Thursday, April 12, 2007
April 12 Meeting
The meeting lasted 3 hours. An audio CD will be available from Nettie at the Commissioner's Office. There will be a fee for the CD. You might want to contact the office first to make sure the CD's are ready. The Commissioner's Office is on the second floor, at the back end of the Courthouse behind the elevator. The phone number is 684-3751.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Testing, Testing
This crew from URS is testing the side of Brooks Road. The road has been mapped out and they test both sides and the center of the road every 250 feet. They take samples every 500 feet. The person writing down the results has the GPS hand held unit to be sure they are at the right spot.
The results from the samples will be compared with readings on the machine being pressed against the dirt. The cross testing is to insure the machine is getting accurate readings. Then they can test anywhere just by pressing the machine against the dirt. I watched 3 readings while I was talking with the crew. Each one took a little over a minute to do.
Once the machine readings are confirmed by lab results, it will be much faster for them to test, and they can test anywhere they can take this machine. It is about the size of hand held blender.
Earlier I had been out walking and spoke with them, the vacuum crew and one of the drivers of a County grader. They seem to be working the road as a unit.
The road has already been marked with spray paint colored arrows for the vacuum crew. The testing crew seems to be the supervisors. The grader comes along behind and cleans up anything the testing crew finds on this pass up the road.
While I was out for my walk, the County Road Crew had to do some grading because the machine found some lead at one spot.
I have to admit, this is the first time I am beginning to feel comfortable with the clean up efforts.
It seems to be very thorough. And this is just the preliminary work!
Roadside clean-up crew.
This crew is vacuuming up the side of Brooks Road in places that it would be hard for the grader to get. One crewman said he expected to spend a week to a week and a half on the job.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Road
The County is still working at removing material from Peterson Swamp Road. They continue to work 12 hour days 6 days a week. The water truck sprays both Peterson Swamp Road and Brooks Road, as well as the intersections where the trucks turn (eg - Evans Cutoff & Williams Lake Roads)
Sue Sue RUMORS
Rumors are NOT true. No one is filing a law suit. Attorney Summer Stahl is not filing a law suit and DOES NOT PLAN to file a law suit. BJ is not filing a law suit - she consulted an attorney about information gathering, not suing anyone.
Please put those rumors to rest - gone and buried. Erin Brokovitch does not live in Stevens County, and we are doing just fine, thanks.
Please put those rumors to rest - gone and buried. Erin Brokovitch does not live in Stevens County, and we are doing just fine, thanks.
Health Concerns
The Department of Ecology is recommending that floors should be vacuumed frequently and damp mopping/dusting be done to be sure the dust is controlled as much as possible.
Also, make provisions for a place to wipe shoes BEFORE entering the house.
And although it is a big hassle for those of us who have country chores, maybe leaving the shoes outside or in an entry way wouldn't be such a bad plan until we get the crud gone.
Also, make provisions for a place to wipe shoes BEFORE entering the house.
And although it is a big hassle for those of us who have country chores, maybe leaving the shoes outside or in an entry way wouldn't be such a bad plan until we get the crud gone.
Water Test Results
The test results of at least 3 homes on Brooks Road, including 2 dug wells, (one is right by the road) show very small amounts of zinc - well below accepted levels, and no lead.
This is good news. Hopefully it will stay that way.
The test results of the road have not yet been received.
A private test of road material sampled near the upper end of Brooks road, and in the field & driveway came back with levels up to 3800 ppm. The accepted level is 250 ppm.
The DOE study of the bonanza mine tailing sites showed samples ranging from 4000 ppm to 10,000 ppm. (PPM = parts per million)
This is good news. Hopefully it will stay that way.
The test results of the road have not yet been received.
A private test of road material sampled near the upper end of Brooks road, and in the field & driveway came back with levels up to 3800 ppm. The accepted level is 250 ppm.
