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

Huckleberries Online

KEA Release: BNSF Depot Soiling Aquifer Again

Coeur d'Alene-BNSF announced to a group touring their Hauser Idaho Fueling Facility on 9/15 that they have recently discovered an inch of “product” floating on top of the Rathdrum Aquifer. According to BNSF officials, the contaminated area is 15 feet in diameter and was discovered at the end of July. Stehly also said that they promptly reported it to the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality.

Barry Rosenberg, executive director of KEA was among those who toured the facility.

“I am surprised that neither BNSF, DEQ, or the Kootenai County Commissioners announced these findings to the public,” said Rosenberg.

“One has to wonder if this contamination is going to increase in size. Two weeks ago it was blisters forming on the concrete sealant and now this. These disturbing discoveries and threats to our drinking water will only stop when the Fueling Depot is moved off the Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer,” concluded Rosenberg.

BNSF staff at the tour was not able to give a timetable of how long it would take to remove the contaminated product.



Huckleberries Online

D.F. Oliveria started Huckleberries Online on Feb. 16, 2004. Oliveria's Sunday print Huckleberries is a past winner of the national Herb Caen Memorial Column contest.