Firm wants fuel tanks over aquifer

Interstate Concrete and Asphalt is willing to make sure its fuel tanks won’t leak and pollute the aquifer.

The company wants to put 20,000-gallon fuel tanks at its two current asphalt plants near its Hayden mine.

That would give Interstate the option to use fuels other than natural gas if natural gas prices skyrocket or if there’s a shortage.

Neighbors and a local conservation group worry about putting the two tanks over the Rathdrum Prairie/Spokane Valley Aquifer, which is the sole source of drinking water for more than 400,000 people.

Interstate attorney Dana Wetzel told the Kootenai County Commission on Wednesday that the company is willing to build a containment area beneath the tanks that would hold 110 percent of the fuel if the tanks ever ruptured. The containment area would also have room for storm water. Interstate had already planned to use double-steel wall tanks that have a monitor in the space between the walls that would detect leaks from the inner tank. The tanks also would be surrounded by 3,600-pound concrete blocks to protect them from any impacts, such as a truck ramming into them.

“This should apply throughout the county, not just uniquely to this site,” Wetzel said about the county requiring the extra containment precautions.

The commission won’t make a decision until Aug. 11.

Interstate currently uses natural gas to power its asphalt batch plants, which heat rock and then mix it with oil to make asphalt that’s used in road building. The company wants the ability to use other types of fuels, such as fuel oil or diesel, in case there is a natural gas shortage.

Wetzel said Idaho’s governor warned local companies to look at alternative fuel sources in case there is ever a natural gas shortage.

Interstate has no immediate plans to use the tanks but just wants the capability.

The first tank would be near the site’s entrance on Murphy Road and the other tank would be near Wyoming Avenue. Interstate also wants to convert its other asphalt plants in Bonner County and its concrete plant in Elk, Wash., to use fuels other than natural gas.

Barry Rosenberg of the Kootenai Environmental Alliance applauded Interstate for volunteering to construct the extra containment system.

“That should be the provision around the county for any above-ground (fuel) storage,” Rosenberg told the commission.

Yet neighbors near the Hayden plant don’t like the idea of giving Interstate any more privileges.

One man asked the commission to require Interstate to follow the same containment rules as Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway must for its new $15 million refueling depot on the Rathdrum Prairie that’s expected to pump 60 million gallons of diesel each year. BNSF must have a concrete containment area and then two layers of protective membrane underneath. Interstate representatives said the two operations aren’t comparable.

Kathie Gill lives on Rimrock just above the Hayden asphalt plant and said the fumes, dirt and noise have already hurt their lifestyle and property value.

“They already have a fuel source,” Gill said. “Why should we be subjected to more?”

Commission Chairman Dick Panabaker reminded Gill that allowing Interstate to use diesel and fuel oil instead of natural gas won’t change the company’s current operation.

Gill said she realized that but still opposes anything the company wants to do – except shut down.

“They’re not good neighbors,” she said.