Item B: Approval of Legislative Policies Document

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City of Eugene Legislative Policies for 2009 Oregon Legislative Session several water quality standards. Future changes to water quality standards, including beneficial use designations, should be obtained through a similar collaborative process, and not achieved through legislative action. B1e. DEQ Oversight of Underwater Injection Control ?Eugene supports funding for DEQ’s statewide oversight of Underwater Injection Control, or dry wells. Local governments receive the best level of service, fairness and flexibility by working with a State agency. Turning this oversight over to federal agencies could result in a reduced level of service/communication, delays, and inflexibility with regard local management and operation of Underwater Injection Control. B2. Pollution Source Equity ?Eugene supports increases in industrial wastewater fees and require DEQ to be accountable as to how the fees are being used by the agency. ?Eugene supports the use of State revolving funds for non-point sources and advocate for increased funds for the State Revolving Loans Fund program. Since Congressional passage of the Clean Water Act (CWA) in 1972, cities and industries which discharge effluent from a “point source” have been under EPA jurisdiction. Authority to discharge from a point source (for example, a sewage treatment plant) requires a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit. Officials from Oregon cities have acknowledged their responsibility for maintaining and improving water quality and have developed measures to reduce discharges from city facilities. Over the next 10 years, Oregon cities with populations of 100,000 or more and Corvallis will spend more than $10 billion on measures to reduce stormwater pollutants. While urban areas are a significant source of stormwater pollutants, it is estimated that non-point sources are responsible for more than half of the pollutants in water systems. However, regulatory requirements focus almost exclusively on discharges from point source and urban runoff. If the objective is to remove pollutants from Oregon’s waterways, then all sources of non-point source discharges need to assume an equitable share of responsibility. Local taxpayers should not be expected to continue funding water clean-up while rural non-point sources are exempt from responsibility. B3. Salmon Recovery and Watershed Health ?Eugene supports the ability of local governments to pursue recovery of salmon populations through a mix of regulatory compliance, restoration projects, community outreach and involvement. 29