Group seeks ‘imperiled’ status for Southern Nevada waterways

Tiffany Brown / File photo

A national conservation group is asking the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection to limit toxins and chemicals in Lake Mead and other Southern Nevada waterways.

By Stephanie Tavares (contact)

Monday, Nov. 16, 2009 | 1:27 p.m.

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The Center for Biological Diversity has petitioned the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection to name the Las Vegas Wash, Las Vegas Bay and Lake Mead "imperiled waterways."

The environmental group said it filed the petition in an attempt to limit the amount of toxins and potentially harmful chemicals released into the wash, and subsequently the lake, via area waste water treatment plants.

The organization cites numerous environmental, water quality and wildlife studies completed in the past decade that show traceable or dangerously high levels of certain chemicals known or suspected to cause reproductive or other ailments in wildlife. Some of the chemicals could also harm humans, the petition states.

The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection is the state agency authorized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to enforce and implement the requirements of the Clean Water Act.

The chemicals that the Center for Biological Diversity listed as being present in the wash, bay, lake or all three that could harm endangered wildlife or humans include several pesticides banned decades ago but which persist in the ecosystem, caffeine, byproducts of pharmaceuticals and nicotine, selenium, and byproducts of industrial paint, perfumes and household cleaners.

Although chemicals in the water might be at levels that are harmful to fish and birds, the Southern Nevada Water Authority says residents shouldn't lose sleep over their tap water that is drawn from the lake.

"We keep a very close eye on these things," said SNWA spokesman JC Davis."The short answer is no, we're not worried. That's not because we don't care about source water quality, but from a drinking water perspective we have some of the most advanced treatment processes in the world. We use ozone disinfectant in addition to filtration. One of the nice side effects is that ozone is extremely effective at destroying these types of compounds."

The Center for Biological Diversity is an Arizona-based national conservation group that aims to preserve critical habitat for endangered and threatened species.

Discussion: 4 comments so far…

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By CynicalObserver

Nov. 16, 2009

1:42 p.m.

Suggest removal

"The Center for Biological Diversity is an Arizona-based national conservation group that aims to preserve critical habitat for endangered and threatened species."

The foregoing is the understatement of the year.

Most environmental litigators will tell you that the Center for Biological Diversity is the toughest opponent a public agency can have. They have their own staff of lawyers. They don't file petitions, leading to the filing of lawsuits, and then quietly settle as a means to earn attorneys fees.

The Center for Biological Diversity prefers to roll the dice. They sue and litigate to win. If they lose, so be it in their view.

As litigators, the Center for Biological Diversity are fierce and respected among other environmmental lawyers.

Among the nation's environmental protection agencies, NDEP is considered a joke. The president of a national anti-toxics group told me that there is the same level of environmental protection in Nevada as one finds in Mexico. Read between the lines on that one.

So the Center for Biological Diversity is up to something involving NDEP. Stay tuned. This is going to get very interesting.

Sure hope Nevada's attorney general understands what she will be up against in defending NDEP.
By hooloogoo

Nov. 16, 2009

5:45 p.m.

Suggest removal

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...Hey..?? Did I get de-tongued...???
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By wizardofOz

Nov. 16, 2009

7:32 p.m.

Suggest removal

Of course SNWA isn't worried.

Have you seen their "fully employed" paychecks, lately...?

Fish...? Birds..? WE DON'T NEED NO STINKIN' BIRDS. AND WE DEFINITELY DON'T NEED NO STINKIN' FISH, EITHER.

(Need a water permit, anyone....?)
By cpo

Nov. 16, 2009

9:29 p.m.

Suggest removal

Its really about time Center for Biological Diversity decided to take on Nevadico. The party may soon be over for the folks at the Nevada water district. My guess is they are out to tackle to root of Nevada s water problem, and at the same time preserve Lake Mead. That right, stopping the dumping of "treated" water into Lake Mead through the Las Vegas wash. Oh my, its going to be a big game changer here in the Las Vegas. I'll put my money on Center for Biological Diversity. This will be a story worth following.