THE DIRT: Understanding the work throughout Burke Pt. 1

Many of you have witnessed the massive amount of work taking place in Canyon Creek, near Burke. Cleanup of historic mine waste, as part of the Bunker Hill Superfund Site (BHSS) selected remedy, has begun for this area.

Cleanup methods for the Bunker Hill Superfund Site are documented in the Records of Decision or RODs. In simple terms, the RODs provide direction for cleanup actions implemented on the site. All superfund sites have one or multiple RODs, which highlight the history of the site, provide a description of alternatives for site cleanup, and give the rationale for chosen cleanup methods, cost estimates, and responses to any public comments received. The BHSS has four RODs that document how the cleanup should proceed. The Upper Basin, where Canyon Creek and Burke are located, utilizes the 2012 ROD Amendment.

The Canyon Creek area is one of the most contaminated areas upstream of the Box. The Box is the 21 square mile at the BHSS that surrounds the former smelter complex. Canyon Creek has 127 source areas from 70 historical mines and 13 historical mills which produced 35,000,000 tons of ore and 27,000,000 tons of tailings during their operational lifetimes. Historic mining practices resulted in the direct discharge of tailings, or waste, from mining and milling operations into the South Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River and its tributaries. This did not end until 1968. The largest source of dissolved metals loading to the river is the discharge from the Canyon Creek Drainage.

The selected remedy is expected to result in significant improvements to surface water quality in the Upper Basin. Areas that present exposure risk to people from contaminated mine wastes are the highest priority. Following the implementation of remedial actions, the health of Upper Basin fisheries is expected to improve dramatically. Cleanup will expand the recreational use of riparian areas and allow potential development. In addition to cleanup work, stormwater controls will be implemented to reduce potential recontamination. Most importantly, the selected remedy will reduce human health risks associated with exposure to contaminated mine waste materials.

As the cleanup efforts at Canyon Creek progress, it’s essential to understand the scope of work planned for the next phases. Part 2 will cover the specific strategies being used to tackle the remaining contaminated areas, including the methodologies for stormwater control, soil remediation, and ecosystem restoration. We’ll also explore the steps being taken to monitor the environmental impact of these efforts and ensure long-term safety for the surrounding communities and wildlife.

The Dirt is a series of informative articles focused on all aspects of cleanup efforts associated with the Bunker Hill Superfund Site. Our goal is to promote community awareness of contamination issues, to provide tools for protecting public health, and to keep the community informed of current and future cleanup projects. The Dirt is a group of committed and local experts from multiple agencies including the Basin Environmental Improvement Project Commission, Panhandle Health District, Shoshone County, Silver Valley Economic Development Corporation, and the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality.