Oregon’s Senator Merkley and Rep. Blumenauer are introducing legislation to reduce pollution in the Columbia River.
At a cost of about $40 million a year, the bill creates a team at the EPA office in Portland that will work with states, tribes, local governments and other federal agencies across the Columbia River Basin.
It gets a hearing before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Wednesday morning – about 6:30am our time. Merkley is a member of the committee.
In the past year, I’ve written a number of stories about the growing awareness of pollution in the basin and its possible impacts on wildlife and human health. About a year ago, the Environmental Protection Agency released a report saying the levels of four major pollutants in the Columbia River Basin are so high, they remain a threat to the health of the people, fish and wildlife. On that list you’ll find Mercury, DDT, PCBs and PBDE flame retardants.
Some of these pollutants, such as DDT, were banned years ago. In the case of PBDE flame retardants, Oregon and Washington approved new bans that kicked in on the first of the year. All of these chemicals take years to break down in the environment and can remain a threat for decades.
In April, NOAA issued a similar report on pesticides containing carbaryl, carbofuran, and methomyl. They’re on a wide variety of crops such as fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains. NOAA says exposure to these chemicals can kill salmon, or damage their central nervous systems.
The Merkley/Blumenauer press release takes things a step further.
“The Columbia River is contaminated with dangerous pollutants, such as PCBs and other chemicals, that are detrimental to fish and wildlife, including thirteen species of salmon and steelhead listed under the Endangered Species Act. Other pesticides and pollutants, such as pharmaceutical and personal care products, have been found in the river. According to EPA and tribal surveys, contaminated fish are consumed in large quantities, threatening the people who depend on them.”
One goal of the legislation is to build upon the work that’s been done by the Lower Columbia River Partnership. This group has restored 2,600 acres of habitat along the Columbia River and opened up an additional 42 miles of habitat along streams.
But Merkley and Blumenauer say what’s needed now a bigger and more comprehensive approach with a lot more money behind it. The EPA’s role will be to coordinate regional efforts to reduce pollution in the Columbia and fund a variety of projects.
Please take several minutes to join SafePhaseOut.org, a website dedicated solely to the replacement of deca-BDE with environmentally-friendly fire safety alternatives. If you have any questions, please call 310-310-2616 and a representative with be in touch with you!