HAZARD: Public needs warnings

The primary purpose of this letter is to get the attention of public officials and citizens living downstream in the Coeur d'Alene Basin Bunker Hill Superfund site. Those include communities of Coeur d'Alene on into Spokane.

Back on Jan. 19, 2011, the upstream rivers and tributaries were rising to record flood levels. According to the USGS, more than 160 metric tons of lead mine waste flowed downstream to the towns of Harrison, Coeur d'Alene and Spokane. The lead came from the upstream 1,500-square-mile Superfund site before being deposited at the Old Mission Repository that is presently under water and has been since January.

This repository is creating a health risk to all the people who live and will be recreating in the area. Fishing, hiking and wildlife that live in the area are also at risk to lead poisoning. Idaho's governor declared a state of emergency for Shoshone and Benewah counties that are part of the Superfund site.

I'm not aware of EPA or IDEQ alerting the public to the health risk throughout the region. Address concerns to Lisa Jackson, EPA Administrator, [email protected] or 202-564-4700.

BOB COLONNA

Spokane