Control heat pollution on the Snake River

Large federal dams have discharged unlimited pollution into the Lower Snake River for decades. That stops today.

For the first time, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set limits on oil and hot water pollution from four federal dams in the Lower Snake River. The EPA will now require the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) to collect pollution samples, report data to the EPA and the public, and ratchet back on pollution.

“Dams that pollute will no longer get a free pass,” said Brett VandenHeuvel, executive director of Columbia Riverkeeper. “The Army Corps’ dams spill dirty oil...