United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Region 10
Issue No. 28
Inside This Issue
Changes Coming to Cleanup Plan
for Upper Basin 1
Refresher: How comments
are being handled 2
Agencies work together to reopen
State Highway 3 3
Big Creek Repository to Expand on North Side 4
Planning Under Way for Osburn Repository 4
Waste Soil Repository Update 4
High Metals Levels Found in
Winter Flood Sediments 5
Opportunities to Get Involved 5
Long-Term 'Box' ICP Repository Location
Proposed, Documents Available 6
2011 Basin Property Cleanups
Make Steady Progress 7
Basin Information Repositories 7
Lower Basin Collaborative: Having a Say
in What Happens 8
New Basin Outreach Employee Hired 8
Lake Management Plan —
Needs Assessment Findings 9
People Learn, Give Input at
Lower Basin Modeling Workshops 10
Comings and Goings 11
Contacts List.... ....12
Changes Coming to Cleanup Plan
for Upper Basin
EPA is now reviewing and preparing responses to nearly
7,000 comments from about 1,000 commenters on the
draft cleanup plan (Proposed Plan) for the Upper Basin.
Comments came from people who are in support of the
plan, are against the plan, and from those who would like
to see changes to various parts of the plan. We are now
considering revisions to the plan based on these comments.
As EPA continues to have conversations with stakeholders
about the Proposed Plan, it is clear that the Final Plan will
have a reduced scope. While a decision on the final details
has not yet been made, EPA's current thinking is to re-focus
groundwater collection along the South Fork of the Coeur
dAlene River, and eliminate a costly river liner that would
be difficult to implement. Not installing the liner reduces
cleanup costs by about $300 million.
"The river liner posed some serious technical challenges.
Many of the public comments criticized the high cost of
the overall cleanup plan and specifically the work associated
with the liner system. Removing the liner from the cleanup
plan is one good way to address the cost issue without
sacrificing environmental protection. We see other parts of
the plan as more critical to protecting people and wildlife,
and therefore a higher priority," says EPA Project Manager
Bill Adams. The remedy will include an implementation
plan with specific annual opportunities for ongoing
community engagement.
Continued Next Page
EPA Community Involvement Contacts
Debra Sherbina
sherbina.debm@epa.gov
(800) 424-43 72, ext. 0247
Caryn Sengupta
sengupta.caryn@epa.gov
(800) 424-4372, ext. 1275
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Basin Bulletin
April 2011
Changes Coming to Cleanup Plan for Upper Basin
In regards to other potential changes in the
cleanup plan, the Upper Basin Project Focus
Team (UBPFT), a Basin Commission subgroup,
continues to look closely at modifications that
could be made to the plan.
S
Refresher: How comments
are being handled
All individual comments have been entered
into an electronic database and grouped
into categories based on the content of
the comment. This helps EPA account
for and respond to each comment. The
agency is currently preparing a "Response to
Comments" document. This document will
include both a response to each individual
comment and a summary response to each
issue. The Response to Comments will be
issued at the same time as the ROD (Record
of Decision) Amendment, later this year. The
ROD is the final decision document and will
describe the selected cleanup alternative. Once
they are finalized, copies of the documents
will be available on EPA's ROD Amendment
web site at http://go.usa.gov/igD or by
request to EPA.
Continued from Previous Page
The subgroup includes members from the
community, state and federal agencies, tribes, and
environmental groups. On March 9, the team met
in Wallace to work with EPA on ideas about how
to change the cleanup plan, and how the changes
would affect the planning and rollout of on the
ground work.
This group is also working on a field effort for
2011 to evaluate a number of sites for potential
removal from the cleanup plan prior to the Record
of Decision (ROD). This evaluation process
would keep going after the ROD to continue to
identify sites or areas where no further action is
required. EPA will be scheduling more UBPFT
meetings to work out the details on how the plan
will change. EPA anticipates more adjustments
will be made before the cleanup plan is finalized
later in 2011. We will continue to provide updates
for the community on our progress.
For more information, contact
^ Bill Adams at adams.bill@epa.gov or
^S Anne Dailey at dailey.anne@epa.gov
B Or reach us toll-free at (1-800) 424-4372.
Find out more about the Proposed Plan and ROD
Amendment at http://go.usa.gov/igD
Citizens Coordinating Council Survey Available
By Jeri DeLange, Communications PFT Chair
This year, the Basin Commission's
Communications PFT continues to work on
finding new ways for citizens to engage in the
Superfund process in the Coeur d'Alene Basin.
The Communications PFT is working with the
Citizens Coordinating Council (CCC) to help
boost new membership in the CCC within the
Basin communities. It's a great way for local
people to learn about the cleanup, meet others
with similar interests, give input on the cleanup
and Basin Commission process, and stay informed
about the many projects going on in the Basin.
To this end, the Communications PFT recently
finished a CCC survey questionnaire. The survey
will gather feedback from CCC members and the
public about how to improve communications
with people relating to citizen involvement in the
Basin Commission process.
The survey is available on www.
basincommission.com, where you will be able
to fill it out electronically and email it back. Send
hard copies of the survey to BEIPC, Attn: CCC
Survey, 1005 W. McKinley, Kellogg, ID 83837.
