Grant Will Allow Oversight Of Epa Study Communities Will Hire Their Own Experts To Explain Results

A year ago this week, Mayor Steve Judy was asking, “How can they do this to us?”

Today, he and three other local government officials will sign an agreement to seek money from the very agency Judy was worried about: The Environmental Protection Agency.

The money, likely more than $50,000, will be used to watch over the EPA’s study of mining contamination in the Coeur d’Alene River Basin. Its goal is to protect human health from toxic metals that exist throughout the river system and Lake Coeur d’Alene. The study could lead to expensive cleanup efforts.

Judy had feared that simply looking into the issue would stigmatize the tourist-oriented region as damaged, unsafe and unclean.

Now he has good things to say about the agency. He was especially pleased that EPA sped up its research of Lake Coeur d’Alene beaches and, in December, declared them safe.

“I don’t think the community realizes how far we’ve come with EPA in the last 12 months. To get a clean bill of public health in eight months’ time on those beaches. … They’re to be congratulated for stepping forward and addressing a paramount public concern.”

The study continues and involves many complex scientific issues, so community leaders were pleased when EPA officials offered them money to hire their own experts to explain the studies. The money is funneled through a cooperative agreement with the federal government, EPA’s Marianne Deppman said.

“This is somewhat unique,” Deppman said, explaining that such agreements are usually reached with state governments and tribes. “But we think this would be a great benefit to have a well-informed group of communities.”

The agreement is similar to the technical assistance grant that is used at Superfund sites, although those can go to nongovernmental groups. In Kellogg, the Silver Valley People’s Action Coalition has such a grant to watch over the EPA’s cleanup of the Bunker Hill smelter area.

One big difference: The coalition is critical of the EPA for not doing enough cleanup. The cities are worried that EPA will do too much - perhaps even designate more Superfund areas.

“We’re going to be saying, `Look at what the natural process has done, look at how the lake cleans itself,”’ Judy said.

This morning, Judy will sign a three-page document along with Post Falls Mayor Gus Johnson, Harrison Mayor David LePard and Kootenai County Commissioner Dick Panabaker. It is a pact only among those governments. The next step is for them to apply jointly to the EPA for the money.

The process could take a month, Deppman said. “There’s still a lot of paperwork and hoops to go through.”

This sidebar appeared with the story: BACKGROUND Funds for foes The EPA will grant around $50,000 to CdA mayor Steve Judy and other critics to hire their own experts to explain the agency’s studies about the extent of mining contamination in the Coeur d’Alene River Basin.