To paraphrase Ronald Reagan’s question to the public when he was running against President Jimmy Carter in 1980: Is the region’s drinking water safer from pollution by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe refueling depot operations today than it was a year ago?

The answer to that question is – probably.

On Feb. 23, the railroad was ordered to shut down its Hauser operations and repair the depot after a second serious leak was found during the facility’s first six months of operation. The depot remained shut for more than two months, costing the railroad at least $19 million in lost shipments and repair. Meanwhile, Kootenai County commissioners flirted with the idea of rescinding the county permit for depot operations but didn’t follow through. The depot hasn’t experienced serious problems since reopening in May.

Some might say that the railroad depot is finally operating as advertised by BNSF executives during their long campaign to construct the facility. Others remain skeptical. The Kootenai Environmental Alliance presented Commissioner Gus Johnson with more than 7,600 signatures from individuals who still want the depot moved from Hauser to another location off the aquifer. Such a move isn’t going to happen unless significant new leaks occur that seriously damage the aquifer. The railroad should be commended that there have been no further major problems.

However, it shouldn’t be allowed to avoid public scrutiny just because things seem to be going well.

A pair of reasonable requests from the Kootenai Environmental Alliance were lost in the commotion earlier this week when Commissioner Johnson reacted angrily to KEA executive director Barry Rosenberg’s attempt to commemorate the anniversary of the detection of the first leak by inviting the media to record the presentation of the petitions. Johnson refused to allow journalists to cover the event. Then, he could be heard through a closed door chastising Rosenberg for the unexpected publicity stunt.

In a news release before the aborted media event, Rosenberg asked the commissioners to publicize the monthly reports on the refueling depot that they receive from the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality. Also, he said, he’d like to see included in the reports findings of all of the test wells and of all possible significant events at the facility. Rosenberg then reminded Commissioner Katie Brodie of her promise to keep the public informed about the depot.

The primary job of the county commissioners regarding the refueling depot remains to protect and inform the public about possible danger to the aquifer. By virtue of the imaginary state line that separates Kootenai and Spokane counties, the commissioners remain the closest government to the public in defending the region’s sole source of drinking water from another major leak. They don’t have to threaten the railroad with possible closures all the time. But they do need to take their watchdog role seriously. After all, they have the leverage to hold the railroad accountable, whether they understand that or not.