Illegally Dumped Barrels Found

A third batch of illegally dumped barrels was discovered Friday on federal land in North Idaho.

This time, five 55-gallon drums and seven smaller containers were found in Shoshone County near Kings Pass Road, said district ranger Steve Williams of the Idaho Panhandle National Forests.

Forest officials assumed that the barrels contain toxic wastes.

“Two of the barrels, we do know, are actually broken open,” Williams said.

The barrels and containers were removed from the site late Friday by hazardous materials specialists.

As a precaution, county officials closed the road between Murray and Beaver Creek Road.

The barrels were on a ridge, not near a stream, Williams said.

Cyanides and metals-laden sludge were contained in eight barrels found north of Wallace in March, and nine barrels found east of Coeur d’Alene in February.

The three illegal dumpings are being investigated by the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Environmental Protection Agency.