Silver Valley
Community Resource Center
PROTECT YOUR COMMUNITY NOW AND FOR THE FUTURE. TEST FOR LEAD EXPOSURE.
JOIN MORE THAN 2500 PEOPLE WHO HAVE ASKED THAT THE TOXIC DUMP AT HISTORIC CATALDO MISSION BE STOPPED. PLEASE READ AND SIGN OUR PETITION ONLINE OR stop by the SVCRC office to sign it in person.
BE INFORMED: Follow SVCRC on facebook and twitter
"AS A TRIBAL MEMBER OF THE CDA TRIBE I AM THE 5TH GENERATION (OFF) OF THE TRIBAL MEMBERS THAT BUILT THE MISSION, AND GO BACK EVERY YEAR ON AUG 15. IT IS MY HOME, AND MY HEART. IF IT WAS TO BE, THAT IS THE PLACE THAT I WISH TO BE LAID TO REST."
Calvin Nomee, Coeur d'Alene Tribe
Breaking News - March 2013
SVCRC wishes to extend a grateful thank you to Roseanne Barr for her willingness to allow us to acknowledge her support for the people of the Silver Valley, especially the children, who breathe in toxic dust daily. Kudos, Roseanne. @TheRealRoseanne
February 2013 -
Regarding “Responsible water policy a must for area’s future” (Jan. 16):
17 February, Spokesman Review
I sincerely hope that any Washington state future water policies include a plan for elimination of tons of lead and heavy metal mine waste still being washed downstream from the Bunker Hill Superfund site, of which Spokane is included.
The repositories such as the one constructed at the Old Mission at Cataldo are unnecessary. They are also being built in the floodplains of the Upper Basin and are only contributing to the serious pollution problem.
Bob Colonna
Kellogg
SVCRC, the only non-profit organization working in the Bunker Hill Superfund site for environmental cleanup and human health lead testing, was contacted by Terragraphics, a Moscow, Idaho engineering firm. This firm, owned by the person who used SVCRC research in getting the Bunker Hill Superfund site listed and for his PhD thesis, this past week had a staff person from his firm notify SVCRC that they could not make a contribution to this non-profit organization because of "a conflict of interest".
Strange?
Terragraphics is paid millions of dollars for environmental cleanup. They have no professional health background are always taking on a role of some sort with the local health department and lead testing?
Even more strange is the fact that they have spoken against the work of Dr. Sue Moodie of Johns Hopkins who worked with SVCRC for the benefit of this community, and they are intervening for lead poisoned children in Africa.
SEE BELOW: NO SETTLEMENT MONEY FOR LEAD SCREENING NOVEMBER 2012
January 2013 -
SVCRC Director Barbara Miller delivered a presentation on the topic of the Cleanup at Bunker Hill Superfund Site.
This event was sponsored by the North Idaho Democratic Club, Friday, January 18, at noon Ironhouse Restuarant on Sherman Avenue in Coeur d'Alene.
December 2012
Lead Expert Passes Away in New York
Word was received by Silver Valley Community Resource Center on Monday, that Dr. John Rosen, Professor Pediatrics and Head of the Division of Environmental Sciences Lead Program, at the Montefiore Medical Center in New York had passed away.
"There are not words to describe what this kind, always compassionate humanitarian did for the betterment of the world, especially children", said Barbara Miller, director of the SVCRC.
Dr. Rosen spent years working with families and lead issues in the Silver Valley since the late 1990's. He was instrumental in working with Robert Huntley, attorney in a legal action that had to be taken for enforcement of mandated lead testing of Medicaid children for the State of Idaho. He went on to assist representatives of the lawsuit with the establishment of the Idaho Medicaid Lead Oversight committee.
"He demonstrated his care of lead issues in the Bunker Hill Superfund site over and over again he never failed to return a call or participate with ongoing education and outreach for the families of generations who are being exposed to lead everyday", said Dr. Bob Colonna, Ph.D and colleague of Dr. Rosen's.
One of the last conversations SVCRC had with the good Doctor, he was on his way to JFK airport to return the Ambassador and his wife to China after having lunch. Dr. Rosen was very instrumental in opening doors and creating the need for lead education and outreach in that country. He worked every single day of his life to reinforce the need for childhood lead testing and active health intervention. As a result of knowing him and implementing his vast knowledge, SVCRC has in hand a blueprint for a Community Lead Health Center, badly needed in the Silver Valley.
Anyone wanting to make contribution to the Lead Health Center in the Silver Valley can send their donation to SVCRC, PO Box 362, Kellogg, ID 83837, call the office, 208-784-8891. More facts can be checked out on the website, www://silvervalleyaction.comFormal funeral arrangements will be forthcoming.
