City Digs Into Dirty Issue

With the arrival of summer, the Bunker Hill Superfund site’s soil removal and replacement program is back in full swing. But Pinehurst officials worry that an ordinance to protect the clean dirt could open a can of worms for the city.

“I don’t want to be a dirt cop. Neither does our chief of police,” said Pinehurst Police Commissioner Stan Edwards.

For several years, yards contaminated with mining waste have been dug up and replaced with clean dirt. Not only dirt, but new asphalt and concrete also are counted as ways to protect Silver Valley residents from possible health effects.

Now, the Panhandle Health District wants a way of catching up with anyone who’s interested in digging through the clean cap. The point is to be able to educate people about handling and disposing of the contaminated soil safely.

The rules are also intended to make banks more comfortable with issuing loans in the Valley.

But when the health district asked cities in the Superfund site to pass a law requiring Panhandle Health’s signature on all building permits, some city leaders balked. Pinehurst has gotten nowhere with the issue for two months.

“It seems to vastly increase the responsibilities I and the police chief would have,” said City Attorney Val Siegal. “Failure to obtain a permit would be a misdemeanor. That opens a whole new gamut of prosecutions.”

Kellogg, Wardner and Shoshone counties have already adopted the ordinance. Smelterville is expected to do so. Jerry Cobb, coordinator of the program, called the ordinance a “no-brainer.”

“We just want people in the system early so we can educate them,” he said.

Cobb and Jerry Mason, an attorney for the health district, were on hand last week to assure the Pinehurst council that the program would be fully paid for.

They pointed out that without the regulatory safety net, banks could resist making new loans on property in Pinehurst.

Finally, Mason even offered to put it in writing that the health district would pay for investigating and prosecuting offenders.

“We’re trying every offer in our arsenal,” he said.

Council members will have a chance to review that offer before their July meeting.

Edwards said he thinks the council will agree to the deal.

“I just want it in writing that it won’t cost our taxpayers one red cent. If I’ve got that, I’m happy,” he said.