the largest sources
of pollution, affecting 25
percent of all surveyed river
miles. This latest report is
the result of surveys con-
ducted by states in 1994 and
1995 of 19 percent of the
nation's river miles, 40 per-
cent of lake acres, and 72
percent of estuarine square
miles.
To view material related to
the inventory, visit EPA's
Office of Water website at
http://www.epa.gov/305b/.
Here you will find a 12-page
summary entitled Report
Brochure: National Water
Quality Inventory 1996 Re-
port to Congress (EPA 841-F-
97-003), a 197-page detailed
summary called The Quality
of Our Nation's Water: 1996
(EPA 841-S-97-001), and
selected chapters from the
588-page Report to Congress
(EPA 841-R-97-008). Copies
are available from the Na-
tional Center for Environ-
mental Publications (NCEPI)
at 1-800-490-9198. Please
refer to publication numbers
shown in parentheses. For
more information, call
George Doumani, EPA, at
202/260-3666.
Cheney Wins
Waste water Award
Not content to rest on its
intake pipes, the City of
Cheney's Wastewater Treat-
ment and Reclamation
Plant has garnered top
regional honors from EPA for
excellence in Operations and
Maintenance. The Cheney
plant demonstrated solid, all-
around facility management
to earn this year's award.
The Spokane County facility
has a strong history of com-
pliance with their wastewater
discharge (NPDES) permit.
The facility has attained
superior effluent quality
through consistent biosolids
management, effective pro-
cess control and monitoring,
and good collection system,
laboratory, and financial
management.
According to Terry Moan,
EPA regional Operations and
Maintenance Coordinator,
Cheney handles 2.7 million
gallons of wastewater per
day. "Between its innovative
control of dissolved oxygen
and going the extra mile to
remove organic pollutants,
nitrogen and phosphorous,
this outfit is truly a good
example of operation and
maintenance excellence,"
said Moan. Another notable
attribute of this facility is a
discharge polishing regime
that includes a man-made
wetland.
The Operation and Mainte-
nance Awards program, a
self-nominating competition,
recognizes outstanding
operation of municipal sew-
age treatment facilities.
Congratulations to Cheney
for a job well done!
(continued)
Page 3
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For information about the
award program, including
guidelines and competition
categories, call the following
state officials:
Alaska: Kerry Lindley,
907/465-5143
Idaho: Al Stanford,
208/373-0577
Oregon: Steve Desmond,
503/229-6824
Washington: Carl Jones,
360/407-6431
Ag, Water Quality
Conference...
An Unusual Blend
Hundreds of farmers, envi-
ronmentalists, natural re-
source managers, regulators,
and citizens are expected to
attend a conference on pre-
serving agriculture and
protecting Northwest water
guajity. The Conference on
Agriculture and Water
Quality in the Pacific
Northwest: Understanding
Each Other and Working
Together for a Better Fu-
ture will take place October
20-21 at the Yakima Conven-
tion Center, Washington.
This unusual blend of par-
ticipants and topics is
designed to get generally
separate groups to come
together in a non-confronta-
tional setting to build coop-
eration and co-mingle per-
spectives. Presentations will
focus on applied activities
rather than scientific or
academic studies. The
conference is sponsored by a
coalition of farm associations
and government agencies,
including EPA. For informa-
tion or a registration form,
contact Far West Fertilizer
and Agrichemical Association
at 509/838-6653, fax 509/
838-6685, or email:
farwest@ior.com, or visit
the conference web
site at http://
wwwdwatcm.wr.usgs.gov/
ccpt/ag_wq_conf98/
Celebrate
WaterWeeks!
Join the fun! Celebrate
Washington WaterWeeks,
which takes place this year
from August 29 through
October 4. This annual five-
week long series of events is
designed to help Washington
residents of all ages under-
stand and take action to
protect the state's water
resources and shorelines.