All information will be kept confidential. Results
will be used to help increase public participation
in the Basin Commission process and help design
training sessions or communications pieces.
For more information contact Jeri DeLange,
Chair, Communications PFT at
jeri.delange@deq.idaho.gov or (208) 783-2548.
2
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Basin Bulletin
April 2011
Agencies work together to reopen State Highway 3
By Terry Harwood, Executive Director
Basin Environmental Improvement Project Commission
South of Rose Lake, State Highway 3
runs along the top of a levee that protects
the area northwest of the Coeur d'Alene
River from flooding. A number of culverts
through the levee drain water from uplands
into the river. The culvert draining Rose Creek
under the levee was installed in the 1930s,
as well as a control gate on the outlet of the
culvert to prevent backwashing of the Coeur
d'Alene River through the culvert during high
water and flooding. The gate was installed to
mitigate raising Post Falls Dam and its effect
on potential flooding of areas along the river.
At the end of last December, the culvert
failed from a combination of rust-through
and some high water. Part of the highway
collapsed, resulting in a lengthy and time
consuming traffic detour. Idaho Transportation
Department (ITD) officials requested assistance
on New Year's Day because the site is within
the Institutional Controls Boundary for the
Superfund site.
All excavated material from the site needed to
be disposed of at an approved waste repository.
Idaho Department of Environmental Quality
(DEQ) opened the East Mission Flats Reposi-
tory and worked with the Panhandle Health
District to accommodate ITD's needs. They
hauled over 2,300 cubic yards of material to the
repository. Contamination levels ran from about
2,000 to 7,000 parts per million (ppm) lead.
ITD installed a new 72-inch diameter culvert
with riprap inlet and clean fill material, and
reopened the highway. They were unable to
connect the culvert to the old smaller existing
control gate, which was removed. The old gate
had been closed during high flows in the river to
prevent flooding of the community. During high
runoff in January, the river rose over 10 feet at
the site. The river backwashed through the new
culvert, flooding the community area and un-
developed properties with sediment-laden river
water. ITD attempted to control the back flow.
While samples were not collected at the cul-
vert, samples of river sediment taken elsewhere
showed lead levels ranging from 1,000 ppm at
Cataldo to 6,000 ppm at Harrison. Based on
this, it's reasonable to assume the water washed
into the Rose Lake area deposited contaminated
sediments.
All parties involved are designing a new gate,
preparing a proposal to install it, locating fund-
ing for the work, and establishing an operation
and maintenance program. The local commu-
nity will operate and maintain the gate. This
project shows how all the governmental parties
can work together in an emergency to keep the
transportation system open and manage the
contaminated sediments in the Coeur d'Alene
Basin. Agencies include the Basin Commission,
Panhandle Health District, ITD, DEC^EPA,
and the Forest Service. For more information,
contact Terry Harwood, Basin Commission
Executive Director, at (208) 783-2528 or
teny.harwood@deq.idaho.gov
The Basin Bulletin is published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency three times a year.The
Basin Bulletin offers updates about activities related to Superfund cleanup in the Coeur d'Alene
Basin. For mailing list changes, to send comments about this newsletter, contact the editors, or
submit articles for consideration, call Debra Sherbina or Caryn Sengupta at the phone numbers
listed on the bottom of the front page.
Mention of trade names, products, or services does not convey, and should not be interpreted as
conveying,official EPA approval, endorsement,or recommendation.
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Basin Bulletin
April 2011
Big Creek Repository to
Expand on North Side
The design for expansion on the north side of
Big Creek Repository is complete. The plan is
to extend the disposal area northward on ground
already owned by the State of Idaho. The
expansion will add about 116,000 cubic yards
of capacity to Big Creek, extending its active
life by two to three years. After the expansion,
the repository will have a total capacity of
about 621,000 cubic yards. Big Creek serves the
cleanup in the Upper Basin.
While planning this work, DEQJieard from
the public that the repository expansion should
consider local activities. Specific issues include:
(1) use of the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes during
construction; (2) truck traffic impacts on Big
Creek Road; and (3) the view of the repository
from the trail.
The new construction will take place entirely
on the existing repository property using the
current truck access route. There will be no
changes to the bike trail traffic or Big Creek
vehicle traffic as a result of the expansion. In
response to public input about protecting the
view from the bike trail, a 50- to 75-foot-wide
buffer strip will be retained along the trail. No
trees will be removed within that buffer strip.
The repository expansion will cover the two
existing groundwater monitoring wells on the
north side of the current repository. DEQ_will
extend the length of the well pipes sticking out
of the ground and protect them from damage or
compromise. This way, we can continue to use
the existing groundwater monitoring wells and
not need to drill new ones.
DEQ_plans to clear the ground at the expansion
area this spring, and to begin using the area for
waste disposal this summer. Waste placement
will not impact the bike trail, Big Creek Road,
or Highwater Road users. Trucks will continue
to use Big Creek Road and the access gate
already in place to get to and from the
repository.
