Trail story contained errors

Factual errors and misrepresentations create irresponsible journalism, exemplified in Stephen Lindsay’s article (Handle Extra, March 22). The UPRR railbed within the lower basin wasn’t “left badly contaminated from its initial construction with heavy metal-containing mine tailings.” Clean, local basalt causeways replaced open post-pile trestles, so contamination came from railroad spillage, not Silver Valley mine tailings. Over 60 percent of the causeway lies directly in the lake below Harrison now, and edges of this mess were never determined.

A 10-foot wide asphalt strip is hardly “toxin trapping” within the 250-foot wide easement, and seasonal floods redistribute lead, arsenic, cadmium, zinc. No proper Environmental Impact Statement, no rigorous human or environmental assessments were done. In short, congressional intents of the National Environmental Policy Act and Railbanking law were grossly violated.

“Eco-tourism”? Over 900 individual landowners hold title to land under the railroad easement, so any “tourism” would be trespass, and the trail is a legal “remedy” with specific rules to stay on the asphalt.

The trail didn’t create businesses success. The seasonal ice cream parlor, Gateway Marina (virtually closed for years), the landing are all for sale. “One Shot Charley’s” has little, mostly local, patronage. I wish Harrison well, but stop the inaccurate hype.

Rogers Hardy

Harrison, Idaho