The goal of WaterWeeks is to
get residents involved in fun
local activities and connect
them with organizations that
can help them become year-
round stewards. EPA is one
of many sponsors of this
important program. To
request an activity guide that
lists events near you, and the
accompanying guide Hands
on for Healthy Habitats!, call
EPA's Public Environmental
Resource Center at 206/553-
1200 or 1-800-424-4EPA.
For more information on
WaterWeeks, visit
their web site at
www.waterweeks.org
or call
360/943-3642.
Enviro Ed Grant
Successes Shared
A new resource is now avail-
able from EPA. Called Great
Grants: Environmental
Education Success Stories
of EPA Region 10, this mini-
book showcases the regional
projects EPA has funded
under the National Environ-
mental Education Act from
1992 through 1995.
It is our hope that the book-
let will be used to assist
potential grantees in project
design, to help reduce dupli-
cation of efforts, to give an
understanding of the breath
and depth of EPA's regional
grant education program,
and to provide educators
with ideas and inspiration.
Page 4
The format assists the reader
by using consistent topics.
For each grant there is a
description of the purpose
and goals, the education
methods used, the results
and products of the grant,
the challenges faced by
project organizers, and suc-
cess and strengths in educa-
tional and environmental
terms. The reader may also
find the various indexes
useful in reviewing specific
topics.
If you would like to receive a
copy of this publication,
please call the Public Envi-
ronmental Resource Center
at 1-800-424-4372. If you
have questions about the
publication, call Sally Hanft,
Region 10's Environmental
Education Grant Coordina-
tor, at 206/553-1207 or
1-800-424-4EPA X1207.
ECO
Project XL:
Cleaner, Cheaper,
Smarter
Attention companies, indus-
trial sectors, communities,
publicly-owned-treatment
works, federal facilities, and
others! EPA is calling for
more participation in Project
XL, a pilot program created
by President Clinton which
stands for excellence and
Leadership.
Under Project XL, EPA offers
flexibility in its regulations,
policies, procedures, and
guidance, as well as other
benefits to encourage devel-
opment and testing of
"cleaner, cheaper, and
smarter" ways to protect
public health and the envi-
ronment. Two key condi-
tions for such pilot projects
are 1) that they produce
better environmental results,
-------
and 2) that they involve
representatives of the public
in the project.
Projects already underway
demonstrate that alternative
regulatory strategies can
greatly increase environmen-
tal protection while produc-
ing substantiaj cost savings,
greater operational flexibility,
better stakeholder relation-
ships, and the ability to
adapt processes and prod-
ucts more quickly to changes
in consumer demand.
FEDERAL REGISTER notices
and other materials are
available on the Internet at:
http://www.epa.gov/
ProjectXL and through fax-
on-demand at202/260-8590.
Or, call John Palmer, EPA, at
206/553-6521 or 1-800-424-
4EPA X6521, email:
palmerjohn@epamail.epa.gov
Starthistle, Spurge,
Ragwort—Weeds!
It seems EPA's collection of
documents on safe pesticide
use is growing like a weed!
Eleven new pamphlets are
available as part of EPA's
Urban Pesticide Initiative.
The documents contain
integrated pest management
(IPM) information to help in
the control of noxious weeds
in the Northwest. Weeds
covered include: yellow and
purple Starthistle; gorse;
tansy ragwort; leafy spurge;
spotted, diffuse, and Russian
knapweed; Canada thistle;
Scotch, French, and Spanish
broom; smooth cordgrass
(Spartina, A.); and purple
loosestrife. EPA also has
copies of other popular
documents such as "Inte-
grated Vegetation Manage-
ment for Roadsides" and
"Integrated Pest Management
for Schools: A How-To
Manual." For free copies,
contact Donald Priest at
206/553-2584, 1-800-424-
4EPA X2584, or email:
priest.donald@epamail.epa.gov.
Wetlands. Wetlands. Wetlands!
