Epa To Issue One Silver Valley Plan Cleanup Proposal Will Come Six Months Later Than Expected

Bowing to Idaho’s concerns, the Environmental Protection Agency has agreed to release one final cleanup plan for Silver Valley mine wastes next summer, six months later than originally planned.

That runs counter to a federal announcement two weeks ago that a Coeur d’Alene Basin cleanup plan would come out in two parts, starting next winter.

This is the final schedule, officials promise.

“I’m sure this will be it,” said Steve Allred, administrator of the Idaho Division of Environmental Quality.

Idaho and EPA sparred last week over EPA’s decision to release a final cleanup plan in two phases.

The agencies Monday jointly announced the new schedule for releasing the reams of documents associated with the massive cleanup from Mullan to Lake Roosevelt.

“After talking to the state, and understanding their concerns about phasing, we have agreed to prepare a comprehensive plan,” said EPA’s Mary Jane Nearman, Coeur d’Alene Basin coordinator.

Idaho wants one plan released at one time to give the public one document to comment on, Allred said.

“Our goal here is to have all the information presented at one time so people can look at those trade-offs for both human health and environmental risk,” he said.

The $10.5 million cleanup study is one of the most extensive in the nation. Part of the study - the plan to protect human health - was originally to be unveiled in December. The rest of the study - the plan to protect fish and wildlife - was to be released the following spring.

State officials immediately cried foul, saying they opposed the two-phase approach and were left out of the decision. The news conference also surprised the top officials at both agencies, Allred and EPA regional administrator Chuck Clarke.

Then the letters started coming in.

Gov. Dirk Kempthorne, along with Sen. Mike Crapo, accused EPA of undermining state efforts to settle a federal court case against Silver Valley mining companies.

“I have directed the State Division of Environmental Quality and my staff to provide the necessary effort and leadership to this effort - which EPA appears incapable of providing,” Kempthorne wrote Clarke last week.

The idea of a phased approach, however, didn’t start at the news conference.

As part of ongoing discussions, Clarke mentioned the possibility of releasing the plan in parts when he joined Allred at a public meeting in Coeur d’Alene in early March.

“There has been a lot of discussion about phasing for quite some time now,” Nearman said. “We were unaware of their concerns.”

Allred said Monday that he consented to a delay for the plan but never approved a phased approach.

Michele Nanni, of Spokane’s The Lands Council, called the state’s request a stalling tactic.

“I think Idaho just wants to delay this thing for as long as possible, hoping for a change of administration, or anything,” Nanni said.

This sidebar appeared with the story: WHAT’SNEXT

Cleanup plan Under Monday’s agreement drafted by the Idaho Division of Environmental Quality and approved by the Environmental Protection Agency:

The state will release its own draft cleanup plan by the end of July, following public workshops that start this month.

In December, EPA will release cleanup alternatives including proposals from EPA, the state, the Coeur d’Alene Tribe and the Silver Valley mining companies. Called the draft Feasibility Study, it includes costs and a pro-con analysis.

A proposed plan will outline the preferred cleanup alternative. A 60-day comment period follows.

A final decision on cleanup is expected in summer or fall 2001.