THE DIRT: Work begins throughout the CDA Basin
With our pleasant early spring weather, construction season is well underway in the Silver Valley. The Coeur d’Alene Trust (CDA Trust), under the direction of the Environmental Protection Agency, has several projects taking place in the Coeur d’Alene Basin this season. In the Upper and Lower Basins, cleanup work will continue to address contamination, reduce exposure to people and wildlife, and improve water quality.
All Ninemile Creek basin priority cleanups were completed in 2024. Mine waste from the completed cleanup projects was deposited in the East Fork Ninemile Waste Consolidation Area (WCA). Construction of the final cover system for the WCA will begin in 2025 and will be complete in 2026.
Cleanup work continues at the Star Complex near the community of Burke and at the Tamarack No. 7 site near the community of Black Bear. Work will include excavating and hauling mine waste materials to the Canyon Complex Repository/WCA. Following mine waste removals, clean backfill materials will be placed at the sites, disturbed areas will be revegetated, and portions of Canyon Creek will be reconstructed. Work at the Star and Tamarack No. 7 sites is expected to be complete in the fall of 2026.
Work will also be taking place in the Pine Creek basin at the Douglas Complex, located approximately six miles south of Pinehurst along East Fork Pine Creek Road. Cleanup will include re-grading and capping of mine wastes, and placement of clean backfill materials. Cleanup is anticipated to be complete in the fall of 2025.
In the Lower Basin, work continues at Gray’s Meadow to finish a 700-acre wetland remediation and restoration project. The remaining soil excavation, construction of habitat features, and revegetation will be completed by fall of 2025.
Beyond these cleanup projects, the Lower Burke Canyon Repository, Big Creek Repository, and East Mission Flats Repository will be operated to accept contaminated materials from a variety of projects.
We look forward to a safe and successful 2025 construction season. CDA Trust projects support local businesses, suppliers, and contractors.
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.
