One of the largest Superfund sites in the country, Bunker Hill, is located not too far east from Spokane in the Upper Coeur d’Alene Basin. For about 100 years, beginning in the 1880s, the Silver Valley was leading the nation in the production of silver, lead, zinc, and other heavy metals. However, this led to a toxic legacy with the mining and processing leaving behind hazardous substances such as cadmium, arsenic, lead, and zinc. Most of it was just fllushed away in the Coeur d’Alene River and its tributaries.

I realize this is late notice but there will be an update for the Quarterly Coeur d'Alene Basin Cleanup at 11am at the Environmental Protection Agency's Field Office 1910 Northwest Blvd. Suite 208. There will be a review of the annual construction season launch in the Coeur d'Alene Basin. EPA and their partners are moving forward with several large projects in the Basin this summer using both settlement and Trust funding for clean up. Approximately $38 million dollars will be spent during the upcoming year making it one of the largest construction seasons seen in the Silver Valley in a number of years.

For some background on clean up history, check HERE. It's a timely topic given Rich Landers' recent article on swan deaths in the basin from toxic wetlands and the flooding that occurs each Spring from snow melt. 

Here are the list of speakers and there will be time for questions and answers:

Dan Meyer, Coeur d'Alene Work Trust: Update on construction season 2013 top projects, including: Ninemile Canyon cleanup; Burke Canyon “30% Design” Open House; Remedy Protection projects in Mullan; Cleaning up an Unnamed Gulch in Silverton and Repository Operations in the Basin.

Bill Adams/EPA (& pinch hitting for Bruce Schuld/IDEQ): Overview of Summary of major construction projects planned for this summer in the Basin; Ongoing property cleanups in the valley; Groundwater collection and treatment in the Kellogg area to improve South Fork CDA River water quality; Pilot Project in the Lower Basin to address human health an environmental threats and an update on their 2013 Super JTI Graduates.

Terry Harwood (BEIPC) - Highlights for this construction season: construction on the Sierra Nevada Remedy Protection project in Wardner within the next few weeks; Completion of paving projects new gravel surfaces and will soon be constructing the 9 Mile Cemetery Road and the streets and alleys in Woodland Park soon. Also: “Coming Attractions” for the Basin Commission Meeting on Wednesday.

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