Editorial, The Chronicle, 7/8/98
Given the huge potential cost to Chehalis residents and businesses of the city complying with government mandates to help clean up the Chehalis River, it is incumbent upon government to allow some flexibility as to how the requirements are met.
If there is a good chance requirements for meeting dissolved oxygen demand in the Centralia Reach of the river between the Twin Cities can be met through aeration, then that alternative ought to be tried.
Because of the insistence of Chehalis Mayor Bob Spahr and other city Officials to their credit the state Department Of Ecology seems to be backing away from its insistence that regulations don't allow for aeration. The DOE has been given authority by the of government to implement the cleanup requirements under the federal Clean Water Act. Spahr says other states have interpreted the act to allow options such as aeration.
Spahr, in testimony this week before the House Agriculture and Ecology Committee in Olympia, maintains "federal law does allow for innovation - including aeration.
Last month, Kahle Jennings, DOE's regional wastewater specialist, said, 'We will not allow aeration in the river in place of treatment" But he acknowledged at least that the city is looking at aeration only as a way to meet the new water quality standards if additional treatment of its wastewater at its existing plant falls short.
And now DOE Director Tom Fitzsimmons has had the good sense, under legislative pressure, to agree "to look at" allowing aeration.
Estimated engineering and construction costs for the city to pipe its wastewater downstream of the Centralia Reach during low-flow periods on the river is $25 million to $30 million. That makes it essential that city leaders look at every possible way to cut costs and still comply with the law. Aeration could avert the need for a pipeline and reduce costs of compliance by half or more.
Before any consent decree is signed with DOE, as required by next month or the Compliance issue returns to court, the city council should ensure that there is flexibility for at least trying options such as aeration.
And at some point, the government authorities should demonstrate just what benefit limiting treated wastewater discharge from the Twin Cities into the Chehalis River provides to improving the fishery and other uses. Taxpayers deserve a return on their investment.
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