Eighty-seven years ago, the Titanic sank because of what Timothy Moore considers a lack of imagination.
Moore, of Risk Sciences in Tennessee, spoke to Lewis County leaders Thursday afternoon at a summit about "regionalization choices" regarding wastewater management.
Similar to decisions the Titanic's captain should have made, Moore said, city and county leaders need to decide how to deal with wastewater treatment. But rather than give up, as the ocean liner's captain did, he said leaders need to be imaginative and keep pushing for the most positive outcome.
"Those (passengers) with a clear vision of the future lived," Moore said. "Those in denial died."
Presenting a number of options to the audience, Moore said constructing a wastewater treatment plant for the Twin Cities would be beneficial for the economy and the community, specifically because of the Environmental Protection Agency's requirements for Centralia's and Chehalis' wastewater treatment plants.
Moore, who called himself a "registered Libertarian, borderline anarchist," said a client claims Moore has saved cities and counties throughout the country $6 billion in the past 15 years in lawsuits against the EPA.
"It is truly a pleasure making trouble for the EPA," Moore said, in response to the EPA previously calling him a "troublemaker."
Although building a regional plant costs more than separate city facilities, Moore said, sewer rates become more affordable in the long run.
Also, any wastewater problems, such as Chehalis' high level of heavy metals, would be diluted by wastewater from Centralia, creating a facility that more easily meets state and federal requirements.
"The solution to pollution is dilution," said Centralia Utilities Director Richard Southworth.
Because plans to create a regional treatment plant have not been made, Centralia is already in the process of authorizing a new $35 million wastewater management plant to replace the more than 40-year-old facility.
"It's a one-time opportunity to make a decision that's going to last for 50 years," Southworth said.
But if no state or federal grants are received, it would cost system users 10 times the current rates: $282 a month. Sewer rates in Centralia already increased 23 percent April 1, and they will jump another 23 percent in 2000.
Southworth said the city could repair the current facility up to EPA standards for about $20 million, but because of its location, the reconstructed plant would survive only about 20 years.
Jim Nichols, Chehalis Public Works director, presented the six wastewater treatment alternatives Chehalis is studying - including the regional plant - listing the advantages and disadvantages of each option.
The Department of Transportation is now looking at the alternatives, but Nichols said he does not expect to hear feedback soon.
Both cities have treatment plants very near Interstate 5, which may eventually be widened from four to six lanes through the Twin Cities.
Centralia Councilor Tim Browning, who introduced the speakers at the summit, said Lewis County needs to draw more family-wage jobs, but needs reliable water and wastewater facilities to do so.
"I think now we need to plan for the future," he said.
Without adequate plans for water and wastewater, plans to increase and diversify the economy are "still missing the last piece of a puzzle," he added.
The cities must act soon if they hope to receive grants for a regional plant, or for individual plants for each city, Moore said.
The longer the city leaders wait, the sooner the money will be lost to areas such as King or Pierce counties, which have larger populations, as well as more politicians and lobbyists to help request them money, Moore said.
"If you delay even a little bit," he said, "then very shortly the other counties will figure out what compliance costs them."
If the cities wait too long to comply with EPA standards, Moore said, the federal or state governments could fine them or demand that wastewater management be made private, or a private citizen could file a lawsuit against the city.
Although Browning invited meeting participants to discuss the speaker's ideas, the leaders left the issue for another day.
Mai Ling Slaughter covers municipal government for The Chronicle. She can be reached by e-mail at news@chronline.com or by telephoning 807-8237.
This page created and maintained by Chehalis River Council
Send comments or questions to the: Chehalis River Council