YAKIMA -- Two state agencies responsible for livestock and clean water have a new agreement they say will allow them to be more effective regulators.
The departments of Ecology and Agriculture signed the new memorandum of understanding Oct. 30 after months of working out their respective responsibilities under state laws governing the management of manure to avoid water pollution.
"We wanted to make crystal clear the obligations of each," said Jason Kelly, spokesman for Agriculture. "It's an effort to improve outcomes for water quality."
Sandy Howard, spokeswoman for Ecology, said the agreement spells out how the two state agencies must work together to protect water quality. "This is our roadmap," she said.
Both departments have been criticized for what some residents called "jurisdictional ambiguity" when it came to investigating complaints about possible water contamination from manure discharges at dairies and feedlots.
Under the agreement, Ecology may take action against livestock operations "where human health or environmental damage has or may occur due to potential or actual discharges."
Agriculture will continue to manage the livestock nutrient management program, which inspects dairies to make sure they are following best practices when it comes to disposing of manure.
Both will document all livestock-related complaints and keep track of their status.
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Royal City dairy ordered to improve operations
Royal City dairy ordered to improve operations
YAKIMA -- A federal judge has ordered an Eastern Washington industrial dairy to conduct ground water monitoring and empty its waste water lagoons each year after finding the dairy caused or contributed to contamination in the area.
U.S. District Judge Lonny R. Suko issued the order this week requiring Nelson Faria Dairy in Royal City to take a number of steps, including installing wells to monitor ground water contamination, tracking the application of manure on neighboring fields, and emptying and testing lagoons.
The community action group CARE, Community Association for Restoration of the Environment, had claimed the dairy violated the Clean Water Act and other environmental laws and failed to abide by the terms of a deal that was reached with the dairy's previous owners to improve operations.
Judge rules Royal City dairy contaminated water
Judge rules Royal City dairy contaminated water
YAKIMA -- A federal judge has ruled that an Eastern Washington industrial dairy that has been the subject of air and water pollution complaints for years consistently applied excessive amounts of manure to neighboring fields, causing or contributing to ground water contamination in the area.
The community action group CARE, Community Association for Restoration of the Environment, claimed that Nelson Faria Dairy violated the Clean Water Act and other environmental laws and failed to abide by the terms of a deal that was reached with the dairy's previous owners to improve operations.
The dairy in Royal City, about 75 miles northwest of Kennewick, has more than 3,000 cows and consists of four large barns, several lagoons and multiple feedlots.
Quad-cities water right pact reached
Quad-cities water right pact reached
State officials and the Tri-Cities and West Richland have reached an agreement on getting Pasco the water it needs now and the water the other cities will need in the future.
Officials say the new pact will put to rest a decade of disputes over the so-called quad-cities water right from the Columbia River.
The water rights from the Lake Roosevelt Incremental Release Program will be noninterruptible, which means that even when a drought is declared, the cities can continue to use that water, said Joye Redfield-Wilder, communication manager for the Department of Ecology in Yakima.
Quad-cities water right pact reached
Quad-cities water right pact reached
State officials and the Tri-Cities and West Richland have reached an agreement on getting Pasco the water it needs now and the water the other cities will need in the future.
Officials say the new pact will put to rest a decade of disputes over the
so-called quad-cities water right from the Columbia River.
The water rights from the Lake Roosevelt Incremental Release Program will be noninterruptible, which means that even when a drought is declared, the cities can continue to use that water, said Joye Redfield-Wilder, communication manager for the Department of Ecology in Yakima.
Ben Franklin Transit officials to challenge fine
Ben Franklin Transit officials to challenge fine
Ben Franklin Transit officials are challenging an $8,000 fine for allegedly violating Washington's stormwater pollution rules.
The agency wants a second opinion, claiming all of the state Department of Ecology's concerns already had been addressed or were overstated.
"We thought it was kind of harsh," said Dick Ciccone, the agency's manager of fleet, facilities and special projects.
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