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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

US to proceed with treatment plant upgrade in Silver Valley

The outflow of treated water from the Central Treatment Plant eventually heads to the south fork of the Coeur d'Alene River in Kellogg Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2010. The water comes mostly from the Bunker HIll mine. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
From staff and wire reports

A Pennsylvania company has been awarded a $48 million contract to upgrade and expand the central treatment plant at the Bunker Hill Superfund site near Kellogg.

AMEC Foster Wheeler Environmental & Infrastructure will design and build the upgrades and run the plant for one year. After the initial year of operation, the state of Idaho will take over responsibility for operations.

The work is part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s efforts to clean up a century of mining pollution in the Coeur d’Alene River Basin.

The improvements to the central treatment plant will significantly reduce the amount of zinc flowing into the South Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River. Zinc is highly toxic to fish and aquatic insects. EPA officials said the upgrades represent a significant step for cleanup, and will create local jobs and boost the Silver Valley’s economy. The entire project is expected to take about four years.