In brief: EPA cuts costs of basin cleanup plan

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has cut the price tag for a Superfund cleanup in the upper Coeur d’Alene basin by 30 percent.

The revised figure is $910 million, which prioritizes projects with the greatest benefit for human health, said Bill Adams, an EPA program manager.

Agency officials expect to release the cleanup plan in late December or early January. It targets old mine sites in the upper basin and focuses on reducing heavy metals in creeks and groundwater.

Earlier this year, agency officials announced they would scrap a controversial plan to install a plastic liner along 10 miles of the south fork of the Coeur d’Alene River at a cost of $300 million. Adams said EPA also took cleanup of Hecla Mining Co.’s active operation out of the plan. That work, estimated at $60 million, was included in the event that the company were to walk away from its remediation obligations, Adams said.

EPA officials are still finishing the plan, which community members and Idaho’s congressional delegation had criticized as too costly and lengthy. The cleanup is expected to take 50 to 100 years.

Grant to encourage stove replacement

Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency has received a $150,000 state grant to provide rebates for homeowners and low-income residents who replace uncertified wood stoves with cleaner-burning devices.

The money was part of $3 million in grants awarded by the Washington Department of Ecology. The money came from the state’s tax on hazardous substances.

The grant monies are aimed at improving air quality around the state by reducing wood smoke, which can pose serious health risks, said Stuart Clark, manager of the Ecology Department’s air quality program.

A 2009 state analysis estimated that fine particles in smoke lead to about 1,100 deaths and $190 million in added health care costs each year in Washington. People with asthma and respiratory illnesses, children and older adults are most at risk.

Accident hospitalizes gravel pit worker

A 21-year-old Clarkston man remained in critical condition Tuesday at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center following an industrial accident in a gravel pit Monday morning in Whitman County.

Kyle D. Phillips was operating a large Caterpillar dump truck when he backed over the edge of stockpiled gravel while dumping a load, according to the Whitman County Sheriff’s Office.

The truck fell over backward about 20 feet and landed on its top around 9:30 a.m. The accident occurred at pit near Malden in northern Whitman County. Phillips is employed by DeAtley Crushing.

The investigation is being turned over to the federal Mining Safety and Health Administration.

New Appleway bridge to open early

A new Appleway Road bridge near Stateline will open at 9 a.m. Thursday.

Spokane County officials say the Spokane River span was completed within budget and several months ahead of schedule. Construction began in May 2010.

The new structure replaces a 1939 bridge with corroded metal and cracked hinges. It includes a bicycle lane that will provide access to the Centennial Trail next year, when new sections of trail are built.

The bridge construction was by Harcon Inc., which submitted a bid of nearly $6.2 million.