| ODOT and NEDC reach agreement to reduce storm water pollution from Oregon highways |
|
|
 |
| ODOT News |
|
Sept. 24, 2009
For more information: Patrick Cooney, ODOT, (503) 986-3528 or Mark Riskedahl, NEDC, (503) 750-5533
SALEM – The Oregon Department of Transportation and the environmental group Northwest Environmental Defense Center reached a settlement agreement today putting in place new measures to reduce storm water pollution from Oregon’s highways.
Both sides said the agreement was an important step that would help protect Oregon’s rivers and salmon and insure ODOT’s compliance with state and federal clean water laws. The settlement agreement came after NEDC filed a 60-day notice of intent to sue ODOT under the federal Clean Water Act.
The settlement agreement includes ODOT’s commitment to:
- spend $10 million over the next five years on the construction of water quality facilities, such as treatment wetlands and bio-swales;
- significantly increase monitoring for toxics in storm water, ranging from heavy metals to herbicides;
- implement two important new studies aimed at designing more effective water quality control measures; and
- establish an online database for ODOT’s storm water data, management and pollution control efforts.
“This is a very significant settlement that helps move Oregon forward in the effort to reduce the levels of oil and grease, heavy metals and other toxic pollutants that run into our rivers and streams every day it rains,” said NEDC’s Executive Director Mark Riskedahl. “ODOT could have dragged its heels and spent years fighting in court, but instead it stepped up to the plate and agreed to do the right thing.”
ODOT Environmental Section Manager Hal Gard said the new measures highlight its commitment to manage Oregon’s roads in a way that protects Oregon’s rivers and fish.
“With more than 20 billion vehicle miles traveled on state highways every year, management of storm water is a significant issue for ODOT,” he said. “The increased storm water pollution controls and increased monitoring included in this settlement reflect a real commitment by ODOT to reduce storm water pollution and to meet our obligations under federal law.”
“This settlement brings important new protections for Oregon’s rivers and fish,” said attorney Chris Winter with the Crag Law Center, which represents NEDC. “It is encouraging to see ODOT put state resources toward reducing pollution.”
“The measures we have agreed to implement are substantial, go above and beyond our existing state permit requirements and will help Oregon be even more proactive in addressing storm water pollution,” Gard said.
##ODOT##
|
|
|
|
