SPOKANE, Wash. -Three public interest groups are threatening to sue some big Yakima Valley farms over massive groundwater contamination in that agricultural region.
The three groups say they will sue unless the farms stop contaminating local drinking water supplies with runoff from their operations.
The Environmental Protection Agency last month issued a long-awaited study that found that several dairies and farms in the valley are "likely sources" of nitrates contaminating private drinking water wells. The report concludes that it could take years to reduce nitrate levels in the wells.
Public Justice, which represents the Center for Food Safety and the Community Association for Restoration of the Environment, has issued 90-day notice of intent to sue letters to the farms.
