Learn more about PCBs & Spokane River at public meeting Oct.8

www.spokaneriver.net | info@spokaneriver.net

October 3, 2019

The Spokane River Forum is a non-partisan, non-profit organization that creates materials, events and activities that promote sustaining a healthy river system while meeting the needs of a growing population.

Public Meeting: Water Quality Variances for Spokane River PCBs

A panel of experts will address proposed variances to water quality standards for PCBs in the Spokane River at a community forum organized by the Environmental Law and Land Use Clinic at Gonzaga Law School.

Date: Tuesday, October 8th
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Location: Gonzaga University School of Law's Barbieri Courtroom
Questions: Contact Ezekiel Denison, Gonzaga Law School, (307) 399-1661, edenison@lawschool.gonzaga.edu

Presenters will include Cheryl Niemi - WA Department of Ecology; Jerry White - Spokane Riverkeeper; Scott Simmons - City of Spokane; Bud Leber - Kaiser Aluminum; Rob Lindsay - Spokane County Regional Water Reclamation Facility; Ezekiel Denison - Gonzaga Law Student

PCBs are classified by the Environmental Protection Agency as a "toxic pollutant" and subject to water quality standards due to their potential carcinogenic (cancer causing) attributes and toxic effects to people and other organisms. Currently, five public and private dischargers on the Spokane River are applying for a PCB water quality variance.

A variance is a regulatory tool that would allow facilities discharging PCBs into the river to utilize a more lenient standard. The specifics of a variance would include the time-period it can be used, discharge limits and other requirements needed to support achievable water quality standards.

Inadvertently Produced PCBs in Inks and Pigments Workshop

The Spokane River Toxics Task Force, Northwest Green Chemistry and Washington Department of Ecology are hosting a two-day workshop entitled Inadvertently Produced PCBs in Inks and Pigments.

Dates: October 8th and 9th

Location: Spokane Convention Center

Virtual Attendance: A WebEx option is available. Contact Karl Rains for more information, kra461@ecy.wa.gov.

Click here for agenda. This work supports collaborative public/private efforts to investigate and reduce PCBs entering the Spokane River.