THE DIRT: Understanding the work throughout Burke Pt. 2

The cleanup at the Hecla Star Complex started in 2023. The area known as Burke saw a big increase in construction work this past summer and will continue through the summer of 2026. Notably, the biggest change this summer was the installation of a very large box culvert that was placed near the large concrete mill building. Great efforts were taken to avoid impacts to the large historic buildings along Burke Road and to salvage the concrete stamped “HECLA 1923” at the culvert outfall. The creek was diverted during installation but was reintroduced into the culvert and stream channel at the end of 2024. The culvert was installed to reduce area flooding and is robust enough to handle a 100-year storm event. This will not only reduce flooding downstream but also reduce the possibility of recontamination from transported mining waste into the floodplain.

Work will continue near Burke next season. The emphasis will be on removing contaminated waste from Burke Road’s roadbed and the Canyon Creek corridor. Mine waste was commonly used as the foundation for the area roadways, and that waste is over 20 feet deep in some areas. The asphalt on Burke Road is rapidly degrading, exposing contaminated materials and creating a danger to public health. To remove these contaminated materials, Burke Road will need to be reduced to one-lane traffic, while each side is excavated out, backfilled with a new clean road base, and re-paved following project completion in 2026. In addition, cleanup work will remove contamination from the Canyon Creek stream corridor and a natural stream channel will be rebuilt upstream from the Star complex, up to Gorge Gulch. These extensive efforts will not only improve surface water quality but will provide a freshly paved section of road for travelers to the area. The work is expected to be completed in the Hecla Star area in the fall of 2026.

Once the Hecla Star Complex project is completed, work will continue downstream on additional sites. Historically, there were many different mill sites in the canyon. Crews will begin working to address the areas that impact human health and recreation the most. The current plan is for work to begin at the Tamarack No. 7 in 2025, the Flynn/Black Bear in 2026 and the Standard Mammoth in 2027. The work is anticipated to have less impact to traffic on Burke Road; however, an increase in truck traffic as part of the removal and replacement actions taking place should be expected.

Cleanup work may be an inconvenience for those who live and frequent this area, but good things come to those who wait. Once work is complete, the area will be cleaner, and the risk of metals exposure to humans and wildlife will be greatly reduced.

The Dirt is a series of informative articles focused on all aspects of cleanup efforts associated with the Bunker Hill Superfund Site. Our goal is to promote community awareness of contamination issues, to provide tools for protecting public health, and to keep the community informed of current and future cleanup projects. The Dirt is a group of committed and local experts from multiple agencies including the Basin Environmental Improvement Project Commission, Panhandle Health District, Shoshone County, Silver Valley Economic Development Corporation, and the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality.