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November 12, 2009

STIR challenges Arkansas sewage plant

TAHLEQUAH — A new sewage plant in Arkansas violates the Clean Water Act further polluting Oklahoma’s scenic Illinois River, a conservation organization said.

An appeal filed by Save the Illinois River Inc., says sewage from the plant should not be discharged until there is a scientific study of the watershed.

Over the objections of STIR and the State of Oklahoma, the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality gave permission to the Northwest Arkansas Conservation Authority to discharge into Osage Creek, a tributary of the Illinois River. NACA was limited to a phosphorous discharge of one part per million (1ppm) until 2012 when the EPA will require a limit 10 times more protective of water quality.

STIR is a not for profit citizen’s coalition charted in 1984 to protect and preserve the Illinois River, its tributaries, and Tenkiller Lake. Information: 456-3407 or www.illinoisriver.org.



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