EPA Touts Cost-Saving Precedent Of 'Innovative' Idaho Nutrient Water Plan

摘要

EPA Region 10 Administrator Dennis McLerran is touting an Idaho city's novel project to cut phosphorus in farm runoff by voluntarily treating water released through an agricultural "return flow" normally exempt from Clean Water Act (CWA) permit mandates, saying it sets a cost-saving model for facilities struggling to reduce nutrient releases. Speaking at an Aug. 27 kick-off event in Boise, ID, McLerran called the city's Dixie Drain project a "major innovation" in nutrient reduction strategies, and praised local and Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) officials for achieving phosphorus cuts beyond what would be practical through wastewater treatment upgrades.