November 29, 2012
NO SETTLEMENT FUNDS FOR LEAD SCREENING:
Kellogg and Smelterville to receive settlement funds for street repair.
While these communities will receive 16 and 6 million dollars respectively, EPA advises that all the communities in the Superfund site will receive money. While Kellogg has previously received money from EPA for road work the roads remain in poor condition.
In a meeting today with SVCRC representatives EPA'S community liaison made no reference to money set aside from the settlement for health and lead screening, follow up care or case management.
Children are not being tested according to established guidelines and elevated levels are being found in children.
There is NO safe level of lead.
SEE DICK SHULTZ QUOTE BELOW
The Idaho Medicaid Advisory Committee has met since 2006 on a quarterly basis. The mission of the committee, established by court action, is to advise the Medicaid program on ways to improve blood lead testing of children. Improvements have been made but screening rates remain low and there is no consistent state wide reporting of lead levels. The committee is not able to document lead testing results throughout the state.
"As mentioned in the meeting, an important reason to have all blood lead levels reported is to provide the denominator we have been missing to determine the percentage of kids with high blood lead levels. Not having this data has been one of the barriers in getting lead funding for our state." Advisory Committee Member
November 14, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Respected Researcher Defines Sensitive Health Issues at Bunker Hill/CD'A Superfund Site
--Kellogg, ID
The Silver Valley Community Resource Center, a 25 year old non-profit organization working with agency and affected citizens to address lead health and cleanup actions at the nation's largest Superfund site, recently learned that well respected researchers have been made to defend their work. Dr. Sue Moodie, Johns Hopkins University, and Dr. Ellen Silbergild, Boston, Massachusetts, who in 2010 coauthored in cooperation with affected citizens, "Community and family-level factors influence care-giver choice to screen blood lead levels of children in a mining community", were the object of retaliation. This study prompted the 2011 research report, "Ethical Issues in Using Children's Blood Lead Levels as a Remedial Action Objective". For years SVCRC has been stepping out to educate families, schools, medical practitioners and agencies about the importance of having children's blood lead levels tested.
Citizens are aware of how EPA Region X and the local office of Idaho's Panhandle Health District have been using the low number of children tested to determine remedial cleanup action taking place in the epicenter of the Bunker Hill Superfund site. In a response back to agency representatives who are on record as challenging the 2011 study, Dr. Moodie pointed out and graciously stated that "out of the 475 children in Shoshone County who are mandated by Federal Medicaid law to be tested for lead, only 13 were tested in 2010 by the Panhandle Health District. Statewide, out of 65,000 Medicaid eligible children, less than 1500 have been tested in the same time frame.
SVCRC members have repeatedly brought the issues of human health and importance of getting children tested to agency representatives over the years only to experience indifference from EPA, the State of Idaho, TerraGraphics, and the local Panhandle Health District.
"This is just another example of EPA Region X ignoring issues, similar to their ignoring the public outcry of hundreds of citizens opposing the dumping of toxic waste at the Old Mission National Historic site" said Dr. Bob Colonna, long time consultant for SVCRC. "It's time for all concerned parties to realize the importance of this cleanup and get a unified plan of action to clean up the mine waste and address the chronic human health issues of the six generations of families. Thirty years of moving contamination around is not solving the problem".
From the legal action against the State of Idaho: Statement of Dick Shultz from the Idaho Health and Welfare Department when he was testifying at the Idaho Medicaid Lead Testing US Circuit Court hearing in Boise, 2003:
"Only four studies of lead poisoning have been performed in Idaho since 1993. None of these studies were performed in response to Medicaid requirements. The studies of lead poisoning done in Idaho were done on such small numbers of participants that the findings of the studies are not viewed as valid."
Nov. 5, 2012
To all who assisted with Lead Awareness and Let's Make a Difference Day:
Thank you!
For the contributions of SVCRC board and members, ABC Business, Dave Smith and the Children Run Better Unleaded van work to the parents and grandparents who made appointments to have their children tested, Dirne Clinic who brought the mobile unit, Michael from the National Lead Awareness Center, sponsors, Shoshone Medical Center, CAP agency and University of Washington Superfund Research Project to the wonderful members especially Edie of the Smelterville Lion's Club and Lois White for her delicious cookies and to all those who turned out to support the fundraiser.
Who says people in the Silver Valley don't want to make a difference in their community!
Sincerely,
Shane Stancik
SVCRC Board Member
Children Run Better Unleaded!
Please join with SVCRC to welcome the "LEAD VAN" graciously donated by supporters of our work. Thank you as well to DAVE SMITH MOTORS in Kellogg for the great art work.
