BETTERVIEW

Cleanup to Start in East Fork Ninemile; Watch for Traffic Here is an example of still another toxic waste dump being created in the epicenter of the Bunker Hill Superfund Site. Technically it may be a mile or so removed from the “BOX” or original 21 sq. miles. Nevertheless the message is one of a warning to residents who may be living in the area to watch out for heavy equipment as well as other risks to those who live in the area. Every indication is revealed that dangerous contamination is being dug up and transferred to another location close by. The part about “securing” the lead and heavy metals, which amount to God only knows how many years and dump truck loads is being place in a smaller, managed location to keep it from being moved downstream? Everything runs down stream whether it be isolated i.e. out of the radar of affected citizens visibility but not out of the danger of  fugitive windblown dust. Why was permanent waste disposal never discussed to the public?  In a...

In the nation’s largest lead Superfund site, Bunker Hill, a 1500 square mile, an EPA designated NPL area stretching from the Idaho, Montana border on into Washington State, children are not running very well. The lead testing of children is being compromised. Not only are thousands of children not being tested by a multitude of government agencies including the Environmental Protection Agency there are serious repercussions for anyone speaking out about lead and the health problems exposure can cause. In desperation the Silver Valley Community Resource Center a 25 year old non-profit organization whose board and members represent six generations of families living in the area with chronic lead poisoned health conditions reached out to begin a Community Lead Health Project in the summer of 2012. The project began on a small scale with 3 families and five children. Out of the five children tested two were found with elevated lead levels. SVCRC and its outside networking support followed...