Region in brief: Sterling fined over discharges

Sterling Mining Co. has been fined $50,000 for violations of its federal pollution discharge permit at the Sunshine Mine and Mill complex in Idaho’s Silver Valley.

Between April 2007 and September 2008, the company violated its permit 82 times, surpassing discharge limits for manganese, iron and total suspended solids, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Sterling also discharged mine tailing sands into Big Creek, agency officials said.

The Sunshine Mine is closed, and the company has filed for bankruptcy.

Sterling agreed to pay the fine, but it neither admitted or denied guilt. The payment is due in mid-October, subject to the approval of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

Becky Kramer

Input sought on marina plan

The state is accepting public comments on a plan to dredge and discharge fill into Lake Coeur d’Alene as part of the Marina Yacht Club’s expansion on Blackwell Island.

The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality will take comments through Oct. 27.

The marina would discharge 8,874 cubic yards of fill material into the lake as part of its expansion and dredge 121,000 cubic yards of lakebed to widen and deepen an existing channel. Sediments containing heavy metals would be placed in a lined facility on the marina’s property.

The proposal can be found at www.deq. idaho.gov/public/ comment.cfm.

Comments should be faxed or sent to June Bergquist, (208) 769-1404 or june. bergquist@deq.idaho. gov.

Staff reports

Reward offered in drug robbery

A young woman who robbed a Spokane pharmacy of OxyContin on Sunday was caught on surveillance video, and the company that makes the drug is offering a reward for information that leads to her capture.

Purdue Pharma LP is offering up to $1,000 for tips that help arrest the robber, described as Hispanic, 5 feet tall and 100 pounds. Watch the video at spokesman. com/blogs/sirens.

She robbed a Rite Aid on North Division Street and fled in a black, four-door midsized SUV, according to Crime Stoppers.

Anyone with tips can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS or submit them at www. crimestoppersinland northwest.org.

Meghann M. Cuniff