Eastern Washington’s Cathy McMorris Rodgers is urging both Governor Jay Inslee and the Department of Ecology to protect Chinook stocks located in the Puget Sound. The Spokane area Republican said the state has proposed a new general pollution permit allowing 58 sewage treatment plants to discharge into Puget Sound.

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"As the Department of Ecology considers public comment on this general pollution permit, we should all be aware of the devastating impact years and years of unchecked pollution in Puget Sound has had on Chinook salmon and the orcas.”

The pollution, McMorris Rodgers contents, would jeopardize the salmon stocks that according to NOAA, are the most valuable to the Southern Resident Killer Whale. McMorris Rodgers said the ecosystem of Puget Sound is out of whack and the unfortunate reality is instead of coming together to address pollution, people would rather turn a blind eye to what's happening on the west side of the state.

"And instead jeopardize the clean, reliable and affordable energy we're making in Eastern Washington. I’m calling on the Department of Ecology to protect Chinook in Puget Sound from deadly pollution, and encouraging all parties interested in saving salmon and the orcas to come together.”

McMorris Rodgers' urge to the governor was prompted by the Puget Sound Nutrient General Permit. 

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