Continuing Concerns
EPA continues deceit to Bunker Hill Superfund site residents about flooding and downstream pollution at the Old Mission Repository.
Close down the Mission Repository - Why is EPA not listening to 2500 affected citizens and national groups?
The Mission Repository has Failed.
The Coeur d'Alene River has been continuously flooding and is carrying toxic mine waste downstream. Those living downstream in Coeur d'Alene and Spokane are at risk of record amounts of toxic mine water flowing into their communities.
Please see new photos on Facebook
Contact EPA and Lisa Jackson to STOP the Mission Repository
Please call Lisa Jackson at EPA and let her know that now is the time to STOP THE MISSION REPOSITORY.
Lisa Jackson, EPA Administrator: 202-564-4700
Jackson.Lisap@epa.gov
Archaeologists question survey work that allowed repository near Old Mission
For more than three years SVCRC has inquired into issues of historical preservation and archeological requirements surrounding the toxic mine waste dump site at Cataldo Mission.
During this effort the organization was subjected to EPA and IDEQ attacks beccause of this inquiry. Now others question this as well.
THE MISSION REPOSITORY HAS FAILED
ED MOREEN, EPA REGION X, can no longer tell news reporters or affected citizens "the water is actually cleaner when it flows back into the river" referring to the January flooding and the Mission Repository!
January Flooding: Worst Coeur d’Alene Basin Contamination in Years
From the 2003 legal action, statement of Dick Shultz from Idaho Health and Welfare Department when he was testifying at the Idaho Medicaid lead testing US Circuit Court hearing in Boise, 2003:
Archaeologists question repository near Old Mission
"Only four studies of lead poisoning have been performed in Idaho since 1993. None of these studies were performed in response to Medicaid requirements. The studies of lead poisoning done in Idaho were done on such small numbers of participants that the findings of the studies are not viewed as valid." Support the Lead Health Project at SVCRC to change this NOW!
See photos of Mission Repository flooding posted in our facebook albums.
Donate to SVCRC: Match the dollars donated by Dave Smith Motors. Help with urgently needed travel funds and other projects, including Lead Testing. Thank You Kindly to everyone who has given so generously.
Read Comments by SVCRC Board Member Ron Johnson
Read both our FACT SHEETS and ALERT on this web site as they are linked from this page. You can read our response to the misleading EPA promo on our facebook page. If you do not have the EPA promo we can send it to you if you request it from us.
"People in the Silver Valley can be proud of their action and (for) fighting back". Doris Cellarius, Sierra Club.
Lisa Jackson Call In - Join SVCRC in the fight for environmental justice. Pledge to call Lisa Jackson and for an immediate moratorium at Cataldo Mission. More information here and here
Keep the messages rolling in whenever you think of what EPA should be doing.
Lisa Jackson, EPA Administrator: 202-564-4700
Jackson.Lisap@epa.gov
Take back our community, speak out, stop the Old Mission Repository. Repositories are temporary waste sites, EPA has the technology to deal with the hazardous waste with permanent disposal, the Silver Valley Community Resource Center has has asked Region X to consider permanent waste disposal more than 20 different times over the years. EPA refuses to consider this very important consideration to protect future downstream damages and the health of our children and communties. Permanent waste disposal will NOT cost the cleanup jobs that were acquired as a grassroots action of SVCRC and EPA.
Mail comments to:
Dennis McLerran. Region X EPA, mclerran.dennis@epa.gov
Lisa Jackson, EPA Administrator: Jackson.Lisap@epa.gov, 202-564-4700
FMI: Contact the Silver Valley Community Resource Center office, 208-784-8891.
Documents are available at select local libraries and on the web at http://go.usa.gov/igD
SVCRC - Nationally recognized for leading the effort over the past 25 years to bring health and economic prosperity to the people of the Silver Valley and those included in the Bunker Hill Superfund Site.
Lead Health - Report shows continuing problems with lead screening issue in Kellogg
Recent statistics show that out of all eligible community people only 1.25% have had lead screening.
United Steel Workers International officials met to discuss issues with SVCRC members, in keeping with their Blue-Green Alliance. We extend our thanks to Leo Gerard and USW folks for extending their hand of concern.
Please save all your empty Frito-Lay bags and mail them to or drop them off at the SVCRC office.
Hi Friends,
Some of you may know that I've been doing some work for a small, grass-roots organization located in northern Idaho that has been working for 20 years on the clean up of the largest lead contamination site in the country. With very little resources, they have been able to push the clean up through while creating jobs for unemployed local miners. Their primary organizer, life-long Silver Valley resident Barbara Miller, has been awarded national recognition by the Ford Foundation for her work. Continue reading...
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