Ground Water Quality - Saturday Summary 1/31/09

This is from a weekly roundup of some of ICIE’s activities in and around the Idaho Legislature. Staffing limits mean we can’t cover every meeting. If there’s an item of interest to you at an upcoming meeting of one of the environment or agriculture committees, let us know and we’ll try to cover it. Agendas are available at http://www.state.id.us/. Click on “Legislative” and click on “Calendars and agendas.”

The House Environment, Energy and Technology Committee met again on Wednesday (1-28-09) to discuss rules brought forth by the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality. Barry Brunell, Idaho DEQ water qualiy administrator, presented a Ground Water Quality Rule. The DEQ has been meeting over the past two years with stakeholders, including those in the mining industry and environmental groups, to address setting points of compliance within which a mine can contaminate groundwater. Federal agencies leave these standards up to the state. The DEQ feels the resulting proposal is a good compromise between the two stakeholder groups, and expands the existing rule to include opportunities for the mine operator to request a point of compliance review for a fee. Testifying in favor of the rule were John Tippets, a representative of phosphate and nitrogen company, Agrium, and Jack Lyman of the Idaho Mining Association. Both noted that the DEQ proposal wasn’t exactly what they would have brought to the table, but it was a good compromise. Not so, said Justin Hayes, of the ICL who testified in opposition to the proposal, as it would grant permanent exemptions to the groundwater contamination parameter – leaving the state no recourse to pursue restitution from those companies that go out of business. He suggested implementing a bond requirement, which the DEQ staff felt was beyond the scope of the bill. Representative Eskridge asked the DEQ to consider the timeline issues raised by Hayes. The committee ultimately approved the rule, with Representatives Smith, Jaquet and Cronin dissenting. * * * * *