A bill that would form a committee to explore the state assuming primacy over the feds on clean water issues in Idaho unanimously passed out of committee on Monday and is off to the full Senate.

Primacy would allow Idaho to issue permits for local agencies that discharge wastewater to the Spokane River.

"The (wastewater discharge) permit issue is no longer just a city issue; this has become an issue for the timber, logging and manufacturing industries as well," said Sen. Jim Hammond, R-Coeur d'Alene. "They now have to secure permits for many of their operations."

Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls and the Hayden Area Regional Sewer Board have a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency, claiming it violated the Clean Water Act by approving a permit plan for Washington dischargers developed by that state's Ecology department. The suit has been stayed.

The proposed permits on the Idaho side are expected to be out for public comment this spring.

Hammond's Joint Resolution 116 unanimously passed out of Senate State Affairs. It could be considered by the full Senate this week before moving on to the House.

The committee would also recommend a source of revenue to fund primacy.

"Assuming primacy is no panacea, but it will allow more control of permits and the standards for those permits than is currently allowed by the EPA," said

Hammond said primacy may allow more direct contact and flexibility between the Department of Environmental Quality and the permittee than what exists through the EPA.

"It will allow Idaho a seat at the table when communities such as in Kootenai County find themselves negotiating with another state and the EPA," he said.

Local dischargers and a local citizen group have concerns about how much the pending permits could raise sewer rates and stunt growth. They said they support cleaning up the river, but also want reasonable permits.

Hammond said primacy has been explored before, but funding has been a hurdle.

Craig Wilcox said he has heard that primacy would cost the state around $2.5 million a year, but it may prove to be worth it.

Coeur d'Alene estimates it will have to spend about $50 million in the future on new equipment, testing and construction to meet the new standard and Post Falls and HARSB $25 million to $35 million.

Wilcox, of the citizen group, said a local feasibility study on primacy is being explored to provide legislators information, including how much the three dischargers have spent in preparation for the permits on testing, the lawsuit, consultants, upgrades and other expenses.

"It is a first step if we want to understand a risk/return scenario," Wilcox said. "Primacy is our only shot to get the ball in our court."