Bill to clarify that taking water from a stream under a valid permit isn't pollution goes to Locke for signature

6/11/03

THE HOUSE ON TUESDAY PASSED A BILL TO CLARIFY THAT TAKING WATER FROM a stream under a valid permit isn't pollution, even if it raises water temperature downstream. (Olympian, June 11) SB 5028, which had already passed the Senate, now goes to Gov. Locke for his signature. The bill became a priority for the Washington Farm Bureau after the Department of Ecology last year cited state water-temperature standards in ordering the Methow Valley Irrigation District to reduce withdrawals from the Methow and Twisp rivers.