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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 30, 2006)
Page 13 Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, August 30, 2006 DEQ seeks public comments on plans to revise mining water quality permits A water-quality permit regulating discharges from small-scale, precious metals mining operations that re- lease wastewater to holding ponds or the ground surface is being renewed and revised by Oregon Dept. of Environ- mental Quality (DEQ). This permit affects more than 400 small-scale mining operations throughout Ore- gon and is officially known as the Water Pollution Con- trol Facility (WPCF) General Permit 600. DEQ is accepting writ- ten public comment on the proposed permit revision through 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22. The proposal is available for public review on DEQ’s Website at: http:// deq.state.or.us/wq/ wqpermit/permitdocs.htm. DEQ also will hold four public hearings throughout the state to explain the pro- posed permit renewal and take oral and written com- ment. DEQ will begin each hearing with a brief descrip- tion of the proposal, will JACK L. LOEWEN Hard water woes down the drain EcoWater treatment offers cleaner, softer, tastier water For the past 18 years, people wanting to find Jack L. Loewen have found him under “water.” Actually -- under “water treatment systems, and water softeners” -- to make possi- ble cleaner, softer water for homes and businesses. Loewen, with nearly two decades of such experi- ence, has opened an office of EcoWater Systems in Downtown Cave Junction, next to Oregon Mt. Real Estate. As general manager for Illinois Valley, Grants Pass and surrounding areas, he is an independent con- tractor for EcoWater Sys- tems out of Medford. His office telephone number is 592-6061. His cell phone number is 415- 0439; and the toll-free num- ber is (866) 772-2113. Besides providing water softeners and treatment sys- tems, the business can pro- vide bottled water in five- gallon plastic containers for residential and commercial use. Coolers are available too, and they’re cleaned with each delivery. The water is purified, he said, by reverse osmosis, UV light and then ozone “to ensure the purest water pos- sible.” He added, “It’s great for drinking and cooking.” Loewen offers free in- home water analysis, noting that, “The water here, out- side the city, is terrible; the worst I’ve seen in my 18 years in the business. “It contains a lot of so- dium, bacterial iron, nitrates, arsenic and regular iron.” He added that with the analysis he can provide solu- tions, and then provide “exceptional customer ser- vice.” He’s been quite busy , often working for weeks without a day off because of the need for what EcoWater Systems provides. Loewen explained that for the water softeners and treatment systems available through EcoWater, he is able to offer a package “with no money down and no interest for a year with an approved credit rating.” With the equipment provided by EcoWater, ad- vantages include “the clean- est, healthiest water avail- able. It’s odor-free, and is ‘soft’ on pipes, appliances, sinks and countertops. It’s terrific for bathing and washing clothes.” Loewen noted further advantages such as less soap residue in showers, tubs and sinks, making them easier to clean. And up to 75 percent can be saved on cleaning products because of better water, he said. A major benefit he cited is that with water softeners and treated water, the effi- ciency of water heaters in- creases by some 29 percent. This is because bad residue from untreated water col- lects in the bottom of water heaters, and users are paying for electricity to heat that before the water, he ex- plained. “The state-of-the-art equipment pays for itself,” he said, through reductions in the use of energy, water, soap and detergents. Also, “skin feels smoother, and the quality of ice can be im- proved.” Plus, as with water sof- teners, up to 60 percent less salt can be used because of better water quality. EcoWater’s computerized water softeners monitor the demand for water and salt. Loewen said that all of EcoWater’s equipment is made in the company’s Minnesota plant, and that it’s all patented. EcoWater Systems is the world’s largest manufac- turer of residential water treatment systems. The company has been in busi- ness since 1925, and has operations in the United States, Canada, Belgium, United Kingdom, and Asia. There are manufacturing facilities in St. Paul, Minn. and Ripley, Miss., where more than 500 employees produce a variety of water treatment systems ranging from small drinking water systems for home use to industrial-sized systems. EcoWater Systems Inc. began when Lynn G. Lind- say received his first patent on a valve for the automatic control of water condition- ers. “Today, EcoWater stands alone as the leader and innovator of products for the treatment of water,” the company said. “Solving water problems and improving the quality of water is what we’re about,” Loewen said, “and we’re available right here.” were released to the custody of immigration officials. The recent incident oc- curred when Trooper Scott Hite stopped southbound on I-5 near milepost 223 to offer assistance to an occu- pied, disabled 2000 Chevro- let Malibu with California license plates. Hite con- tacted the two occupants and obtained consent to search the car. A deputy and his nar- cotics police dog from Linn County Sheriff’s Office stopped to assist, and the