TV news channel hears biosolids issue

To The Eagle:

KATU, Channel 2 Portland, came to the North Coast June 15 to cover a story about tiny Wahkiakum County's fight with the state Department of Ecology (DOE), a sort of David versus Goliath issue regarding the dumping of sewage within Wahkiakum County. The DOE issues permits regarding this kind of activity state-wide, but Wahkiakum County is also claiming authority. The Wahkiakum Board of County Commissioners recently passed an ordinance regarding the dumping of raw biosolids sewage onto lands that is more restrictive than what the DOE permits, thereby attempting to supersede the permit already approved by the DOE. Upon hearing of this action by the county, DOE at first threatened and then later filed suit to establish it as the only authority necessary for issuance of these kinds of permits.

Wahkiakum has both the ear and the support in its efforts from several other smaller Washington state counties who feel that DOE's oversight is unresponsive and overbearing and wish to see more local control in the hands of counties who feel they better understand local issues and conditions.

The specific location of the dumping site is adjacent to the Gray's River, near one of Washington's few wood covered bridges, and is within a flood plain that floods often in this 100 inch-or-more-per-year rainfall county. In a rare reversal of normal arguments between local and state controlling authority, DOE's regulations are less stringent, allowing for what amounts to raw sewage permitted to be spread onto a very low lying property adjacent to the Gray's River, a major salmon-spawning river, where not far upstream exists the Gray's River Salmon Hatchery, one of the oldest in the state. The Gray's River is also the source of the valley's drinking water supply, whose main well is less than 1/3 mile upstream.

Wahkiakum County wants to ensure that this kind of activity, no matter where it might be located in the county, ought to be done in a safer manner by requiring additional treatment prior to spreading on the ground, and also to require a periodic process for assessing the results to ensure neither the river nor groundwater is adversely affected.

KATU got wind of this quiet battle and met Gray's River valley residents, state Senator Brian Hatfield, and Wahkiakum County Commissioner Blair Brady on June 15 at the Covered Bridge. Look for a KATU broadcast or a story on KATU's online site: http://www.katu.com/.

Art Hyland

Rosburg