The state Department of Ecology has proposed permitting the pesticide endothall so irrigation districts can use it to control aquatic weeds and algae growth in irrigation systems.
Public comment will be accepted until Feb. 19.
The proposal modifies the Aquatic Pesticide Irrigation District General Permit, which is required throughout the state for irrigation districts that use pesticides.
The modified permit would allow the irrigation districts to use endothall as a less-toxic alternative to acrolein, historically used by many irrigation districts but which is being phased out.
The permit, once issued, will modify the current permit that Ecology issued on Feb. 20.
Ecology will host a workshop and public hearing on the draft permit at 6 p.m. Feb. 9, at the Ecology Central Regional Office at 15 West Yakima Ave., Suite 200, in Yakima.
The draft permit and fact sheet are available at http://tinyurl.com/yaonmrf.
To submit written comments, ask questions or request copies of the permit, contact Andrew Kolosseus by mail at the Washington Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600; by phone at 360-407-7543; by fax at 360-407-6426; or by e-mail at akol461@ecy.wa.gov.