Planning Under Way for
Osburn Repository
A new Upper Basin repository is being
planned at the existing tailings impound-
ment complex east of Osburn, on the north
side of 1-90. This location was selected as
the result of a public repository siting pro-
cess, begun in November 2008. The re-
pository will be located on the easternmost
impoundment. This impoundment has been
taken out of service and revegetated by the
mining company that currently owns it.
Last fall, field crews finished surveys for cul-
tural resources, wetlands, flooding, ground-
water, slope stability, and other background
information. Findings from these surveys
will be included in and used to create the
30% Design Report. The report will contain
a summary of the background information
and a first look at the major features of the
repository — such as the new repository
footprint, access roads, operational areas, fill
plans, and other technical requirements.
A draft of the 30% Design Report will
be completed this fall. The report will
be available to the public for review
and comment. In addition to the public
comment period, the agencies will work with
the Basin Commission to host an Open
House. At the Open House, people will be
able to view the design, talk face-to-face
with project managers, and ask questions.
The final 30% Design Report will take into
consideration the oral and written comments
received from the public. For more
information, contact Andy Mork, DEQj. at
andy.mork@deq.idaho.gov or
(208) 373-0141.
4
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Basin Bulletin
April 2011
Lead Load
Coeur d'Alene Lake
©Harrison
1/18/11 352,000 Ibs
Lead
>•
©Post Falls
1/20/11 269 Ibs
Lead
Flow
©Cataldo
Peak Flow
32Kcfs
Lower Basin Flood Plain
©Harrison
Peak Flow
19Kcfs
13Kcfs
V-
Wetlands
Lateral lakes
cfs = "cubic feet per second"
High Metals Levels Found in Winter Flood Sediments
D uring the January floods, the Unit- The average annual lead load between 1998 and 2008
ed States Geologic Service took sus- was about 534'000 pounds per year
pended sediment samples from the
Coeur dAlene River near Harrison
(the inlet to Lake Coeur d'Alene).
"Suspended" means the sediments
were traveling in the water, not rest-
ing on the river bottom. This sedi-
ment contained the second highest
concentration of total lead USGS
has ever measured in this part of the
river - 3,480 micrograms per liter
(ug/L). Only in 1996 was a higher
lead level found at this sampling
point. Cadmium and zinc levels
also measured at record highs - 12.9
ug/L and 1,660 ug/L respectively.
Duplicate samples and other sam-
r cc u T7DA f. j a, u- u 1 1 indicating that quite a bit of water and sediment
pling efforts by LrA confirmed these high levels. . & , . , , , ,, , . .
T?DA u u \ A • a, • rJu r> contaminated with heavy metals flowed into the
LrA has been studying the main stem of the Coeur J
i, A i r> • \.u network of lateral lakes, wetlands, and some of the
d Alene River over the past two years. n i 1 • • 1 T ™ • • i /- i
floodplam in the Lower Basin. Animals and flsh
We have found that contaminated sediments are jn the river, wetlands, and lateral lakes are being
getting eroded from the river bed and banks be- exposed to the contaminants during these events.
fore being carried downstream during high flow People are exposed to the contaminants afterwards,
events, like the one in May 2008 and recently in when they visit river beaches and flood plains.
January 2011. These contaminated sediments are
i -^j-^i n j 1 • ^u • u j On anuary 20, two days after the high lead lev-
redeposited in the flood plain, on the river bed, or J r , T ^ i, A 1
. i. Tir^ j'Ai u j ^u els were found at the inlet to Lake Coeur d Alene,
carried into Lake Coeur dAlene. Based on these , , , , . 111 1
, i , • j i j i j ..u j the total lead concentration at the lake outlet was
measurements, the estimated lead load that moved , „ /T , , , n r , , ,
T i /-^ i,A1 J/T -\o\ only 2 ug/L, though the flow out of the lake was
into Lake Coeur dAlene on one day (January 18) /. , & .' _ n°n r _, 11111
1 u ^ o eo AAA a fairly rapid 25,000 cfs. 1 he estimated lead load
alone was about 352,000 pounds. -111 1 ,~,^ i T
leaving the lake was only 269 pounds on January
As a comparison, the average annual lead load be- 20. Given that the lead concentration at the lake
tween 1998 and 2008 was about 534,000 pounds iniet measured 3,480 ug/L on January 18, this tells
per year. During this storm, the flows at the Coeur us that most of the lead likely settled to the lake
dAlene River were the largest measured since bottom over two days.
2008. At Cataldo, the Coeur dAlene River peaked
<- QO nnn u-f j ff\ &±TJ • r or more information, contact Ld Moreen at
at 32,000 cubic feet per second (cfs). At Harn- ._, /™^ „, ^™
, „ i lonnn r moreen.ed@epa.gov or (208) 664-4588.
son, the peak flow measured was only 19,000 cts,
Opportunities to Get Involved
Basin Environmental Improvement Citizens Coordinating Council (CCC)
Project Commission Contact:Jerry Boyd, (509) 455-6000
Executive Director: Terrv Harivood, . . ,
, , J. . . www.basincommission.com/ccc.asp
(208) 783-2528 www.basincommission.com
NextMeeting:April20,2011
Next Meeting: May 18,2011 ,
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Basin Bulletin
April 2011
Long-Term 'Box1 ICP Repository Location Proposed,
Documents Available
Plans to locate a long-term Box Institutional Con-
trols Program (ICP) Repository have been under
way for several years. Page, the current ICP re-
pository west of Smelterville, has been in use for
about 20 years. It is filling up quickly. The Idaho
Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has
been working with local representatives and the
Bunker Hill Box Task Force to develop and evalu-
ate a comprehensive list of possible Box repository
locations. This work has resulted in a two-part pre-
ferred alternative. It includes revisions to how the
ICP waste stream would be managed, and expan-
sions into both the West and East Page Swamps.
