In brief: Sterling Mining gets new CEO
John Ryan has taken over as president and chief executive officer of Sterling Mining Co., which controls the historic Sunshine Mine in Big Creek, Idaho.
The underground silver mine stopped production in September and laid off most of its workers, citing a lack of funds to continue operations.
Ryan was not available Monday afternoon to discuss plans for the Sunshine. In a press release, however, he said the mine “remains a promising silver project,” particularly as market conditions improve.
Ryan was one of three co-founders of U.S. Silver Corp., which purchased the nearby Galena Mine from Coeur d’Alene Mines Corp. in 2006. He remains on U.S. Silver’s board of directors.
SPOKANE
Potlatch sells timberland
Potlatch Corp. is selling 24,800 acres of timberland in southwest Arkansas for approximately $43.3 million, or $1,745 an acre.
The buyer is an affiliate of the RMK Timberland Group, a division of Regions Bank.
The acreage, near Prescott, Ark., is situated on the westerly and southerly edge of Potlatch’s Arkansas land ownership. After the sale, Potlatch will own about 439,000 acres of timberland in Arkansas.
Spokane-based Potlatch is a real estate investment trust with 1.6 million acres of private forest in Arkansas, Idaho, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Air pollution topic of hearing
The Washington Department of Ecology will hold a hearing Wednesday in Spokane on proposed changes to rules regulating air pollution.
The state oversees companies that emit carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead and other toxic compounds into the air. Ecology officials say it’s time to update the list of pollutants and set new limits reflecting advances in scientific understanding of how the compounds affect human health.
State officials are also proposing changes to the permitting process itself.
Wednesday’s hearing will begin at 4 p.m. at Ecology’s Eastern Regional Office, 4601 N. Monroe St.
To view documents related to the proposed changes, go to http://www.ecy.wa.gov/ laws-rules/ecywac.html#air.
Written comments may be sent to Linda Whitcher, Air Quality Program, Washington Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia WA 98504-7600, or e-mailed to liwh461@ecy.wa.gov.