By Sean Whaley, Las Vegas Review-Journal

CARSON CITY — The cost of complying with an Environmental Protection Agency audit that found failures by the Nevada Transportation Department in addressing storm water runoff issues is coming due at $10 million for 42 new agency positions, equipment and travel.

Another $3 million will be spent on storm water upgrades at 15 highway maintenance facilities and more training for agency staff to comply with provisions of the federal Clean Water Act.

In all, 68 positions will be established to deal with the storm water issue, state lawmakers were told in a budget hearing last week.

In a site inspection of two facilities in Sparks and Lake Tahoe in November, EPA officials identified continuing problems, including the potential of dirty water runoff at the agency’s maintenance facility at Spooner Summit at Lake Tahoe that could have made its way into Lake Tahoe. A similar concern was identified at a parking lot at the Sparks facility that could affect the Truckee River.

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