Posted on 01/23/2002 8:13:56 AM PST by Bump in the night
PRESS RELEASE
January 21, 2002
For Immediate Release
The crippling shutdown of the Klamath Project last May left many local residents to believe the primary threat to irrigated agriculture in the Klamath Basin is the Endangered Species Act. But now another controversial federal environmental law is rearing its head: the Clean Water Act.
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is holding a public hearing at Oregon Institute of Technology on Thursday, January 24, to accept comments on a new set of water quality rules that will dramatically effect everyone in the business of irrigated agriculture. Under the guidance of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, DEQ is proposing to set strict limits on both phosphorus and temperature in the streams and tributaries feeding Klamath Lake.
Water for Life, Inc., a non profit group defending the rights of irrigators, is very concerned about the new DEQ rules. "With everything else going on in the Basin, everyone's attention is stretched thin," said Water for Life executive director Brad Harper. "Folks haven't had enough time to digest these rules, because if they had we'd be hearing a huge outcry of discontent."
Harper encourages interested persons to attend the public hearing at OIT to learn more and share their opinions. "Perhaps most important, we need to extend the deadline that DEQ has set for these new rules. To say they need more public exposure is being generous - practically no one knows what's coming down the pike, and its all bad."
The current deadline to make comments on the new rules is February 4, 2002. After that date DEQ will issue final rules, unless the comments received give them reason to modify the rules or extend the time to accept additional comments from the public.
Klamath Basin residents who have seen the proposed rules are stunned.
"DEQ wants to reduce phosphorous levels by 72 metric tons, and they plan to reach that reduction on the backs of farmers and ranchers," said Sprague River rancher Edward Bartell. "Compare that with their estimate that naturally occurring phosphorus is at least 110 metric tons. DEQ blames agriculture for 40 percent of the phosphorus when natural conditions are twice that."
DEQ and EPA claim that high phosphorus levels are responsible for the seasonal algae blooms in Klamath Lake. The federal and state agencies want to manage the algae blooms to benefit protected sucker fish.
Another contentious issue in the new rules, termed TMDLs or total maximum daily loads, are temperature restrictions. DEQ has said that 64 degrees Fahrenheit is the optimal temperature for resident fish species. Current summertime stream temperatures are rarely so cold and local residents claim the 64 degree standard would not exist naturally even if no humans lived in the Basin.
Many believe these new rules are simply a continuation of the heavy handed regulators who they blame for last year's shutdown which garnered national attention and has President Bush publicly vowing to guarantee the release of irrigation flows this season.
"It appears to be a concerted attack," said Fort Klamath rancher Ambrose McAuliffe. "They hold back water to protect suckers. Now their trying to take agricultural lands out of production to reduce phosphorus levels. Mix in the son-of-CARA funds to buy out so-called willing sellers and its easy to see why we believe our way of life is under siege."
McAuliffe is referring to federal legislation under consideration by Congress to revive a Clinton era proposal to use federal money to buy private lands and permanently remove them from natural resource production. Many view such buy outs as dismantling their rural communities.
DEQ has invited the public to comment on their new water quality rules at a two-hour hearing at the OIT student union (Mt. Shasta room), from 7 to 9 p.m. this Thursday, January 24.
Water for Life, Inc.
P.O. Box 12248
Salem, OR 97309
(503) 375-6003 ph
(503) 375-9017 fax
h2o4life@aol.com
Contact:
Brad Harper
Salem, OR
(503) 309-9341
Edward Bartell
Sprague River, OR
(541) 533-2681
No. Anyway, not in the state of Oregon.
The DEQ required the Trojan Nuclear Plant (when it was operating) to clean its cooling water outflow to such an extent that it was actually cleaner than when originally taken from the Columbia River.
And the public wonders why nuclear power production is so expensive? It is because it has been regulated nearly to death!
Oh, yeah; the same protesters who showed up to protest against Prez Dubya are the same folks who intervened against Trojan for years. Just thought you'ld all like to know that.
No, not until the amount of hydrogen in the water is reduced by at least 40%.
Amen! Everything in this country is being regulated literally to death. I think we are very close to seeing "Atlas Shrugged" for real.
Carolyn
Water For Life
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Guys, Made up science at work again to drive people from the land. "For the children." Peace and love, George.
EPA sets the minimum standards, the states have the authority to decide on how to meet those standards. It is also likely that those states located in EcoTopia will set standards more strict than EPA.
Over the next 20-30 years these new pollution regs will have a significant impact on the country. They will mainly affect agriculture, mining, and silvaculture. To some degree they will affect citizen behavoir in the form of more stringent zoning laws and in certain cases affect an individual with a run-off problem.
Primarily to be used for water pollution, it is unknown how it will be used to control air pollution in that rain washes the air pollution into the rivers.
Some states have set up seperate agencies to handle this while others have split it among existing agencies.
Much info is available on the internet.
Freepmail me if you wish to be added or removed form this list.
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