DEQ_and the Environmental Protection Agency's
(EPA) preferred alternative will enlarge the exist-
ing Page Repository footprint by about 15 acres
in the West Page Swamp and 21 acres in the East
Page Swamp. The expansion will take place over
the next 100 years, 3 to 5 acres at a time. This work
does not create a new repository; it just adds about
1.4 million cubic yards of capacity to an existing
one. Revisions to ICP waste stream management
may include reuse of "coarse durable waste" (main-
ly concrete and asphalt) and doing community fill
projects. A community fill project is when soil is
added to an already contaminated area to level it
out for development.
Page is on an old tailings pond, and was first used
to contain waste removed from Box residential
yards. The Box yards cleanup is now complete. Re-
pository expansion and changes to waste stream
management strategies are needed so that local
residents, businesses, governments and contractors
will have a place to dispose of contaminated soils
from excavation. This work is done under the lo-
cal Institutional Controls Program, managed by
the Panhandle Health District. Proper disposal of
contaminated soils is an important way to protect
people's health.
The proposed expansion would fill contaminated
wetlands that developed on the old mill tailings
area. Filling in wetlands is normally not what the
EPA and DEQ_would prefer.
Page Repository Open
House coming this spring
This spring, DEQ^the Bunker Hill Task
Force, and EPA will hold a Community Open
House. It will be an opportunity for people to
talk one-on-one with project managers about
the repository siting process and the proposed
expansion plans, get questions answered,
see displays, and learn what changes are
proposed for the repository. There will be no
presentations. We will let you know the date
and location of the Open House.
^
However, expanding the repository and making
substantial technological changes to how the ICP
waste stream is managed provides the local com-
munities, EPA and DEQ_with a long-term (100-
year) strategy to manage Box contaminated soils.
Even though the wetlands are highly contaminat-
ed, a Draft Clean Water Act 404 analysis has been
developed. This is because the agencies are legally
required to do mitigation, or re-create wetland val-
ues that are lost because of the proposed repository
expansion.
To meet requirements, the agencies have proposed
to develop wetlands in the 15-acre "West End In-
filtration Area" across the bike trail from the West
Page Swamp, and at Blue Creek near Lake Coeur
d'Alene. Both proposed mitigation areas are within
the Coeur d'Alene River Basin. Mitigation at the
West End Infiltration Area will create wetlands in
a clean area that is currently poorly vegetated. This
area is also very near the wetlands that would be
affected by the proposed repository expansion.
Find project
web site:
• Draft Clean Water Act Section 404 Analysis -
Page Repository Expansion
• Wetland Mitigation Plan WENI Area,
Smelterville, Idaho
• Wetland Mitigation Plan Blue Creek, Coeur
d'Alene, Idaho
L\^ L'lWL'woi^u. ii^pwoiLwi y i^vpaiioiwu.
documents like these on the DEQ_
Continued Next Page
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Basin Bulletin
April 2011
2011 Basin Property Cleanups Make Steady Progress
The Idaho Department of Environmental
Quality (DEQ) will be cleaning up
properties between Mullan and Rose
Lake again this year. Before the close of the 2011
construction season, DEQ_plans to clean up about
350 properties, which will include an estimated
2.5 million square feet of land. In addition to
remediation activities, DEQ_plans to sample
about 225 residential, commercial, and rights -
of-way properties. A large number of properties
to be sampled will be in the general vicinity of
the Coeur d'Alene River, between Cataldo and
Harrison. The sampling data collected during
the 2011 construction season will be used to help
plan property cleanup work for 2011 and beyond.
Funding for the sampling and cleanup work will
come from a cooperative agreement between EPA
and DEQ,
DEQ_places the highest priority on cleanups
at identified high risk properties within the
CDA Basin. A high risk property is a property
Long-Term 'Box' Repository
Documents Available
Continued
• Box ICP Repository Location Analysis
memo
• Archaeological and Historic Survey Report
• Endangered Species Act compliance memo
View select project documents at the Kellogg
Public Library, 16 W. Market Ave., Kellogg, ID
83837, (208) 786-7231, or the EPA Records
Center, 1200 Sixth Ave., Seattle, WA 98101,
(206) 553-4494.
