Ineel Could Shift Its Focus To Mining Pollution Cleanup

Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory could shift its sights from nukes to North Idaho mining pollution.

INEEL is trying to cultivate a new research focus as money dwindles for cleanup of nuclear waste stored at the facility near Idaho Falls.

Enter U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, an Idaho Falls native. Crapo’s office is bringing a group of INEEL scientists to North Idaho next month.

INEEL research into removing zinc from water could help in efforts to clean up Silver Valley mining pollution, said Sarah Bigger, a Crapo staff member in Coeur d’Alene.

But putting laboratory science to work in North Idaho will take money, Bigger said.

“They give us science to help perfect zinc treatment,” she told a meeting of the Coeur d’Alene River Basin Commission on Wednesday. “Field tests would need funds.”

Kathy Johnson, Idaho’s mining cleanup coordinator, suggested Wednesday that the commission set aside for research a share of $1.25 million in public funding for mining-related cleanup.

Before Wednesday’s meeting, Bigger and Johnson met with commission members who were prioritizing cleanup projects for funding.

New technologies on zinc treatment were one reason Johnson urged the group to save some money for research. “I agree wholeheartedly that all the projects are good projects,” she said. “But considering money is a little bit limited, I encourage you not to spend all the money today.”

The commission, however, gave all the money to four projects.

There’s plenty of flexibility in the process if INEEL or other projects surface later, said Geoff Harvey of the Idaho Division of Environmental Quality.

“We can change our minds at any time,” he said.