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
I have the original data cited by the County of Santa Cruz as justification for nitrate impairment. They didn't even know how to get it out of their own computer. It's bogus; the nitrate levels pass drinking water standards and there is no eutrophication.
Both the NRDC suits and the CWAP were illegal. IMHO the industry groups that fought them didn't know how to go about it. EPA may have jurisdiction under the statute, but that doesn't mean that the terms are enforceable. Why else spend thirty years trying to figure out how to enforce 303(d) and instead pass and administer 305 and 319? They failed to come up with rational means to assign cause to a specific sources, and just went about enforcing 303(d) on nonpoint sources anyway.
Yes indeed, Eustace. You ought to be able to drop 'em from over 500 yards with that combination of gear.
Best of regards to you !
Stop wacko, left-wing, enviro-nazis, terrorism now !!
Freedom Is Worth Fighting For !!
The Right Of The People To Keep And Bear Arms Shall Not Be Infringed !!
An Armed Citizen, Is A Safe Citizen !!
No Guns, No Rights !!
Molon Labe !!
Have to agree. I believe that the environuts have not actually dealt with folks who may react like a cornered wolverine.
I can't wait to start practicing.
As always, good to hear from You.
Peace
If ANYONE can give me any real data or links or anything to fight this thing, please do so. We are contacting everyone we can to be at this meeting tonight! Again, it wasn't even in our newspaper!...not that we could find, anyway.
Here are some places you can find the release online. I can't seem to find it in a local newspaper.
from Oregon State DEQ news release site
From Oregon Blue Book list of news releases
bend.com, Bend Oregon web site
from www.heraldandnews.com , Klamath Falls, Oregon-- section: The Water Journal
Lots of Dead links on this issue. Went to an Oregon University site, where the links for the Limits documents were and they were also dead.
Oregon Newspapers - Oregon Newspaper Links
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Regards,
L
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