Online, visit: Page Repository:
www.deq.idaho.gov/waste/prog_issues/
mining/page_repository.cfm
EPA Cleanup:
http://yosemite.epa.gov/rlO/cleanup.nsl7sites/
cda
For more information, contact Bruce Schuld,
DEC^ at bruce.schuld@deq.idaho.gov or
(208) 373-0554 or Anne McCauley, EPA, at
mccauley.anne@epa.gov or
(800)424-4372X4689.
with lead or arsenic levels in soils that are above
cleanup levels, where children under seven years
of age or pregnant women live, or is a licensed
Day Care facility. A home where the most recent
blood lead testing shows that young children
in the household have blood lead levels equal
to or greater than 10 parts per million, and the
Panhandle Health District has determined the
yard soil is a significant exposure pathway is also
considered a high risk property. The construction
contractors for 2011 will once again be
Ferguson Contracting and Stewart Contracting.
Terragraphics Environmental Engineering, Inc.
will be doing the sampling and preparatory work
for the property cleanups. Goodson Productions
will be filming the work for DEQ_again this
season.
For more information, contact Scott Peterson,
DEC^ at scott.peterson@deq.idaho.gov or
(208) 783-5781, or Bill Ryan, EPA, at
ryan.william@epa.gov or (800) 424-4372 X 8561.
Basin Information Repositories
North Idaho College Library
Molstead Library, 1000 Garden Avenue
Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814
(208) 769-3355
Wallace Public Library
415 River Street
Wallace, ID 83873
(208) 752-4571
Spokane Public Library
906 West Main Avenue
Spokane,WA 99201
(509) 444-5336
EPA Field Office
1910 Northwest Boulevard, Suite 208
Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814
(208) 664-4588
EPA Seattle Office, Superf und Record Center
1200 Sixth Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 553-4494 or 800-424-4372
St. Maries Library
822 W. College Ave.
St. Maries, ID 83861
(208) 245-3732
J
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Basin Bulletin
April 2011
Lower Basin Collaborative: Having a Say in What Happens
If you ask folks in Cataldo about the siting and
opening of East Mission Flats Repository (EMF),
they'll tell you their concerns and suggestions were
largely unheard. I live next to EMF. Feeling ex-
cluded from decision-making, I promised my-
self I would find a way in the future for citizens
and businesses to participate in the cleanup of the
Lower Basin.
A small group has been meeting since
May 2010 to come up with a way for
citizens, stakeholders, and agencies
to work together. We've created the
Lower Basin Collaborative. This col-
laborative model, used for forest man-
agement in Shoshone County and
other areas of the state, is producing
effective results.
for outcomes that meet or exceed federal and state
regulations, and agencies shift their focus to con-
nect with, rather than direct, the collaborative ef-
fort. If stakeholders work together and we're a part
of the Basin Commission, cleanup decisions will
be made with everyone's interests considered. We
will work towards outcomes that everyone
feels they can live with.
Reaching Out
We're ready to launch the collaborative
and invite your participation. We want
to spread the word, providing public in-
formational events throughout the Lower
Basin in late spring and early summer.
The cleanup issues in the Lower Basin are
Why a Collaborative?
These collaboratives are achieving broad citizen,
stakeholder, and agency satisfaction for several
reasons. Everyone is invited to the table early in
the process. Instead of suppressing differing views,
conflicting interests are sought out and seen as de-
sirable. Competing interests are working out con-
sensus-based solutions together. Participants work
By Susan Mitchell
complex. One of the goals of the collaborative is to
make sure you have the information you need. If
this process piques your interest, and you want to
know more or be involved at any level, let us hear
from you.
Write us at LowerBasinCollaborative@gmail.com
This cleanup will affect your life—the place you
live, the health of your family, and growth in your
community. Getting involved gives you a say in the
direction we take.
New Basin Outreach Employee Hired
Please join us in welcoming Carol
Young to the Coeur d'Alene Basin
community involvement team! Carol
was hired as a Community Infor-
mation Specialist, a position funded
through an EPA grant. The goal is to
improve communications about the
Superfund cleanup.
We are excited to have Carol on the team!
Carol's office will be located in the Upper Ba-
sin, but she will spend her time reaching out to
the entire Basin. She will work closely with the
EPA/DEQ_ Community Involvement Team.
Before holding interviews, EPA asked some lo-
cal stakeholders for input on what qualities they
would like to see in the person hired. We heard
that having a local person in the job, someone
who has built credibility and established rela-
tionships with the community, was essential.
We are confident Carol fits this
description and will be successful
in the position. A 20-year Kingston
resident, she brings a strong, diverse
background in communication and
customer service. Carol is active in
many community events and activi-
ties, and a member of numerous local
groups. Over the years, she has built
and nurtured lasting connections with a variety
of people and organizations in the Silver Valley.
Carol states, "I am looking forward to assisting the
Coeur d'Alene Basin community of professionals
and serving our residents with a positive approach."
The EPA/DEQ_interview panel would also like
to thank all of the people who applied for and
interviewed for the position. We are happy to
have had so many strong candidates and enjoyed
meeting all of you.