America's Wetlands---A Vital Link
Wetlands—marshes, swamps, bogs, and similar watery
places—are natural wonderlands of great value, serving
as the vital link between water and land. They are found
in nearly every US county, and take many forms and
sizes. Wetlanids help improve water quality, control
flooding, provide critical habitat, and offer recreational
activities. Unfortunately, more than half of our wetlands
have been destroyed. A new booklet from EPA gives a
better understanding of the rich variety of wetlands, their
importance, how they are threatened, and what can be
done to conserve them for future generations. The book-
let is 16 pages and contains full-color photos. To request
a free copy of America's Wetlands: Our Vital Link Be-
tween Land and Water, call EPA's Public Environmental
Resource Center at 206/553-1200 or 1-800-424-4EPA.
Tierras Pantanosas: Wetlands in
Spanish!
A poster-sized wetlands brochure—written entirely in
Spanish-is now available free from EPA. On one side is
a suitable-for-coloring poster showing different types of
plants and animals one might find in a wetland, complete
with written descriptions. On the other side is detailed
information about wetlands, including their types, val-
ues, and what individuals can do to help protect them.
For copies, call the Public Environmental Resource Cen-
ter at 206/553-1200 or 1-800-424-4EPA.
Wetlands Guide for Partnerships
Folks seeking to organize a local partnership to protect
their watershed may find a new 8-page document helpful.
It's called Wetlands: A Key Link In Watershed Manage-
ment, A Guide for Watershed Partnerships. The guide
discusses how wetlands can benefit a watershed, pro-
vides information designed to build understanding about
wetlands, explores the management and restoration of
wetlands, and highlights what can be done on their
behalf. The Conservation Technology Information Center
developed the guide with support from EPA and others.
For a free copy, call EPA's Public Environmental Re-
source Center at 206/553-1200 or 1-800-424-4EPA.
National Wetlands Information Hotline
Phone: 1-800-832-7828
Email: wetlands-hotline@epamail.epa.gov
Page 5
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Resources On Line!
Beaches and Fish on the Web
A new EPA Internet site is afloat for citizens interested in checking the health and environ-
ment of their beaches. Through the site, http://www.epa.gov/ost/beaches, citizens can get
information on whether their beach is monitored for microbial pollution and on advisories
and closings for those beaches. The information is limited to those beaches that responded
to EPA's survey. The site currently has information on more than 1,000 beaches and contin-
ues to expand as responses are received. A similar website at http://www.epa.gov/ost/fish/
has been developed to give access to state fish advisories. EPA has also developed a Beach
Action Plan and a five-year strategy to develop stronger, faster and more accurate beach
monitoring programs for states. The program will strengthen beach water quality standards,
improve access to information on beach water quality, and increase research to address
health problems related to swimming. These initiatives were key action items in the
President's Clean Water Action Plan. For more information about these initiatives, call Curry
Jones, EPA, at 206/553-6912 or 1-800-424-4EPA x6912, or email
jones.curry@epamail.epa.gov
Water Discussions Online
Folks who wish to network with others interested in small community drinking water, waste-
water, or environmental training issues may want to check out new online discussion areas.
The online resources are intended to be networking tools for local officials, regulators, assis-
tance providers, consultants, engineers, educators, and the public. The computer discus-
sion areas offer an avenue to ask questions, discuss small community environmental issues,
learn of additional resources, or just read what others in the water and training fields are
talking about. The sites are listed below. For more information call Diana Knott, 1-800-
624-8301.
National Small Flows Clearinghouse: small community and onsite wastewater treatment
issues, www.nsfc.wvu.edu
National Drinking Water Clearinghouse: small community drinking water issues,
www.ndwc.wyu.edu
National Environmental Training Center for Small Communities: environmental training
issues, www.netc.wvu.edu
Enviro Funding Online
Looking for a way to fund a community-based environmental project? Check out the Com-
munity Based Environmental Protection webpage. It summarizes ten competitive grant
programs administered by EPA Region 10. Eligible applicants include tribes, communities,
and not-for-profit organizations. To access this information, visit Region 10's homepage at
http://www.epa.gov/r10earth/index.htm. Select "Programs and Offices" from the menu on
the left. Under "Office of Ecosystems and Communities," click on "Community Based Envi-
ronmental Protection (CBEP)." A contact person is listed for each grant program if you have
additional questions or would like to request application materials.
