From: Mayor Joe
Sent: Mon Feb 14 11:54:36 2011
To: CLARK Stephanie; ToxicsRuleMaking
Cc: cliffbentz@state.or.us; sen.tedferrioli@state.or.us; sen.dougwhitsett@state.or.us
Subject: Water Quality Standards and Assessments
Importance: Normal
Andrea,
On behalf of the City of Ontario Oregon and Eastern Oregon, please enter this comment into record AGAINST the new DEQ rules and standards for Water Quality in Oregon.
As usual, we in Eastern Oregon, are being required to follow statistics and rules imposed from the western half of the state. I find the ODEQ fish consumption rate, biased and flawed, giving preference to one small group in Oregon. In our area of the state, you should consider water quality based on the consumption rate of Onions and Beef.
Your high level requirements may destroy, within our city, not only small businesses, but our farmers, as well as the entire city itself! The high cost of implementation will not be possible within the Ontario City budget.
This is a prime example of one standard does NOT fit all. Especially when Ontario gets water from our neighboring state, Idaho, that does NOT have the same water quality standards.
I encourage ODEQ to create rules that are area specific, throughout all counties in Oregon.
We appreciate your visit to Ontario, but do not appreciate these unrealistic rules and levels. I respectfully ask you make adjustments to your estimations, so ALL of Oregon can comply, not just certain areas.
Remember, Ontario gets our water from the Snake River, fresh out of Idaho, a state that does NOT have water quality rules any where close to Oregon's.
Respectfully Submitted,
Mayor Joe Dominick
City of Ontario Oregon USA
541.881.1155