Making sense of the various acronyms

Q. How can I get involved with environmental issues in the Coeur d’Alene Basin? I’m confused about all of the groups. What are the CCC, BEIPC, TLG, and PFT? Good question! It took me a little while to understand what the acronyms mean, let alone what they stand for! To stay on top of the information produced from the agencies about the Bunker Hill Superfund site and give direct input, the best option is to attend the Citizen’s Coordinating Council (CCC) meetings held each quarter. You can become a member and get email updates and event notices from the CCC. The CCC is one sub-group of the Basin Environmental Improvement Project Commission (BEIPC). The BEIPC is made up of representatives of Shoshone, Kootenai, and Benewah Counties, EPA (EPA represents the federal government), DEQ, the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, and the Washington Department of Ecology. Each of these entities retains its own legal rights and responsibilities, but they collaborate and work together on the cleanup. The BEIPC helps to develop and review work plans, prioritize work, disseminate information about the cleanup, and coordinate work with local projects and priorities. The Technical Leadership Group (TLG) is comprised of government agency staff and representatives of the three counties (Shoshone, Kootenai, and Benewah) who advise the BEIPC on technical cleanup matters. The TLG or the BEIPC may also establish ad hoc Project Focus Teams (PFTs) to work on specific technical issues. The public is welcome to attend any of the meetings held by these groups. Check out this link to the BEIPC Web site (http://www.basincommission.com) to find out more about these groups. You can also get on DEQ’s and EPA’s Web sites (http://www.deq.idaho.gov/waste/prog_issues/mining/cda_basin.cfm and http://yosemite.epa.gov/r10/cleanup.nsf/sites/cda) to find out about ongoing Bunker Hill Superfund projects. The agencies also hold public open houses, workshops, and meetings as well as offer site tours outside of the BEIPC, maintain Web sites about the cleanup, publish fact sheets and other cleanup information, and manage an email and mailing list that distributes agency publications and announcements. I work in the DEQ State Office in Boise. Staff in the Kellogg Office can provide assistance if you want to stop by and ask questions. I can also meet with people when I travel up to plan and participate in outreach events.