EPA looks to unlock Superfund dollars for Columbia River site in northeast Washington
In a pocket of northeast Washington, years of pollution from a giant smelter complex just north of the Canadian border has left Columbia River sediment and surrounding soil contaminated with lead, arsenic, and other hazardous metals.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Tuesday it is proposing to add the area to what’s known as the National Priorities List, which would unlock cleanup funding through the federal Superfund Program. The Upper Columbia River site — as it’s called by the EPA — covers about 150 miles along the Columbia River, from the Grand Coulee Dam to the U.S.-Canada border.
Gov. Jay Inslee endorsed the federal agency’s plan. “The legacy of contamination and risks to human health and the environment justify adding the site to the National Priorities List. It is time to turn needed attention to clean up,” he said in a statement.
Jarred-Michael Erickson, chairman of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation and Gregory Abrahamson, chairman of the Spokane Tribal Business Council also voiced support.
https://washingtonstatestandard.com/briefs/epa-looks-to-unlock-superfund-dollars-for-columbia-river-site-in-northeast-washington/