Reach EPA Staff Via Email
Visit EPA With Your Computer
at www.epa.gov/r10earth
To reach EPA staff by email, simply use this
formula for the address:
jastname.firstname@epamail.epa.gov. For example, the email address for WaterTalk's editor
is lindsay.andrea@epamail.epa.gov. Of course, there are exceptions—if you can't get a
message through, call 1-800-424-4EPA for assistance.
Page 6
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August
4-7: Cross Currents in Water Policy, Hood
River, Oregon. University Council of Water
Resources, 540/231-8039.
16-20: Integrated Tools for Natural Re-
sources Inventories in 21st Century, Boise,
Idaho. Society of American Foresters,
208/384-6328.
29-October 4: Washington WaterWeeks,
annual series of events to involve residents
throughout the state in water restoration
and education efforts. Marie McNamara,
360/943-3642.
September
11-13: Salmon Homecoming Celebration,
Seattle Waterfront, Washington.
1-2: Emergency Planning for Water and
Wastewater Utilities, Auburn, Washington.
Washington Environmental Training Center,
253/833-9111 X3369, 1-800-562-0858.
9-11: A Time For Hearing, tribal resource
protection conference, Olympia, Washington.
Skokomish Natural Resources, 360/877-
5213, email: dublanik@elwha.evergreen.edu
or www.nwlink.com/~mwf/
October
10-11: Salmon Festival, Oxbow Park,
Portland, Oregon.
16: Deadline for submissions for the Novem-
ber issue of WaterTalk Newsletter. Andrea
Lindsay, EPA Editor, 206/553-1896 or
1-800-424-4EPA X1896.
20-22: Environmental Forum for Business
Expo, Spokane, Washington, 509/358-2073.
20-22: Designing & Implementing Habitat
Modifications for Salmon and Trout, Univer-
sity of WA. Engineering Professional Pro-
grams, 206/543-5539, www.engr.washington.
edu/epp/Pepl/peplcal.html
26-28: Pacific Northwest Pollution Control
Association Annual Conference, Portland,
Oregon, 503/579-1472.
28-30: Ecosystem Restoration: Turning the
Tide, Tacoma, Washington. Society for Eco-
logical Restoration Northwest Chapter,
1-800-942-4978.
November
3-4: Tribal Environmental Conference, Seattle,
Washington. EPA Region 10, Ruth Siguenza,
553-2143, 1-800-424-4EPA X2143, email:
siguenza.ruth@epamail.epa.gov
17-18: Northwest Environmental Conference
and Trade Show, Portland, Oregon. Northwest
Environmental Business Council,
503/227-6361, http://www.nebc.or/nwec/
conference.html
Mailing List Update
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Page 7
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WaterTalk is published quarterly by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10. WaterTalk seeks to
be a useful tool for those who protect water resources and ecosystems in communities of the Greater Pacific
Northwest, by providing practical resources and relevant agency news.
Mention of trade names, products, or services does not convey, and should not be interpreted as conveying,
official EPA approval, endorsement, or recommendation.
You are invited to contribute items for publication. Submittal deadline is the 15th day of the month preceding
publication.
WaterTalk articles are available for use in other publications. Please give credit to WaterTalk.
For mailing list changes, call Tomi Rutherford at 206/553-0603.
To contact the Editor, call Andrea Lindsay at 206/553-1896,
1-800-424-4EPA x1896, or email: lindsay.andrea@epamail.epa.gov.
Accessibility Information: This publication is available in alternate formats (eg, large print, Braille). To request
an alternate format, contact EPA at 206/553-1200 or 1-800-424-4EPA. People with hearing or speech
impairments can call EPA's telecommunication device for the deaf (TDD) at 206/553-1698.
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