91视频

New pollutant disposal regulations, pending approval by the Environmental Protection Agency, could change the rules for companies that have been dumping waste into Oregon’s rivers and streams. Forestry, agriculture, construction and other activities may be affected.

The Oregon Environmental Quality Commission last week approved new water quality standards to reduce pollutants in state waterways. The standards, five years in the making, are designed to protect tribal members along the Columbia River and others who eat large quantities of fish.

Presently, Oregon’s water quality criteria are based on the assumption that Oregonians consume approximately 17.5 grams 鈥� the national average 鈥� of fish per day. When the standards were passed in 2004, however, the EPA and tribal members contended that Oregonians who consumed much greater amounts of fish would be vulnerable to toxins left in local waters.

Under the new rules, the assumption is that Oregonians eat 175 grams of fish per day. The higher consumption standard reduces the allowable levels of 113 toxins, including methylmercury, which is widely known to harm humans who eat fish caught in contaminated waters.

If a facility cannot meet the standards, it might qualify for a variance, which would allow it to continue operating anyway, at least for a while. Larger facilities like major industrial pulp and paper plants, metal or refining plants, chemical manufacturing plants, and public water treatment plants are expected to trigger variance requests, according to Andrea Matzke, DEQ project manager for the water quality toxin criteria.

鈥淪ome facilities would qualify for a variance if the treatment technology is too expensive or not yet proven or if they need additional funding to put in treatment technology that would then allow them to meet water quality criteria,鈥� Matzke said. 鈥淚t gives them time to figure out ways they could meet water quality standards.鈥�

After qualifying for a waiver, officials would have to develop a pollutant reduction plan that would be monitored by the DEQ.

The rules would take effect following EPA approval, which could happen as early as the fall.