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Show PJew rogifllafiioini tfir(g coonnify ft by Caleb Warnock Staff Writer Hoping to stave off the potential threat of a $1 billion bil-lion property tax increase for Utah County residents, south Utah County mayors are hoping to rally other cities to create a new organization to fight possible state and federal feder-al regulations for Utah Lake. Dale Willis, chairman of the South Utah Valley Municipal Mu-nicipal Water Association, met with mayors and council members of the 11 cities of south Utah County recently to talk about a new federally mandated study that will determine how to lower phosphorus and salt levels in Utah Lake. Over the next two weeks, Wills will ask politicians in north Utah County cities to join a new and as-yet-unnamed coalition . whose sole purpose will be to keep state and federal regulators from significantly lowering the amount of phosphorus pollution pollu-tion that sewer treatment plants and other sources are allowed to discharge into the lake. The more phosphorus levels are required to be reduced, the more residents will have to pay. Don Ostler, director of the Utah Division of Water Quality, said state officials classified Utah Lake as "impaired" "im-paired" several years ago because of the amount of phosphorus trapped in the water and mud of the lake as the result of years of sewage and agricultural runoff. The phosphorus causes blooms of algae, which in turn deplete oxygen in the water, potentially poten-tially killing fish. The lake also has grown so salty that watch can no longer be used for irrigating orchards, for example. "Phosphorus is a nutrientlike nutrient-like fertilizer," he said. "It makes your lawn grow and int he lake it makes algae grow, which takes oxygen and makes it hard for fish to survive." . The Federal Environmental Environmen-tal Protection Agency requires re-quires the state to monitor all lakes and rivers for pollution and other impaired uses, he said. In Utah, 150 water bodies have been classified as impaired, and each will eventually be the subject of an in-depth study to determine deter-mine how to restore them to health. A two-part, in-depth study of Utah Lake will begin this spring, said Dave Wham, an environmental scientist with the Utah Division Divi-sion of Water Quality. The first part will involve collecting collect-ing all previous studies on the lake and is expected to last a year. The second phase, which is likely to begin this fall or in the spring of 2005, will pinpoint the exact sources of the phosphorus and salts that are collecting in the lake, and make recommendations on how to reduce each source. This part of the study could last several years. "Phase one is just kicking off right now," Wham said. "Within a week we should Going utt oS DuBcmecG Sale Jim's Past Times 1600 West Highway 89 Mapleton All Inventory Must Go! 50 tio 90 ovv Antiques and Unique Gifts have a signed contracted; and then we will contact local stakeholders and hold a kick-off kick-off meeting. " Sewer treatment plants are one of the major sources of phosphorus in Utah Lake, Wills said. Some treatment plants in other counties have been forced by the state to spend millions renovating their existing facilities to remove phosphorus form water discharged from the plants. Among Utah County's Coun-ty's treatment plants only Payson's is equipped to remove phosphorus-and, those upgrades cost residents there $8 million. "We would be estimating $3 million for Salem to upgrade their plant to that level and $18 million . for Spanish Fork," said Wills, who serves as a member of the Salem City Council. "Summit County got grants when they upgraded their systems, but those grants are going to run out quickly when Utah County gets hit. " Ostler said cities could possibly qualify for low- or zero-interest state loans to pay for potential upgrades, but grants, which do not have to be repaid are more rare. "We'd have to bond to pay for the upgrades and increase the sewer rates to pay for operations and maintenance," main-tenance," he said. "We'd be looking at $60 to $80 a month on our sewer bill in Salem." And those changes would only reduce phosphorus from sewer treatment plants, he said. Decades worth of phosphorus phos-phorus are trapped in mud in Utah Lake, and because the lake is so shallow, wind and foraging carp, among other forces, stir the mud, releasing releas-ing the trapped phosphorus back