Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
River water near county deemed safe
DAVENPORT — The Lincoln County Commissioners heard a presentation from two members of the Environmental Protection Agency offering updates on the Upper Columbia River Site Remedial Investigation, which is studying contamination in the river and “affected uplands areas.”
The study is covering 150 miles along the Columbia River from Grand Coulee Dam to the Canadian border.
An initial human health risk assessment found “elevated concentrations of lead” in soil. Past studies, meanwhile, have found metals like arsenic, lead, cadmium, copper, mercury and zinc, while the Colville Confederated Tribes petitioned for an assessment in Aug. 1999, according to the EPA website.
The current investigation is learning how the area can be cleaned and whether there is health risk to both humans and ecology, Robert Tann of the EPA told the commissioners Monday, Aug. 7.
The investigation has concluded that fish in the river are safe to consume, with low lead levels found in most species aside from largescale suckers.
State Dept. of Health fish advisories are in place for groups sensitive to methylmercury and dioxins, Tann said. Authorities are urging caution eating largescale sucker and largemouth bass.
Public beaches and the river itself are safe for recreation, except for Bossburg Flat, a beach north of Kettle Falls that’s closed due to high lead levels.
“Risk to outdoor workers is minimal,” Tann said.
The predominant “human health risk” isn’t in Lincoln County at all, Tann and Monica Tonel of the EPA said. Upland soil studies have found harmful levels of lead on some residential properties near Northport, however.
EPA Region 10 is considering proposing the Upper Columbia River site for inclusion on the National Priorities list, which would make it a superfund site.
Commissioner Jo Gilchrist questioned whether the stretch the river from Grand Coulee through Lincoln County could be removed from the study.
Tann didn’t give a yes or no response and eventually landed on an answer, saying “if over the course of the investigation, we could remove portions from the site…the preliminary timeline (for completion) is in 2026.”
Gilchrist indicated concern with the stigma of Lincoln County farms being irrigated with water from a superfund site.
“It could have broad-reaching financial implications,” Commissioner Rob Coffman agreed.
Drew Lawson is the editor of the Davenport Times. He is a graduate of Eastern Washington University.
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