River's toxic brew spurs federal action

Experts say it's tough to tell exactly where contaminants such as DDT, PCB and PAH are entering the Columbia River.

But it's no mystery where these toxics end up.

"Everything comes down to Astoria," said Mary Lou Soscia, director of the water and watersheds office for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The river's toxic brew reveals itself in the sediment along the banks, in the crayfish and salmon that feed on microorganisms and insects, and in the birds that eat the fish. Many are worried about the implications for people who consume the accumulated contaminants in the river's salmon and sturgeon. And the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has research that shows toxics can have damaging effects on endangered fish species.

In response to tests that show potentially dangerous levels of contamination throughout the river's ecosystem, the EPA has named the Columbia River Basin a "national priority" and pledged to reduce toxics in the water and fish tissue by 10 percent in five years. The federal agency is spearheading a strategic plan for reaching that goal.

"The Columbia River is one of the seven most important water bodies in the entire U.S.," said Soscia. "The EPA is stepping up and saying there are problems in this river. Our hope is that as we move forward on this work, as we understand the river better, the action we'll be taking could have a direct effect on Astoria."

from the Daily Astorian (OR)