Superfund work set to continue
As the weather begins to turn toward consistently warmer temperatures, public works projects across the county are ramping up despite the COVID-19 situation.
Both the EPA as well as the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (IDEQ) have projects slated to begin soon and despite having to adjust various aspects of their operations to accommodate safer work conditions, most of those projects are staying on schedule.
“Decisions about continuing on-site work are being made on a case-by-case basis,” said Mark MacIntyre, EPA spokesperson. “We are working closely with our local, state and tribal partners to evaluate options for continuing site work or securing sites, especially in areas where local COVID-19 health declarations are in effect.”
For example, at the new Central Treatment Plant and Groundwater Collection System project in Kellogg, Wood (the U.S. Army Corps. of Engineers’ Prime Contractor) is continuing to perform work under the contract, but recently has elected to postpone a couple of work features due to COVID-19 risk mitigation.
Treatment operations have not been affected in any way and precautions are being taken to prevent COVID-19 exposure for operators and it is EPA’s goal is to have work proceed as safely as possible while still maintaining the current proposed schedule.
Also scheduled to begin in the area is the new Canyon Complex Repository/Waste Consolidation Area (WCA), in Canyon Creek.
The work is being completed by the Coeur d’Alene Work Trust, who will be constructing a new repository foundation near the site of the former SVNRT repository.
Work crews will remove and stockpile fill soil for use as future capping material at the new repository.
The EPA has also been conducting annual river monitoring and wetland sampling, which is once again underway, employing safe distancing practices.
However, boat-based flood monitoring is still a question mark for this season, since there are now additional layers of safety concerns for vessel operators, samplers and hydrology engineers who normally function as a waterborne team.
“As we adjust to the evolving COVID-19 situation, EPA is making decisions about ongoing Superfund cleanup activity with the health and safety of communities, EPA staff, state and tribal partners, and contractors as top priority,” MacIntyre said. “EPA wants to stress that its ability to respond to environmental emergencies at Superfund sites, or any other environmental emergency where our assistance is sought by state, tribal or local partners, remains unaffected and undeterred.”
While the EPA’s projects usually happen outside the regular scope of the public eye, IDEQ’s projects are more public and IDEQ’s Kellogg Remediation Program Manager Dan McCracken has made sure that his office has taken all of the necessary steps to ensure not only the safety of his crews, but also that the work being done in the public will also adhere to the recommended public health and safety guidelines.
“Public Works construction is considered an essential activity under the governor’s current order, which has allowed Paved Roads Remediation Work and Repository Construction and Operations to continue,” McCracken said. “We have modified our office operations so that most of our general office work is being completed remotely. Our field work for sampling, inspections, construction oversight, and environmental monitoring are continuing with modified health and safety procedures to maintain social distancing and follow health guidelines.”
According to McCracken all of the proposed remediation projects for the 2020 season are proceeding as planned and include paved roads projects on Bunker Avenue, Wildcat Way and Hill Street (north end) in Kellogg.
Shoshone County will be doing paved roads remediation work on 25 road segments primarily around Kingston, and outside the city limits of Osburn and Wallace.
The county may also be doing some sealcoating on another 20-25 roads near Kingston, Pine Creek, and outside city limits of Wallace and Mullan.