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Basin Bulletin
April 2011
Lake Management Plan — Needs Assessment Findings
View ofCoeur d'Alene Lake from Mullan Pass
By: Rebecca Stevens, Coeur d'Alene Tribe
Lake Management Plan Coordinator
and
Glen Rothrock, DEQ- Lake Management Plan Coordinator
In 2009, the Coeur d'Alene Tribe (Tribe) and
Idaho Department of Environmental Quality
(DEQ) finalized the Coeur d'Alene Lake
Management Plan (LMP). The Tribe and
DEQ_worked diligently to complete this joint
document. A mediator from the U.S. Institute of
Conflict Resolution helped keep the process on
track. The Tribe and DEQ_are now carrying out
the actions identified in the document. The goal
of the LMP is "to protect and improve lake water
quality by limiting basin-nutrient inputs that
impair lake water quality conditions, which in turn
influence the solubility of mining-related metals
contamination contained in lake sediments."
"Increase public awareness" is one of the five early
objectives in the "core LMP program."
Photo courtesy Coeur d'Alene Tribe
To assess it, the Tribe and DEQ_decided to do an
Education/Outreach Needs Assessment or "poll-
ing survey." In 2010, DEQ_and the Tribe con-
tracted with Robinson Research and Dunau Asso-
ciates out of Spokane to do a Needs Assessment.
The consultants met with the LMP Coordinators
from the Tribe and DEQ_to list 25 Community
Opinion Leaders, to get their current perception
on water quality in Coeur d'Alene Lake. Focus
Group sessions were held in Plummer, Harrison,
and Coeur d'Alene. Small groups of citizens came
to these sessions.
They were asked what they thought the current
status of water quality is, and who would be
the best government or entity to manage water
quality. A self-administered internet survey and
a telephone survey were also used. The Tribe
and DEQ_are now reviewing Needs Assessment
results.
Continued Next Page
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Basin Bulletin
April 2011
Lake Management Plan — Needs Assessment Findings
A few highlights from the Needs Assessment
study:
• Most Focus Group respondents felt that the
best way to deal with heavy metal pollution in
the lake is to allow for the natural sedimentary
process to cap them.
• There was some awareness of mining.
However, a number of respondents felt that
mining wastes no longer enter the lake from
the Coeur d'Alene River. [Fact: Recent data
from the United States Geologic Survey found
that in January 2010, water quality samples
collected at Harrison showed the second
highest measured levels of lead entering the
lake. The highest levels ever measured were in
1996.]
• Some respondents felt development and
growth were the biggest threats to water
quality. Others felt the invasive aquatic plant
Eurasian Watermilfoilposed the biggest threat.
• Overall, the public felt that the Coeur dAlene
Tribe was doing the best at protecting water
quality and thought the Tribe should stay at
Continued from previous page
the forefront of water quality protection.
DEQ_and EPA ranked second in the public's
eyes as having some jurisdiction over water
quality protection.
• The majority of the public felt that
governments and agencies need to coordinate
more and meet with the public face-to-face.
The last item is exactly what the Tribe and DEQ_
intend to do over the next few years. Other key
ongoing parts of the LMP include: water quality
monitoring in the Lake and St. Joe /St. Maries
Rivers watershed; aquatic weed (native and inva-
sive) and riverbank erosion surveys; debris re-
moval; coordination with other entities that have
land use management authorities; and searching
for supplemental funds to assist in future LMP
activities. To learn more, or find out how to get
involved in lake protection activities, contact Re-
becca Stevens, Coeur dAlene Tribe, at
rstevens@cda-nsn.gov or (208) 667-5772, or
GlenRothrock.DECkat
glen.rothrock@deq.idaho.gov or (208) 666-
4623. Online, visit http://tinyurl.coni/3cqehyp
People Learn, Give Input at Lower Basin Modeling Workshops
The Lower Basin Project Focus Team (LBPFT) is the results of recent sampling events. These
hosting a series of modeling workshops related to
the development of sediment transport modeling
in the Lower Basin. For the purposes of sediment
transport, the Lower Basin is defined as the bed,
banks and floodplains of the Coeur dAlene River
between Enaville and the mouth of the river at
Harrison.
The sediment transport model will actually consist
of several models working together. Modeling
Workshop #l/Information Update was held
on February 23. This workshop focused on the
hydrologic model and gave results from recent
Lower Basin data collection efforts. Modeling
Workshop #lb/Information Update will take
place on April 20 at the Idaho Transportation
Department offices in Coeur d'Alene. Modeling
Workshop #lb will continue to focus on the
hydrologic model and how it will fit into the
workshops provide opportunities for interested
people and agency representatives to understand
how the models work, what assumptions
are made, data used to calibrate the models,
limitations, and how the models will be used.
Everyone is welcome to attend the workshops,
but please note that those offered through the
LBPFT will be more technical in nature, and
more appropriate for an audience with a general
understanding of how models work.
For people who don't have a technical background
but are interested in the modeling, a second
series of user-friendly workshops will be offered
during the summer. Stay tuned — watch for
announcements through the LBPFT and the
Citizens Coordinating Council about upcoming
Modeling Workshops/Information Updates. For
more information contact Ed Moreen at
overall sediment transport model, and will provide moreen.ed@epa.gov or (208) 664-4588.
10
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Basin Bulletin
April 2011
Comings and Goings
New Team Leader Starts Work
Shawn Blocker has been selected as the Act-
ing Bunker Hill/CDATeam Leader for EPA
Region 10. Shawn will act as Team Leader for
the next four months. During that time, EPA
will advertise for a permanent Team Leader.
