Force, Deviousness Both Unacceptable

Sat., June 20, 1998

A hearing examiner’s recommendation that Kootenai County reject a railroad refueling depot proposed near Hauser Lake has rumors flying.

According to hearsay emerging from the county courthouse, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad will try to circumvent county law and health regulations if county commissioners don’t grant a conditional use permit. The railroad would redesign the project, switching fuel storage from above the ground to beneath it, in an attempt to change jurisdiction for the proposed depot to the federal government.

BN officials fueled these rumors by claiming at a Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce presentation that the federal Surface Transportation Board could give them project approval if the county doesn’t. Since then, the railroad wisely has toned down the rhetoric. After expressing disappointment with the hearing examiner’s decision, spokesman Gus Melonas said, “We look forward to working through the process with the county commissioners.” In other words, the railroad will chart its next move after the commissioners decide Wednesday whether to accept or reject the examiner’s report - or set another hearing.

The commissioners should schedule a public hearing. That would give the railroad another chance to tell people why its fuel storage plans are safe. Frankly, the containment system described by BN officials in recent informative meetings - double liners, sealed concrete and leak detectors - sounds safer than systems now protecting millions of gallons of fuel elsewhere above our sole-source aquifer. BN also deserves credit for its willingness, albeit belatedly, to mitigate the project’s potential impact on the surrounding community

The railroad might be farther along now in selling this project to the public if it had tried this educational approach first - rather than twist arms in private meetings with Gov. Phil Batt and the county commissioners.

Still, the reality is that most of the economic benefit for a refueling station is on the railroad’s side and all of the risk is on the public’s side. The region may be at the point it won’t accept any plan for additional, major fuel storage over its drinking water. If that’s the case, BN should accept local decisions graciously and begin looking for an alternative depot site, off the aquifer.

Any attempt to sidestep local jurisdictions or use strong-arm tactics will only add fuel to the fires of public skepticism.

Local journalism is essential.

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