Epa Ombudsman Has A Good Record

Wed., May 24, 2000

By D.F. Oliveria daveo@spokesman.com (509) 319-0354

For years, Silver Valley residents have criticized the Environmental Protection Agency for its Superfund work. It’s been haphazard, they said - particularly during the early years. It took too long. It was way too costly. The EPA answers to no one. The list goes on.

In recent years, community leaders downstream, with the help of the Idaho congressional delegation and Gov. Dirk Kempthorne, have lobbied hard against EPA plans to expand the Superfund site. They fear, with good reason, that such a designation would hurt the region’s image, vibrant tourism industry and overall economy. Now, U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, and the Idaho delegation have asked the EPA to suspend work on new Superfund sites until an internal watchdog has reviewed the plans. Crapo’s request is reasonable. EPA Administrator Carol Browner should honor it. With all the finger pointing and distrust generated by the Superfund cleanup, both sides would benefit from an independent review by EPA Ombudsman Robert Martin.

Martin’s office has established a reputation for diplomacy and determination. It certainly has proven its independence on several occasions, including one instance involving another Idaho resort community, Sun Valley. Eight years ago, Martin decided the EPA was wrong in ranking the Triumph Mine near Sun Valley as a top hazard. In fact, he didn’t think it merited Superfund status. As a result, the state took over the cleanup - and Sun Valley businesses exhaled. According to Crapo, who asked for the ombudsman at that time, too, the state has done the work efficiently. Funding wasn’t squandered on the endless studies and litigation that come with Superfund status.

To their credit, EPA officials have proceeded with caution as they began to wind down work in the Bunker Hill Superfund site. They’ve held public hearings. Identified hot spots. Confirmed the quality of Lake Coeur d’Alene water and the safety of most of its beaches. And, late last year, they gave the state six more months to broker settlement of a 1991 lawsuit filed by the Coeur d’Alene Tribe and Department of Justice against seven Silver Valley mines. Settlement money is to be used to fix Coeur d’Alene drainage contamination. The settlement deadline is June 30.

EPA officials should suspend that deadline and give their ombudsman the funding and time to thoroughly study North Idaho Superfund work. A delay of a few more months or longer shouldn’t make a difference. Too much is at stake for the federal agency to proceed unilaterally.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.