From Deseret News archives:
Lawmakers crying fowl over water cleanup plan
"We've cleaned up the Jordan River," said House Minority Leader Brent Goodfellow, D-West Valley. "Now, they want to pollute it more."
Goodfellow was referring to a plan by the Department of Environmental Quality to pump and treat groundwater contamination from Kennecott through a reverse-osmosis membrane that removes the minerals, mostly salts and selenium. The treated groundwater would then be used as drinking water for south county residents.
As part of the process, the selenium and salts would be dumped into the Jordan River, and that has prompted alarm from duck hunters. It also has caught the attention of lawmakers who fear it would destroy the marshes and impact wildlife.
The Legislative Management Committee has made a formal request that they want more information before DEQ proceeds with the plan.
Meanwhile, state officials have extended the public comment period to Nov. 1.
The cleanup project is a result of a 1995 legal settlement filed by DEQ against Kennecott. Kennecott agreed to pay $9 million into a trust fund and set up a $28 million line of credit. The funds , which are now worth about $61.3 million.
Salt isn't the issue, he added. "Basically we're putting in the same concentration of salt that's already in the river. "
But selenium is more of a concern.
"That's the bigger worry for duck protection," Ostler said.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's standard for selenium is now at 5 parts per billion (ppb). EPA is considering lowering it to 4.6 ppb and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would like it set to 2 ppb.
The DEQ proposal calls for discharging "not more than" 48 ppb into the Jordan River near 2100 South.
Although it is above the standard, once in the river it would become diluted and ultimately the water in the river would stay below the threshold, Ostler said.
"Still, a lot of folks don't like that," he added.
Ivan Weber, chairman of the Utah Chapter of the Sierra Club, said the proposal will have a greater impact on the Great Salt Lake, which has no outlet to dilute the selenium.
"Ultimately the selenium will be transported into the Great Salt Lake in amounts destined to accumulate in the lake," Weber said. And that will have a much greater impact on the migratory shorebirds and waterfowl that pass there each year.
"If you want to kill the lake," he added, "this is a pretty sure way to do it."
E-mail: donna@desnews.com
Comments
- Henne helps Dolphins rally by Bucs 2:45 p.m.
- Former Ute Gross breaks right ankle 2:45 p.m.
- Lawyers earn fees from own laws 1:36 p.m.
- No. 2 fugitive mob boss nabbed 1:35 p.m.
- Frustrated Palestinians appeal to UN 1:25 p.m.
- 'Tweeters' to report on shuttle launch 1:24 p.m.
- Pet cemetery reflects dedication 12:58 p.m.
- Film honors NYC defense attorney 12:57 p.m.
- Redgraves recreates grandma in play 12:21 p.m.
- Can 65 be considered young now? 12:14 p.m.
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
360 - BYU happy to escape with victory
217 - TCU creams U.
203 - Editorial: Mormons and gay rights
200 - Will state consider gay rights law?
148 - Letters: Strange breed in Utah
132 - Can BYU root for (ick) Utah Utes?
130 - Utes remain silent about BCS
120 - RSL heads to MLS title game
107 - Celtics crush Jazz
104
Sears is holding a special VIP night Sunday, Nov. 15, in stores and online.
How do you handle kids and contests? Our oldest daughter, 7, is of the...
Where in recorded history - anywhere - has a government based on dogma and...
Nobody cares about soccer. Will RSL please reimburse the Utah taxpayers now?
Maynor Miles Matthews Koufos Fesenko Milsap If I were the coach these...
If only! Beating BSU is unlikely, but look at the other upsets this year. If...
Ute fans are hanging their hats on "we scored more points than BYU, so...
Examples of effective summits please?
Why not make a trip to Romney stadium on Friday and cheer the locals "AGGIES"...
It used to be that some people were bigots. Today,as many of thexe postings...
and Utah's pathetic defense gave up 55 to TCU, and it could have been worse ...
I am a Utah fan and my hope is that we will get to the point where our...

You can be the first to comment on this story.