The DOE study of the bonanza mine tailing sites showed samples ranging from 4000 ppm to 10,000 ppm. (PPM = parts per million)
Report
1) The Department of Ecology Report on the two mine tailing sites from the Bonanza Mine is now available at the Colville Public Library. This report also includes the information from the air test done to check the hazards to the County workers.
The complete cost of this report is $6.75, BUT, you probably don't want all of the report, and the Library will charge by the page if you only want part of it.
I apologize for misleading information about the price. I forgot that the cost of copies had gone up, but it is still cheaper than getting it from DPW.
See Amanda's comments on the previous post.
2) By now you should have gotten a post card from the DPW and a letter from the Northeast Tri County Health District.
It is addressed to "
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
We made the front page of the Statesman Examiner - but no new information.
The DOE report of the mine tailings is now available at the library. It has been delivered, but the head librarian is out of the Colville Branch today. If you want a copy, it will probably cost $4-$5 dollars, but you can read it. I'll try to get it posted.
RUMOR RESPONSE: The road might possibly be paved or chip sealed, but nothing will happen before the meeting April 12, per Jim Whitbread.
The road crews are currently working from both ends of Peterson Swamp Road, so some of them are going down Clugston Creek Road to get to Williams Lake Road & then back to the mine site.
The County Commissioners signed the contract with URS, but it hasn't made it through all of it's signing.
The testing crew was out again today. The took samples of my water & my driveway. If you want to get your water/driveway tested, call the DPW and ask to get on their list. They come up once a week.
The DOE report of the mine tailings is now available at the library. It has been delivered, but the head librarian is out of the Colville Branch today. If you want a copy, it will probably cost $4-$5 dollars, but you can read it. I'll try to get it posted.
RUMOR RESPONSE: The road might possibly be paved or chip sealed, but nothing will happen before the meeting April 12, per Jim Whitbread.
The road crews are currently working from both ends of Peterson Swamp Road, so some of them are going down Clugston Creek Road to get to Williams Lake Road & then back to the mine site.
The County Commissioners signed the contract with URS, but it hasn't made it through all of it's signing.
The testing crew was out again today. The took samples of my water & my driveway. If you want to get your water/driveway tested, call the DPW and ask to get on their list. They come up once a week.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Additional Public Records Requested:
1) Road Waivers for Brooks, Peterson Swamp, Queen of Sheba Roads - which will show how wide the County right of way is on each piece of ground. They vary from 20 to 60 feet. Most will probably be 40 feet wide (20 in each side of the center line) Many have never been recorded with the County Auditor, but are on micro-fiche at the DPW - and yes, the road is still a public road. These road waivers were generally signed in the early 1900's by the landowners to give the County permission to create the roads.
2) ALL RECORDS held by DPW on the roads in question.
Again, these records will be made available to the Public by those requesting them - probably at the Colville Library, so don't bother to request them. (Save yourself some money)
The consensus at the meeting Sunday was to get the road fixed and find out about the health issues right now. Any other issues will be handled later.
RUMOR The mine tailings were packed around the culverts on Bonanza Road when they were worked on last fall.
1) Road Waivers for Brooks, Peterson Swamp, Queen of Sheba Roads - which will show how wide the County right of way is on each piece of ground. They vary from 20 to 60 feet. Most will probably be 40 feet wide (20 in each side of the center line) Many have never been recorded with the County Auditor, but are on micro-fiche at the DPW - and yes, the road is still a public road. These road waivers were generally signed in the early 1900's by the landowners to give the County permission to create the roads.
2) ALL RECORDS held by DPW on the roads in question.
Again, these records will be made available to the Public by those requesting them - probably at the Colville Library, so don't bother to request them. (Save yourself some money)
The consensus at the meeting Sunday was to get the road fixed and find out about the health issues right now. Any other issues will be handled later.
RUMOR The mine tailings were packed around the culverts on Bonanza Road when they were worked on last fall.
Monday, April 2, 2007
Meeting CONFIRMED. April 12, 6:30 p.m. Stevens County Ag Building.
