Idaho forum to focus on train depot

A Kootenai County judge is expected to decide next Tuesday whether BNSF Railway’s refueling depot near Rathdrum should be allowed to reopen.

A day later, a court of public opinion will convene at North Idaho College in Coeur d’Alene to present the latest information on the depot, which was ordered closed in late February after numerous fuel leaks were discovered at the facility.

The April 6 forum will offer presentations from depot experts and will give the public a chance to express their opinions to local lawmakers, said Aaron Hudlemeyer, a North Idaho College student who is helping to organize the event with the group Students for Progressive Change.

“We want to present the community with a neutral forum to have their concerns addressed,” said Hudlemeyer, a business student.

The program, “Protecting the aquifer: Where do we go from here?” is the first such communitywide event in Coeur d’Alene focused on the depot since fuel leaks were discovered Feb. 14.

The Kootenai Environmental Alliance is also helping to organize the event. Other sponsors include the League of Women Voters, the Friends of the Aquifer, Kootenai County Democrats and the Panhandle Health District.

Among those scheduled to attend are Post Falls Mayor Clay Larkin, Spokane City Councilwoman Cherie Rodgers and aquifer expert Ken Lustig, who recently retired from his post as environmental director of the Panhandle Health District. Idaho state lawmakers and Kootenai County commissioners have also been invited.

Hudlemeyer said he informed BNSF of the forum and offered the company a chance to discuss the situation, but was offered the following statement by company spokesman Gus Melonas: “BNSF’s position is not to enter into this forum as it appears to be based on emotion and not on scientific facts.”

North Idaho College Students for Progressive Change recently organized a student protest against BNSF Railway and the group plans to march in front of the Kootenai County Courthouse on Tuesday before the court hearing, Hudlemeyer said. The student group is calling for the depot to be removed from its site atop the Spokane Valley/Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer, but Hudlemeyer insisted the community forum would not be a whipping session for any BNSF representatives.

“We’re really disappointed BNSF has refused to participate. We thought this would be an opportune time for them to address the public directly instead of through the media,” Hudlemeyer said.

BNSF’s Melonas said repairs at the depot are progressing quickly, with 90 industrial specialists at the site.

The company previously said it had hoped to complete repairs by Monday to allow a week for testing, but Melonas said Tuesday that some work remains.

“We have additional concrete pouring to complete,” he said.

“We are hopeful that the weather does not impact work progress.”

The crews are repairing extensive cracks throughout the refueling platform and leaky gaskets on one of the underground fuel containment membranes. Several leaks have been discovered at the $42 million facility since it opened seven months ago.

At least one of the leaks caused an unknown amount of diesel fuel to spill into the aquifer 160 feet below the site.