State Report Hints At Strategy On Lead Two Open Houses Seek Comment

Sat., April 15, 2000

A report released Friday gives the public its first glimpse into the way state officials will craft a strategy to keep Silver Valley children safe from lead.

The report contains all the data about lead that the state will use. It also describes the procedure the state wants to use as it puts the strategy together.

Next Thursday, the state will hold two open houses to provide information about the proposal and give people a chance to comment. The first meeting runs from 3:15 to 5:30 p.m. at the Canyon Elementary School west of Cataldo; the second runs from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Wallace High School.

State health officials are especially looking for information that gives local perspective to basic lead assumptions: the time kids play in yards; the time they spend on or near tailings piles; whether they eat lead paint.

Information from people who live in the valley will make the strategy better, said Jack Riggs, a Coeur d’Alene physician who is on a state task force overseeing the lead issue.

“We would like to take a very customized, specialized approach to the issue,” Riggs said.

People must send written comments by April 28. Send comments to: Kathy Johnson, Kellogg DEQ office, 1005 West McKinley, Kellogg, ID 83837. For copies of the report, call (208) 783-5781 or (208) 769-1422.

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State Report Hints At Strategy On Lead Two Open Houses Seek Comment

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

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