Moscow, Idaho, Questions Possible EPA Listing

Several Moscow, Idaho, legislators say they hope to prove to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that it is not necessary to go through with its proposed move to mandate federal oversight of the city's storm water discharge.

The city of Moscow, if listed as a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase II entity, would have to obtain an NPDES permit by developing a comprehensive storm water management program.

Public works directory Les MacDonald said at a city council's public works/finance committee meeting Monday that the Phase II categorization and the resulting compliance measures could cost the city up to $350,000 a year. He based this estimate on an examination of recent Phase II entity additions and neighbors, Pullman, Wash., and Washington State University.

Moscow city councilwoman Linda Pall said that the city now must prove to the EPA that it is already working to meet storm water discharge standards without the Phase II label. She said she was not suggesting legal action rather "just pointing out the facts of the situation so they know if they want to take us on, they might not be able to win on this one."

MacDonald added that he is preparing a document for the EPA to make the group aware of the steps Moscow has already taken toward storm water runoff pollution reduction.

Moscow Mayor Nancy Chaney did not attend Monday's meeting but wrote in a memo that the city should "comply with the expected requirements" whether it is put on the NPDES Phase II list or not.

The EPA Region 10 office notified Moscow in June via a letter that it was being considered for the Phase II listing, the Moscow-Pullman Daily News reported.

Source: The Oregonian