The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to reconsider its denial of Washington state’s water quality standards, federal action that U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) deemed immeasurable and unreasonable, according to her office.
“Washington state has already adopted some of the most rigorous water quality standards in the country,” Rep. McMorris Rodgers said. “These standards apply to 190 pollutants and were established after more than three years of research, outreach, and public feedback. Despite all of that work, the EPA rejected them.”
“That’s why I’m so pleased to see their recent announcement that they will reconsider their decision and allow for Washington’s reasonable and strong water quality standards to move forward,” she added.
The congresswoman also succeeded in having an amendment included in the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2019, H.R. 6147, which the U.S. Senate approved on Aug. 1, sending the bill back to the U.S. House on Aug. 2 for reconciliation.
House Amendment (H. Amdt.) 911, which Rep. McMorris Rodgers offered on July 18, would limit funding for the implementation of Washington state’s revised water quality standard, according to the congressional record summary. The House approved H. Amdt. 911 the same day on a 227-185 vote.
Prior to the House approval, the congresswoman said on the House floor in support of H. Amdt. 911 that the EPA’s original denial action would negatively impact her constituents in eastern Washington.
“For example, Spokane, the largest city in my district, invested $340 million in a first-of-its-kind water treatment facility,” McMorris Rodgers testified. “This facility was celebrated and the Republican mayor received an award from the Obama administration on their investment as the ‘model’ for cities to work with residents to meet new environmental standards.”
“The problem?” she asked. “Even this state-of-the-art facility would not be able to meet these immeasurable EPA standards.”
Another major city in her district, Spokane Valley, also faces estimated costs of $1 billion for the municipal and industrial compliance costs associated with the EPA’s decision, she testified.
“This will affect companies like Inland Empire Paper who have been in business since 1911. Right now, the PCB standards that the previous administration imposed will force them to limit their cardboard recycling capabilities and force them to send these products to landfills,” said Rep. McMorris Rodgers on the House floor.