Crews have begun work on this summer’s environmental projects in the Coeur d’Alene basin, from the Silver Valley down to Coeur d’Alene. These annual projects are part of the long-term process of removing mining waste and improving the region’s environmental quality.
EPA officials estimate $25 million in public and private funds will be spent this summer on projects up and down the basin.
The biggest project continues in Kellogg. An underground wall has been installed along Interstate 90. When it opens in September, it will direct metals-laded water from mines and other sources that’s now discharged into the Coeur d’Alene River into 12 wells. They will pump the water up to a temporary treatment plant, where it will be cleaned and discharged to the river. Also this fall, that temporary plant will be replaced by a modern, renovated plant. Sludge created during the treatment process will then be piped up to new triple-lined storage cells on top of the big impoundment area you see from the freeway.
Up in the hills above the Silver Valley, work continues to clean up several old mine sites, says Terry Harwood, the executive director of the Coeur d’Alene Basin Commission.
“Nine Mile Creek, Canyon Creek and the area in Kellogg with the central treatment plant are the greatest loaders of metal to the river system, so we’re knocking them out one at a time. We’ll knock out the central treatment plant, get that taken care of, take care of Nine Mile and then they’ll be working in Canyon Creek for many years, which is the Burke Canyon,” Harwood said.
Projects to replace contaminated soil from residential and business lots in and around Kellogg will be almost finished this year, as will road projects to pave old dirt roads. Harwood says about seven thousand properties have been remediated. Work has begun to market some of the cleaned up parcels owned by the government to private parties for redevelopment.
The Panhandle Health District is putting up new signs around many recreation areas, warning people of the dangers of kicking up contaminated soil and urging them to wash up when they leave.