Palouse leaders question DOE officials at meet

An estimated 30 people gathered in the Palouse Community Center Aug. 3 for an informational meeting by the Washington state Department of Ecology regarding the town’s Draft Water Quality Improvement Plan.

The plan, which is out for public comment from July 22 to Aug. 22, addresses a low-dissolved oxygen level and high pH level going into the North Palouse River from the town’s wastewater treatment plant.

Operation of the plan is done under a permit issued through DOE.

In July of 2014 when the permit came up for review, the temperature of the facility’s discharge water was deemed too high.

High...