Task Force On Heavy Metals Formed To Provide Wider Citizen Input For Epa’S Cleanup Of Coeur D’Alene Basin
More citizen voices will address federal cleanup of heavy metals in the Coeur d’Alene Basin.
Eighteen people signed up for a new task force following a crowded public meeting in Post Falls Wednesday night: six from Washington, five from Coeur d’Alene or Hayden; and the rest from Rathdrum, Kellogg, Wallace and Bonners Ferry.
The group will provide wider citizen input for an Environmental Protection Agency cleanup of mining pollution from Mullan, near the Montana-Idaho border, to Lake Roosevelt in Washington, federal officials said.
Washington interests are also forming their own citizen group, separate from the task force. A U.S. Geological Survey report showed high metals levels in the Spokane River that could pose a health risk.
Idaho interests - mostly Silver Valley residents and industries - have been represented by a Citizens Advisory Committee that meets monthly in Rose Lake. That group has done good work, EPA officials said, but the federal cleanup demands a wider public involvement. The new task force automatically includes the 24 citizen members of the CAC.
The EPA’s Earl Liverman said input from the citizen groups can influence cleanup but added he wouldn’t make any guarantees.
If citizen proposals provide the same human health and environmental safeguards as the government’s plan, the EPA will “go with the option the public’s backing,” Liverman said. “I’m not, however, going to mislead you in all cases that public comment is going to be something we’re going to respond to.”
The new Washington group expects to send a liaison to the task force, according to Jani Gilbert, with the Washington Department of Ecology.
Buddy Paul, chairman of the Idaho CAC, cautioned potential newcomers that they faced a steep learning curve and at least 30 to 50 hours a year in meetings.
This sidebar appeared with the story: SCHEDULE The task force will meet every other month. The next meeting will be in July in Rose Lake.