What is Being Done?

PCB Cleanup and Source Reduction

In the past 20 years, there has been a significant decrease of PCBs in the Spokane River because of cleanup and regulatory actions.

• Remediation has directly removed significant sources of PCBs.
• Natural reductions in PCBs have also occurred due to EPA bans on commercial production and restrictions on use.

More work is needed, however, if we are to have a clean river. To achieve the water quality goals for the river, we need to significantly reduce levels of PCBs. This will take a coordinated approach where everyone works together – locally, across the state, and at the national level – to achieve this goal.

While wastewater treatment plants receive PCB-containing water from the communities they serve and are effective in removing significant amounts of PCBs, they are unable, with current technology, to reach the low levels of the water quality standards. Once all sources are more clearly understood, more sensitive PCB testing is developed, and laws regarding PCBs in products are tightened, we should see significant improvements.

View the SRRTTF Comprehensive Plan to see the individual control actions that are being implemented.