June 21, 2009

Through the years: The Trail, B.C., smelter

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1896  Forerunner of Teck Resources’ current smelter opens to process copper and gold ore from the Rossland Mine in British Columbia.

1901  Lead ore added to the smelter’s product mix.

1925  Smelter stack boosts discharge of sulfur dioxide from 4,700 to 10,000 pounds per month. Northport citizens complain that air pollution is damaging property and sickening animals. The “Trail Smelter Case,” eventually settled for $428,000 in damages, becomes the first air pollution case brought before an international tribunal.

1995  Trail smelter stops dumping slag into the river.

1999  The Colville Confederated Tribes petition the Environmental Protection Agency to assess pollution in Lake Roosevelt.

2001 to 2003  The EPA samples river sediments; recommends remedial investigation to assess environmental and human health risks.

2006  The EPA reaches an agreement with Teck Resources to conduct an investigation that the company will fund.

2009  Studies begin.

From staff research

One comment on this story so far. Add yours!

• 

  zancanella on July 04 at 11:32 a.m.

  Dear Editor,

  I was thrilled to see the July 21st article “Healthy Concern”, regarding the possible health impact the 400 tons a day of metal toxins Teck Cominco (now Teck Resources) had dumped into the Columbia River for over 90 years. Not only was it informative, but well written. However, there was some important information not mentioned in the article that is required to truly understand the impact this company’s gross negligence and the negligence of our own health and environmental agencies have had on not only the environment but on human health.

  The article begins by telling the story of Julie Sowards. Although it is mentioned that, “so many of her siblings and friends have the same diseases” it important the public be aware of just how many, especially since over half the members of my family have health issues that can be directly linked to exposure to these metal toxins. Our family farm is located next to Julie Sowards’ childhood ranch (Phillips Ranch). Below is a list of health issues of the surrounding seven families in the two mile radius of our farm and the Philips Ranch:

  Cancers (kidney, stomach, colon, leukemia) 12
  Kidney Issues 4
  Ulcerative Colitis/ IBD related 9
  Central Nervous System (MS/Parkinson’s) 3
  Lung Issues 2
  Thyroid Issues 5

  The two mile radius is located approx. three miles outside of Northport on Mitchell Road and is referred to as the “heavy fallout zone” by not only the occupants on the “fallout zone,” but by residents of Northport, and actual employees of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Health (DOH), and Teck Cominco. It is referred to as the “heavy fallout zone” because the area is the first populated area the contaminated river hits [so obviously carrying the most amount of slag (metal toxins)] and the resting stop of the most amount of contaminated air emissions. The air is believed to be the biggest contaminator in the “heavy fallout zone”” because the area is located in a valley with large mountains on both sides. The plumes, or toxic air emissions, released by Cominco’s smoke stacks flew directly south towards Northport and the majority of the contaminated smoke was entrapped in the valley, which would be directly over all our homes. During the 1960s you could still see a burn line on the tops of the tress on the surrounding hillsides from the years of exposure to the smoke. This smoke, or air emission, is carrying particles of metal toxins, most notably arsenic, cadmium, lead and magnesium (just to name a few). The particles would then settle on all our vegetation, soil, exposed water wells, basically everything.

  Although I am hopeful that the upcoming tests being done by the EPA and Department of Ecology will finally come to a correct conclusion, I am somewhat doubtful. Especially after reading the quote in your article by Marc Stifelman, an EPA toxicologist. He said, “The studies won’t track rates of disease in the local population. And they won’t dig into the past to estimate how much pollution older residents were exposed to before the smelter was rebuilt with tighter controls.” On one hand I understand the thought process of looking at the level of toxins as they are now in the river, sediments, ground water and soil. But. to truly come to a correct assessment of the damage done and continuing to be done to the land and human life, they must look at the past also. The most recent diagnosis of ulcerative colitis was on a 10 year old boy. He was born in 1998. Proof positive the “past” is still impacting the health of our residents now, and will continue to do so in the future.

  Jamie Paparich
  Jamie_paparich@hotmail.com