Shawn comes from the RCRA side, where he
was an enforcement officer and a Corrective
Action Site Manager and State Coordinator
since joining EPA in 2001.
Shawn has worked on several sites, including
Boeing Plant 2 on the Duwamish Waterway
in Washington and the Alaska Railroad Facil-
ity in downtown Anchorage. Prior to join-
ing the EPA, Shawn was an Environmental
Geologist and consultant in the private sector.
Outside of EPA, Shawn has a long tenure as
a member of the U.S Armed Forces; first as
an active U.S. Marine (1985-1994) and since
1999 as a member of the U. S. Navy Reserve.
In 2008, Shawn was recalled to active duty
for roughly a year in support of Operation
Enduring Freedom. You can reach Shawn at
blocker.shawn@epa.gov or (800)424-4372 X
4166.
Thank you and goodbye to Angela Chung,
EPA's Coeur d'Alene Basin Team leader since
2005 and a member of the team since 2001.
Angela accepted a job with EPA Region 10's
Office of Compliance and Enforcement as the
Regional Enforcement Coordinator. Angela,
your commitment to and contributions to the
CDA cleanup project will be missed. Best of
luck in the future.
Thank you and best wishes to Andrea Lindsay,
who has served as one of the site's Community
Involvement Coordinators since 2004. Andrea
has accepted a temporary assignment with the
Puget Sound Partnership through December.
Welcome Caryn Sengupta to EPA's Coeur
d'Alene Basin project team! Caryn is now serv-
ing as one of two EPA Community Involvement
Coordinators for the site, along with long-time
staffer Debra Sherbina. Caryn has been with
EPA for nearly seven years, and has a background
in risk communications and public outreach.
Goodbye and good luck to Vera Williams! Vera
has stepped down as the Vice-Chair of the Citi-
zens Coordinating Council. We thank Vera for
her many contributions to the CCC and other
work groups related to the Basin cleanup.
Jerry Boyd, CCC Chair, says, "Vera stepped up
and became an active and knowledgeable Vice-
Chair of the CCC when we needed her. She was
always willing to assist in any and every way pos-
sible to make it easier for the public to participate
in the Coeur d'Alene Basin cleanup process. I
want to express my appreciation for her work and
wish her well. I will certainly miss having her
advice and ideas on CCC activities to help the
community participate in the development of the
Basin cleanup work plans and decisions."
To submit information for this
column, contact
Debra Sherbina or Caryn Shengupta as noted on
the front cover.
Submissions:
To make a submission to the
Basin Bulletin, please contact Debra
Sherbina or Caryn Sengupta (see
contact info on the frontpage
Subscriptions:
The Basin Bulletin can be e-mailed to you as a PDF. For additions or
corrections to the mailing list, contact Debra Sherbina or Caryn Sengupta at
U.S. EPA, ETPA-081, Suite 900
1200 Sixth Avenue,
Seattle, WA 98101-1128
or at their phone and e-mail, as noted on thefront page of the Bulletin.
11
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Basin Environmental Improvement
Allan, Chief; Coeur d'Alene Tribe
Buell, Jack; Benewah County Commissioner
Cantamessa, Jon; Shoshone County Commissioner
Green, Dan; Kootenai County Commissioner
Hardesty, Toni; State of Idaho
Harwood, Terry; BEIPC Executive Director
Pfeifer, Grant; State of Washington
McLerran., Dennis; EPA Region 10 Administrator
BEIPC Staff
DeLangeJeri; BEIPC
George, Dave; WA Dept. of Ecology
Hanson, Rob; IDEQ_
Moreen, Ed; EPA Coeur d'Alene Basin Rep.
Stevens, Rebecca; Coeur d'Alene Tribe
Technical Leadership Group (TLG) -
Adams, Bill; EPA Region 10
Addy,Mark;NRCS
Brewer, Lloyd; City of Spokane
Box, Steve; U.S. Geological Survey
Burgan, Michael; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Clark, Greg; U.S. Geological Survey
Connolly, Randy; Spokane Tribe
Dailey, Anne; EPA Region 10
Davidson, Toni; U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Flagor, Bob; NRCS.
Gentry, Dean; Benewah County
George, Dave; WA Dept. of Ecology
Hardy, Rogers; Benewah County
Hicks, Kenny; Shoshone County
Johnson, Jeff; U.S. Forest Service
Kirkpatrick, Bob; U.S. Forest Service
Kirschner, Fred; Spokane Tribe
Leptich, David; ID Dept. of Fish & Game
Lindsay, Robert; Spokane County Utilities Office
Olsen,Jan;IDEQ_
Perfect, John; Idaho Transportation Dept.
