‘Toxic Soup’ Talk Is Only That Talk

We hooted and hollered five years ago when the mining industry contended the Lake Coeur d’Alene drainage posed little health risk for recreating humans - although the industry had a study to back up those claims.

Everyone knows that some areas of the basin are highly contaminated and, therefore, hazardous.

Now, we’d be hypocritical if we didn’t view statements by New York City lead expert John Rosen skeptically, too.

During a recent lecture, Rosen startled Spokane doctors and community activists by claiming studies show the Spokane River already is contaminated. How much? Well, Rosen believes the river is so awash in lead from mining pollution upstream that it may have to be fenced off to keep children from being poisoned.

Eat your heart out, Chicken Little.

We’d take Rosen’s thesis more seriously if his appearance in Spokane didn’t coincide with Gov. Gary Locke’s budget request for $600,000 to pursue a lawsuit against Silver Valley mining companies. Then, we’re aware that the Inland Empire Public Lands Council, a mining industry nemesis, played an active role in his visit.

Until an independent, comprehensive study of the river is made, we’re not going to get excited every time a so-called expert refers to the river or Lake Coeur d’Alene as a “toxic soup.” The key word here is “independent.” We’re tired of the scare tactics used by environmentalists and the everything’s-fine posture of the natural resource industry.

We believe you can find an expert that will say just about anything to support a position. In fact, Northwest Mining Association representatives tore holes in one of the two studies Rosen used to draw his conclusions. In doing so, they cited other recent studies that concluded the water quality of the Spokane River doesn’t pose a health hazard to humans and easily meets all federal Clean Water Act trace metal standards for safe drinking water.

Before the state of Washington joins the lynch mob trying to shut down the mining industry, it needs to be sure of two things: that trace metals in the Spokane River truly pose a health hazard and, if they do, that those metals come from the mining district - not treated wastewater from Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls upstream, from water runoff or some other source.

Rather than sue, Washington should help fund a comprehensive study of lead and other toxic metals in the river. The study, of course, has to be conducted by experts acceptable to both the mining industry and its critics. Anything less deserves to be viewed skeptically.

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