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<br />. <br /> <br />Western States Water Council <br />Water Quality Committee <br /> <br />Washington, DC <br />March 13, 2007 <br /> <br />outreach and input. Cost has been $2.2 million. Studies have been conducted of how much selenium <br />is going into the lake and for how long. They will likely go after mercury next. Ambient level of <br />selenium in lake is 2-2 ppb. Cumulative effect is what is important, i.e. what goes into sediment, etc. <br /> <br />Washington <br /> <br />Washington is trying to clean up Pugent Sound. Separate initiative is cleaning up forest service <br />roads. Have started initiative, but will cost $300 million ($8-10 billion nationwide). Washington has <br />done an inventory ofthe roads, so they are probably further ahead than other states. Shaun asked ifthere <br />was interest by other states to pursue the issue - WGA has policy on forest roads. WSWC could adopt <br />a policy on the water quality concerns, and, if desired, bump it up to the governors. <br /> <br />Also, Washington signed an EO on climate change. Governor Gregoire is putting together a task <br />force that will put together a plan to do the following: by 2020, reach 1990 levels; expanding jobs in <br />clean energy sector; cars to meet more stringent standard; and by 2009, more biofuels; move toward <br />green buildings. Also, there will be a significant focus on adaptation. The EO was signed with no <br />money, but they will come up with recommendations within a year. <br /> <br />Shaun mentioned the climate adaptation bill that WGA is working on and asked Washington to <br />. keep him apprised of their experiences. <br /> <br />Joan mentioned that she is attending a couple of conferences and hopes to bring some feedback <br />to the group. <br /> <br />Dave said he thinks it would be very important for the committee to take on this issue. <br /> <br />Montana <br /> <br />Coal bed methane is a big issue for Montana. Because drought and coalbed methane are <br />happening at same time, they have bills in their legislature: allows CBM water to discharge for <br />livestock. Would create a new standard for livestock water. <br /> <br />The case between Montana and Wyoming is still ongoing. The problem is that the livestock <br />ranchers want the water, and the irrigators are worried about the water quality. <br /> <br />Another big issue in the legislature is carbon sequestration. A bill is being considered that would <br />look at what the effect of sequestration could be on groundwater quality. The bill is under the Air <br />Quality Act, but has ramifications for water. (Stephen said he is writing a paper on this for <br />Washington's consideration.) Where do you put it, and how do you do it safely? (Joan said there is a <br />big project on this on the Navajo reservation in Arizona.) <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />3 <br />