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Department of Ecology News Release - May 1, 2008
08-107
SPOKANE - Toxic metals in the shoreline sediments on the north side of the Spokane River at Harvard Road will be cleaned up this summer after the public has an opportunity to review and comment on the project.
The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) is proposing to clean up lead, arsenic, zinc, and cadmium at the site. These metals washed downstream from the Coeur d’Alene basin mining district because of past mining practices and settled along the upper Spokane River.
The site covers less than one acre and lies along the northern bank of the Spokane River. It is nearly three miles west of the Idaho state line and immediately west of the Harvard Road Bridge. The area is used for recreation and access to the Spokane River.
The proposed cleanup would take place late this summer and fall. The river recreation and access area will be closed to the public during construction. Signs will be placed near the site to alert the public about the project and safety issues.
“Our Toxics Cleanup Program continues to make sure real, on-the-ground shoreline cleanup work is continuing,” said Mike Hibbler who manages Ecology’s toxics cleanup program in Eastern Washington. “These ongoing sediment cleanups are among a series of Ecology-supported actions the public can expect to see over the next several years to bring the river back to being a place we can all enjoy.”
The Harvard Road North cleanup project is needed because metal contamination levels exceed standards established for protection of human health and the environment.
Ecology proposes to replace contaminated soil with clean soil on the north side of the river to prevent people, fish and wildlife from being exposed to lead, arsenic, zinc and cadmium. A protective cap of clean sand and gravel would be placed on the lower portion of the river bank where contaminants will not be removed. The cap is designed to prevent people and wildlife from exposure. In addition, contractors will build an improved boat launch.
This is the fourth project so far to clean up metals at contaminated sites along the river in Washington. Ecology completed cleanup at Island Complex and Murray Road recreation areas in 2007. In 2006, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Ecology completed cleanup work at Starr Road (a small recreational area between Island Complex and Murray Road).
The EPA originally conducted a study of mining contaminants in the Coeur d’Alene basin. As part of that study, and additional testing by Ecology, nine shoreline areas in Washington state were selected to be cleaned up.
Citizens can review and comment on the documents associated with the Harvard Road North cleanup between April 30 through May 30, 2008, at the Department of Ecology, 4601 N. Monroe St., Spokane, WA 99205, by calling Johnnie Landis at 509-329-3415. They also can be reviewed at the Argonne County Library, the Spokane Valley Library, and the Spokane Public Library downtown.
The documents also are available online at: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/tcp/sites/harvardRoadN/hrn_hp.htm
Comments should be sent to Zach Hedgpeth at 4601 N. Monroe, Spokane, WA 99205-1295 or by e-mail at zahe@ecy.wa.gov.
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Media Contact: Jani Gilbert, communications, 509-329-3495; cell, 509-990-9177; e-mail jagi461@ecy.wa.gov
Toxics Cleanup Program : http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/tcp/sites/sites.html
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