Raskell, Sandra; Coeur d'Alene Tribe
Rothrock, Glen; IDEQ_
Rust, Bill; Shoshone County
Sheppard, Clyde; Kootenai County
Spears, Brian; U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Stevens, Rebecca; Coeur d'Alene Tribe
Stevenson, Mike; Bureau of Land Management
Taylor, Greg; ID Dept. of Water Resources
Werner, Terry; City of Post Falls
Zion, Rod; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
TLG Project Focus Team (PFT) Leads
Communications - Jeri DeLange
Human Health/Residential - Rob Hanson
Lower Basin - Rebecca Stevens
Repository - Andy Mork, lead
Repository - Ed Moreen, vice lead
Upper Basin - Bill Adams
Citizens Coordinating Council -Jerry
Jerry Boyd
Project Commission- Jon Cantamessa, Chair
S 208-686-5803 FAX: 208-686-8813
S 208-245-3274 FAX: 208-245-4364
S 208-752-3331 FAX: 208-753-2711
S 208-446-1605 FAX: 208-446-1609
S 208-373-0240 FAX: 208-373-0417
S 208-783-2528 FAX: 208-783-4561
S 509-329-3516 FAX: 509-329-3529
S 206-553-1234 FAX: 206-553-1809
S 208-783-2548 FAX: 208
S 509-329-3520 FAX: 509
S 208-373-0290 FAX: 208
S 208-664-4588 FAX: 208
S 208-667-5772 FAX: 208
Rebecca Stevens, Chair
S 206-553-2806 FAX: 206-553-0124
S 208-762-4939 FAX: 208-762-9859
S 509-625-6968 FAX: 509-625-6537
S 509-368-3106 FAX: 509-368-3199
S 208-765-8139
S 208-387-1324 FAX: 208-387-1372
S 509-626-4425 FAX: 509-626-9600
S 206-553-2110 FAX: 206-553-0124
S 509-893-8034 FAX: 509-891-6748
S 208-762-4939 FAX: 208-762-9859
S 208-245-2477
S 509-329-3520 FAX: 509-329-3572
S 208-691-3095
S 208-512-2356 FAX: 208-556-0135
S 208-765-7442 FAX: 208-765-7307
S 406-329-3307 FAX: 406-329-3198
S 509-924-0184
S 208-769-1414 FAX: 208-769-1418
S 509-477-7259 FAX: 509-477-4715
S 208-783-5781 FAX: 208-783-4561
S 208-772-1224 FAX: 208-772-1203
S 208-667-5772 FAX: 208-667-0919
S 208-666-4623 FAX: 208-769-1404
S 208-556-8020
S 208-773-9116 FAX: 208-773-0162
S 509-893-8032 FAX: 509-891-6748
S 208-667-5772 FAX: 208-667-0919
S 208-769-5024 FAX: 208-769-5050
S 208-762-2805 FAX: 208-762-2819
S 208-773-1438 FAX: 208-773-0311
S 208-667-7025 FAX: 208-765-6140
S 208-783-2548 FAX: 208-783-4561
S 208-373-0290 FAX: 208-373-0417
S 208-667-5772 FAX: 208-667-0919
S 208-373-0141 FAX: 208-373-0154
S 208-664-4588 FAX: 208-664-5829
S 206-553-2806 FAX: 206-553-0124
Boyd, Chair
S 509-455-6000
chief@cdatribe-nsn.gov.
jreynolds@benewahcounty.org
bocc@co.shoshone.id.us
dgreen@kcgov.us
toni.hardesty@deq.idaho.gov
terry.harwood@deq.idaho.gov
gpfe461@ecy.wa.gov
mclerran.dennis@epa.gov
-783-4561 jeri.delange@deq.idaho.gov
-329-3572 cgeo461@ecy.wa.gov
-373-0154 rob.hanson@deq.idaho.gov
-664-5829 moreen.ed@epa.gov
-667-0919 rstevens@cdatribe-nsn.gov
adams.bill@epa.gov
mark.addy@usda.gov
lbrewer@spokanecity.org
sbox@usgs.gov
michael. a.burgan@usace. army, mil
gmclark@usgs.gov
connolly@spokanetribe.com
dailey.anne@epa.gov
toni_davidson@fws.gov
robert.flagor@usda.gov
dgg@smgazette .com
cgeo461@ecy.wa.gov
rogershardy@aol.com
kehicks@suddenlink.net
jkjohnson@fs.fed.us
bkirkpatrick@fs.fed.us
fredk@aeseinc.com
david.leptich@idfg.idaho.gov
rlindsay@spokanecounty.org
jan.olsen@ideq.idaho.gov
john.perfect@itd.idaho.gov
sraskell@cdatribe-nsn.gov
glen.rothrock@deq.idaho.gov
wcrust@icebridge.net
rusty shep@ro adrunner. co m
brian_spe ars@fws.gov
rstevens@cdatribe-nsn.gov
mike_stevenson@blm.gov
greg.taylor@idwr.idaho.gov
twerner@postfallsidaho.org
rodney.e.zion@usace.army.mil
jeri.delange@deq.idaho.gov
rhanson@deq.idaho.gov
rstevens@cdatribe-nsn.gov
andy.mork@deq.idaho.gov
moreen.ed@epa.gov
adams.bill@epa.gov
jerry.boyd@painehamblen.com
Alternative formats are available. For reasonable
accommodation, please call Debra Sherbina at
(800) 424-4372, ext. 0247. TTY users, please call
the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
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