EDITOR'S NOTE: THE OSRC RECONSIDERED THE RESOLUTION ON REGULATING COMMERCIAL FERTILIZER AT IT'S AUGUST 17 MEETING, ADOPTING THE RESOLUTION BY A 6-4 VOTE. VOTING NO WERE COMMISSIONERS CULVER, FOSTER, RUCKER, AND CLARK.
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June OSRC meeting report.
Dear STIR members and supporters,
The Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Commission took several proactive actions at its June meeting. However, the commission, by a vote of 5-4, failed to adopt a proposal which called on the Agriculture Dept. to regulate commercial fertilizer to protect water quality within Oklahoma Scenic River Areas. Regulation of commercial fertilizers would be a positive step for water quality. Farmers and ranchers should not face all the blame and responsibility for pollution. Homeowners and others also contribute to the problems by over applying fertilizer or by using inappropriate fertilizers.
Commissioners Bill Blackard, Rod Foster, Bob Ed Culver, and Janet Rucker voted against the resolution. Commissioner John Larson abstained and his vote counted as a "No".
Voting for the resolution were Chairman Rick Stubblefield and members Jeannine Hale, Dr. D.I. Wilkinson, and Steve Randall.
Hopefully, the commission will not give up on this matter as commercial fertilizers can be a source of water pollution just as is poultry litter. Arkansas regulates commercial fertilizers as well as poultry litter and has criticized Oklahoma for failure to address any nutrient pollution other than poultry litter.
Now, for the positive news out of the OSRC.
By a unanimous vote, the commission agreed to accept the recommendation of the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality for a $75,000 fine against a Tulsa developer who damaged the Illinois River near Chewey in March. The agreement between ODEQ and Hoby Ferrell (Greater Tulsa Investments, L.L.C.) calls for $10,000 to go to the OSRC, $15,000 to the ODEQ, and $50,000 in restoration work at the site.
The agreement specifies that at 60-foot buffer will be restored along the river and that dams placed in two sloughs be removed. Also, no construction will be allowed at two sites adjacent to the river totaling 20-acres. Failure to carry through with the agreement could result in an additional fine of $50,000.
This is a good agreement which should capture the attention of developers who might damage the Illinois River or other scenic streams. The message to prospective developers is that they must abide by state regulations protecting water quality. Specifically, there can be no discharge (in this case sediments) without an Oklahoma Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit. Further, rules regulating storm water discharges must be met and permits must be sought from ODEQ BEFORE CONSTRUCTION BEGINS.
Congratulations to the OSRC and ODEQ for this agreement and to Ed Fite, OSRC administrator, for his hard work on the settlement. Sadly, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers failed to accept responsibility in this matter and declined to take enforcement action.
On another matter, the OSRC adopted a resolution opposing the disposal or land application of municipal or industry sludge at the Tontitown, Arkansas and the Cherokee Nation Landfill in Oklahoma. The resolution requested that the E.P.A. and Oklahoma environmental agencies assist on the proposed prohibition.
This is a very significant action by the OSRC and will be good news to our friends living near the landfills. The Tontitown landfill likely would pollute the Illinois River and the Cherokee Nation landfill could pollute Lee Creek, also a State Scenic River.
Northwest Arkansas cities plan to dispose of their sewage sludge by using it as daily cover at the Tontitown landfill. This is scheme by the so-called Northwest Arkansas Conservation Council is nothing more than an effort to dispose of sewage sludge on the "cheap". The sludge concentrates phosphorus in the Illinois River basin and could contribute other pollution including heavy metals and toxic substances. The OSRC and Save the Illinois River, Inc. (STIR) have asked Arkansas officials to discontinue land application of sewage sludge in the Illinois River basin.
The Cherokee Nation's landfill is believed to have very serious leakage problems and the Tontitown landfill has been cited for significant failures and has been fined. Despite this, owners want to enlarge the landfill.
In other matters, the OSRC accepted an agreement with the Army Corps of Engineers for operation of the public access areas at Sequoyah Club, Welling Bridge, and the Boy Scout Hole. The Corps will pay the OSRC $9,200 for services.
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Commissioners Blackard and Wilkinson have been reappointed to the OSRC by the State Senate and the Governor respectively.
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The OSRC received an additional appropriation of $75,000 from the recent legislature.
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Oklahoma Scenic River auto license plates will be produced if enough folks will purchase them.
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Administrator Fite is working with the National Park Service to review the Illinois River Management Plan. Fite is also reviewing the commercial float areas which may be modified and new areas added.
Ed Brocksmith