canine alerted on the car. A closer search by Hite dis- Oregon tightens rule on some substances Pseudoephedrine, ephedrine and phenylpropa- nolamine are now listed by the State Board of Pharmacy as Schedule III controlled substances. The Board of Pharmacy adopted Oregon Administra- tive Rules (OAR) imple- menting the listings, effec- tive July 1, 2006, at the di- rection of the 2005 Legisla- ture. What does the new law mean for Oregon’s physi- cians? Prescriptions are now required for pharmacies to dispense products containing any amount of ephedrine or pseudoephedrine in, or into, Oregon. Schedule III con- trolled substances may be prescribed in writing, by telephone or fax; and may be refilled up to five times or for a period of up to six months, whichever comes first. covered approximately $46,590 cash in a hidden compartment inside the car. OSP Drug Enforcement Section detectives believe that the cash is associated with drug-related activity and are continuing the in- vestigation. H.D. PATTON JR C O N S T 541 R U • C T 476-2127 I O N Lic #39671 Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) has been withdrawn from the market. Many pseudoephedrine products -- cold remedies, decongestants and the like -- have been reformulated for nonprescription sale. Such products now contain the d e c o n g e s t a n t phenylepherine. The newly formulated decongestants are available over the counter, and cold and al- lergy sufferers can still find these products on store shelves. Physicians with ques- tions regarding prescribing or product formulations should contact patients’ pharmacies for details. Jack R. Loewen Problem Water Specialist 5 4 1 -5 9 2 -6 0 6 1 5 4 1 -4 1 5 -0 4 3 9 Ecowater@frontiernet.net www.ecowater.com • • • • • • Bottled Water De liv ery Household Well Water Treatment Commercial Wa ter Treatment Deionization Wa te r Sof te ner Sa lt Delive ry R enta l, Sa les , Fi na nc ing Serving Illinois Valley, Grants Pass, & Surrounding Areas David Anderson Excavating CCB#159580 597-4486 School Supplies at the Festival Full of Trees Outstanding New Subdivision in Cave Junction ‘1856 - 2006’ Josephine County is celebrating its 150th anniversary. The county board of commissioners invites the submission of stories, memories and arti- cles for posting on the Internet on a special site. Send articles via email to: bcc@co.josephine.or.us or mail them to the commissioners at 500 N.W. Sixth St., Grants Pass OR 97526 the permit to other state and federal regulatory agencies that may have additional requirements. The permit revisions do not change the type of op- eration that must register under the permit. Also, per- mittees who register under the 600 WPCF permit are not required to obtain other DEQ permits. Persons interested in the 600 WPCF permit can sub- mit written comments by mail, fax or e-mail before the Sept. 22 deadline. Com- ments may be mailed to Scott Manzano, Oregon Dept. of Environmental Quality, Water Quality Di- vision, 811 S.W. Sixth Ave., Portland OR 97204. Comments may be faxed to him at (503) 229- 5408; or e-mailed to manzano.scott@deq.state. or.us. DEQ said that it will carefully review all com- ments and may modify the permit. It’s anticipated that the final permit will go into effect Nov. 1, 2006. FRIENDLY POKER GAMES, just for fun and chips, are held at Illinois Valley Senior Center on second and fourth Fridays. Games are played from 6 to 10 p.m., with sev- eral different types of poker used. And there’s plenty of decaf. For more information, phone 592-6888. (Photo by ‘Illinois Valley News’) Trooper finds $46,000 from I-5 traffic stop More than $46,000 cash in a hidden compartment was discovered by an Ore- gon State Police trooper checking a disabled car on Interstate 5 near Albany. Two men from North Portland were taken into custody, and investigation is continuing. Suspects are identified as Adonias Sagas- tume-Pineda, 30; and Carlos Navarette-Cuellar, 37. They were lodged in Linn County Jail on charges of first-degree possession of a forged instrument, and money laundering. Accord- ing to Linn County, both take questions from the pub- lic, and then accept public testimony. One will be held in Grants Pass on Wednesday, Sept. 13 at 6 p.m. in Anne G. Basker Auditorium, 604 N.W. Sixth St. The 600 WPCF permit applies to mining operations that use nonchemical ore or placer processing methods and dispose of wastewater by evaporation and seepage. The permit prohibits dis- charge water from entering or affecting any surface wa- ter in Oregon, said DEQ. In-water, suction dredge mining is not covered by the 600 WPCF permit, but is instead covered by the 700- PM National Pollutant Dis- charge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. DEQ is proposing mi- nor changes to the 600 WPCF permit, to include: *Clarifying best man- agement practices that per- mittees can use to ensure that discharges are properly managed and contained. *Updating references in 579 W. River $230,000 579 W. River - House Pad Ready 2016 Sf. Detached Residential Accessory Bldg/Shop. RV Space on 14,910 Sf. Lot (double size lot) R EACH - U p , S TAND - UP , F LY - UP ! David Anderson Excavating will be offering FREE school supplies to students who attend the I.V. Lions Labor Day Festival at Jubilee Park. Supplies will be distributed to those who “earn” them by participating in a free game or by demonstrating a “talent”. Also, special “surprises” will be offered during the three day festival. We look forward to seeing you there!