into the water. A lake-wide lake-wide dredging project would likely be needed to remove the phosphorus-laced mud. "It could cost $1 billion to dredge the lake and remove 6 feet of mud," Wills said. "It would increase property taxes up to $500 a year if the county had to bond to pay for it. This is just far-reaching. It hits everyone, and it is going to hurt industry too." Wham said lake-wide dredging will be considered, but it's to early to tell whether wheth-er it would be required or how much it would cost. Wills said that in cities and counties where local residents and leaders have not gotten involved in the studies, the state has often imposed strict water quality standards. Three years from now it is too late to ask if the science sci-ence is sound because the state will have spent all their money for the study," he said. "We are forming an organization now primarily so that we can unify the cities and the county and have one voice. When we approach the state we want them to know we are representing repre-senting all 400,000 Utah County residents. " - t yy 1 s may- ax H Ostler said input from any interested residents or organizations organi-zations is welcome. The state will ultimately determine what level of phosphorus and salt should be allowed in the lake, but cities and other interested organizations can help devise a plan to implement imple-ment the reductions. Any plan would require state and EPA approval. Wham said it is too early to tell how much phosphorus or salt reduction might be require in Utah Lake or how much those reductions might cost. The EPA does recommend recom-mend phosphorus levels be no higher than 0.025 milligrams milli-grams per liter in lakes, Wham said. "Nothing has been nar rowed down," he said. "We want to restor a healthy fishery and make sure agricultural agri-cultural uses are not impacted impact-ed by too much salinity, and the goal is to fix it in the most effective manner. No person is your friend who demands your silence or denies your right to grow. Walker $ $ $ $ Listening, not imitation, may be the sincerest form of flattery. Brothers Wealth consists not in having great possessions but in having few wants. The best things in life are never rationed. Friendship, loyalty, love do not require coupons. Hewitt I 1 It H ilW J r ) ir in l ni( OuillijuL uUul . . '..A.JuMyO CHAD ElYftlAS Quadrapilegic 'Who needs legs when you have wings?" fa 7 -f t V. MOOSE BUTTER Music & Comedy Group Will wrap an incredible day! REGISTRATION STARTS 1710 N DAY, I71ARCEI lc5 AND ENDS FRIDAY, 71ARCU Stfh At Springville Jr. High and Springville High School. Cost is $5.00 and includes: Lunch, T-Shirt & Door Prizes! For more info call Keri Gordon 489-3455 February 26, 2004 - The Springville Herald - Page Three Telemarketers ordered to hang up It may be safe to answer your telephone again. The Tenth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the National Na-tional Do-Not-Call Registry does not violate free speech rights. Utah Attorney General Gener-al .Mark Shurtleff joined a friend of the court brief supporting the Federal Trade Commission and the national registry. Shurtleff says the decision is a victory for consumers. "Every citizen has a right to be left alone from sales That's right--as of March 5th our new address will be: 269 East 400 South, Springville Come visit us in our new location!! 7fh Annual Commitment fo YouJli Conference SPBIPMOILILE M OT1 FEATURED SPEAKERS & EHTERTAirJURS . ' i, if kl r 1 J pitches. This ruling lets the public decide who can come into their homes and who isn't welcome." Utah and 45 other states intervened on behalf of the FTC. The federal appeals court found that the FTC has the authority to implement the registry and the right to charge telemarketers for access to the do-not-call list. The court also dismissed claims that the registry is unfair because it doesn't apply to charitable or politi The Springville Herald is going to move.' mm MARK EATON Former 7'4" Center for the Utah Jazz Founder of "Standing Tall for Youth Foundation" MARK STEVEN ETTE "Truth About Tobacco" Campaign Ads cal fundraising. Consumers can register for the federal Do Not Call Program at www.donotcall.c-ov www.donotcall.c-ov or call 1-888-382-1222. The registry contains more than 56 million numbers. The appeals court decision can be found at http:www.ckl0.us-courts.govopinions03-142-9.pdf. People who fight fire with fire usually end up with ashes. i! 1 |