Contractors Want Cleanup Work Protest At Epa Site Underscores Lack Of Work For Local Firms

About 25 Silver Valley contractors gathered at the Bunker Hill Superfund site Tuesday to remind the Environmental Protection Agency they are ready and willing to work.

“We built this Valley. I don’t know why we can’t tear it down,” said Jon Hagaman, one of the people who braved a steady drizzle to turn out.

The Army Corps of Engineers, as the EPA’s on-site representative, began tearing down on Dec. 7 some 25 to 30 buildings that pose an immediate fire hazard. Because of the toxic substances present, a fire on the site could be catastrophic.

The contractors are upset because they feel they are not getting a fair share of the work at Bunker Hill.

OHM Remediation Services Corp., the Corps of Engineers’ emergency response contractor, is based in Ohio and the equipment and personnel at the site are from its California operation.

Hagaman, who owns an excavation company in Smelterville, said he was contacted by OHM to bid on a subcontract. He then found out he would need about $15,000 worth of insurance to bid on a four-month, part-time job. He never submitted a bid.

In order to compete for a federal job, contractors not only need adequate insurance, they must also be licensed, capable of being bonded, and have special health and safety training.

“I know that in the past, contracts were often closed with a handshake or a nod. Federal regulations are a new beast for a lot of these people,” said EPA Remedial Project Manager Earl Livermore.

Bob Helmick, who owns a heavy construction firm in Enaville, said he was geared up for business on all counts, except that his employees might have needed a refresher health and safety course. Helmick worked for EPA in 1991- 92, building terraces on the barren hillsides above Kellogg.

But he was never contacted.

“I have a good-sized company for this area. It’s not as big as the ones EPA brought in from out of state, but at least we contribute to the tax base of the county,” he said.

Part of the problem, according to EPA’s Sean Sheldrake, a site manager, is the speed with which the work had to be started. In December, Pintlar, Gulf Corp.’s on-site representative, stopped routine maintenance and site security. So the Corps of Engineers took on that responsibility, too.

Liverman pointed out that a num ber of local firms are working on the site. A Wallace company will provide grounds maintenance, a Kellogg electric company has a contract for the repair of lighting on the stacks, and a Cataldo company supplies a water truck to control dust. In addition, almost all the workers on the site are local. To help local contractors, EPA plans an information fair this spring, to let them know what they must do in order to compete for bids.