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Idaho Eyes New Water Standards With Fish Consumption Survey

Chinook Salmon, fish
Pacific Northwest National Lab
/
Flickr Creative Commons

A recently completed Idaho fish consumption survey that's part of a state process to set new water quality standards could mean greater restrictions for towns and businesses with wastewater discharge permits.

The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality released the report Wednesday as part of a process that started after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rejected the state's current standards in 2012.

The federal agency says it's not convinced the levels set by the state in 2005 protect human health. Toxins can accumulate in aquatic species caught and eaten by humans.

The Idaho Conservation League sued the EPA in 2012 in federal court contending the agency hadn't reviewed Idaho's standards as required by the Clean Water Act.

Idaho officials plan to release new proposed water quality standards in August.

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