Jim Matsuyama said about 1 hour from DOE & then DPW.
If you don't get notified, please let me know, as I supplied the addresses to Tri County Health.
The following reports have been requested:
From the Commissioners: The Contract with URS Engineering for Phase I.
From DPW: 1)All of the testing done on the roads so far, and results.
2) All of the road waivers, showing the width of the road.
If you have requested any documentation from a public agency, please let me know so that BJ, Pete and I don't re-invent the wheel - or spend money on something that is already available.
You have to fill out the form the agency uses, and there probably will be a charge.
RUMOR: Per a road employee on Brooks Road, they will pave the road.
Because Jim Whitbread is the one to make the decisions, this stays as a Rumor until more information is forthcoming. Please only refer to it as a rumor if you pass it on.
Jim Matsuyama said about 1 hour from DOE & then DPW.
If you don't get notified, please let me know, as I supplied the addresses to Tri County Health.
The following reports have been requested:
From the Commissioners: The Contract with URS Engineering for Phase I.
From DPW: 1)All of the testing done on the roads so far, and results.
2) All of the road waivers, showing the width of the road.
If you have requested any documentation from a public agency, please let me know so that BJ, Pete and I don't re-invent the wheel - or spend money on something that is already available.
You have to fill out the form the agency uses, and there probably will be a charge.
RUMOR: Per a road employee on Brooks Road, they will pave the road.
Because Jim Whitbread is the one to make the decisions, this stays as a Rumor until more information is forthcoming. Please only refer to it as a rumor if you pass it on.
Sunday, April 1, 2007
4-1-07
Residents of Brooks, Peterson Swamp, Queen of Sheba, Evans Cutoff & Bonanza Roads meet for about 2 hours this afternoon.
Pete shared information based on questions raised at the last meeting.
1-If you have health issues that are directly related to the road contact the County Commissioners' office. (684-3751)
2-There will be a meeting April 12. It is TENTATIVELY set for the County Ag Building. You should be getting a letter from the County on this. If not, I will post a copy of the letter here to make the information available.
3-Phase I of the Project (get the road clean) has moved over to Peterson Swamp Road. They scraped a lot of the stuff off the road, and this afternoon it was still in piles on part of the road. They will be scooping it up and continuing the removal when they start again tomorrow morning.
4-Phase II water, ditches, driveways banks etc. How far & how deep will be determined by testing.
5-URS Engineering is doing the testing and planning for the clean up. They are a global engineering firm with a section devoted to environmental issues.
Jim Matsuyama requested a list of parties to contact, so he will be able to get the letters out from the Health District.
Reports will be available on this site soon, so you don't need to try to find them.
Some of us have a long list of assignments from the group to be accomplished before the April 12 meeting.
Residents of Brooks, Peterson Swamp, Queen of Sheba, Evans Cutoff & Bonanza Roads meet for about 2 hours this afternoon.
Pete shared information based on questions raised at the last meeting.
1-If you have health issues that are directly related to the road contact the County Commissioners' office. (684-3751)
2-There will be a meeting April 12. It is TENTATIVELY set for the County Ag Building. You should be getting a letter from the County on this. If not, I will post a copy of the letter here to make the information available.
3-Phase I of the Project (get the road clean) has moved over to Peterson Swamp Road. They scraped a lot of the stuff off the road, and this afternoon it was still in piles on part of the road. They will be scooping it up and continuing the removal when they start again tomorrow morning.
4-Phase II water, ditches, driveways banks etc. How far & how deep will be determined by testing.
5-URS Engineering is doing the testing and planning for the clean up. They are a global engineering firm with a section devoted to environmental issues.
Jim Matsuyama requested a list of parties to contact, so he will be able to get the letters out from the Health District.
Reports will be available on this site soon, so you don't need to try to find them.
Some of us have a long list of assignments from the group to be accomplished before the April 12 meeting.
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