Thoughts on EPA and the local environment
I couldn’t help but laugh when I noticed that the last print edition of the News-Press to be home delivered had a story about EPA’s disaster in Colorado last year!
It reminded me of the reason behind why Wallace came up with the idea to “become” The Center of the Universe. For those readers who need a reminder, it boils down to the EPA computer models on the lead hazards in the Silver Valley being so flawed that the townspeople thought that a little “thumbing-of-the-nose” would be a pretty humorous response. A better choice of words would be “chronically inept.”
The refusal by the EPA to accurately differentiate the health effects between unrefined sources of lead like Galena and smelted lead is a classic case where a partial truth is a thousand times worse than a vicious lie.
I was delighted when Donald Trump threatened to drastically cut back the EPA funding. While I didn’t vote for either of the two leading candidates, I am glad to see that the winner has at least one priority right!
Quite some time back I suggested what I believed was a great idea to reduce the EPA budget. Since Libby Montana was seeking a lot of help from the EPA, I proposed that they arrange to get a couple FEMA trailers moved to town and have the EPA’s Region 10 office relocate from Seattle to those trailers. That way EPA staff members would have to face the victims who were suffering from EPA’s inadequate attention on a daily basis!
In a previous letter to the editor, I went to great length to relate how extensive my exposure to Galena Ore and mill tailings was, and how low my blood levels were when I moved on from mining to other pursuits. This paper even printed a photo of me licking a specimen of Galena as I attempted to drive home the absurdity of EPA’s scare tactics. I also related some physical accomplishments not normally associated with a severely “poisoned” body. I thin and update is in order.
Last Memorial Day weekend, I decided to take a break from my normally busy schedule to do some bike riding. I was 70 years old at the time, and a great-grandfather to two energetic young boys.
My plans for Saturday of the long weekend was to ride from the top of lookout pass to the town of Hot Springs, Montana, a distance of about 85 miles. I covered 82 miles, deciding to stop where Montany Highways 382 and 28 meet. The town of Hot Springs was visible in the distance.
The next day I parked by the site of the old Last Chance Bar above Mullan, rode and walked my wife’s 44 pound mountain bike to the top of Lookout following old Highway 10, the Willow Creek Road and the railroad grade and back in two hours and ten minutes. I then made the round trip from there to the ball field in Mullan in another ten minutes. Total time, two hours and 20 minutes. Not a bad time for a person my size in any age group, let alone being 70! To round out the 3-day event, I rode another 60 miles on Memorial Day, tackling numerous hills along the way. It’s also not bad for someone with 30% loss of lung function due to Silica dust from the mines.
In all fairness, I might add that I am not opposed to environmental concerns. I believe I do a much better job of reusing and recycling than a substantial number of EPA employees. I frequently clean out my creek channel to help prevent washouts, and follow good energy conservation practices. However, I’m not so locked into that mentality that I shy away from being critical of the EPA wherever it deserves it!
I also want to respond to those critical of the repository west of Cataldo. During the 1974 flood, the water was high enough to cover the freeway on-ramps. I’ve seen photos of the 1933 flood, which appears to have been much worse. I certainly agree with those who think that the Cataldo area is a foolish place to put that so-called “polluted” soil.
A truly clear thinking person would probably state that unless there is identifiable smelted lead present, the best place for that soil is to leave it where it is!
Sincerely
John Amonson
Wallace, Idaho