Brownfields Update for the Pacific Northwest

Lake Pend d’Oreille occupies 148 square miles in the northern Idaho Panhandle. The Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail is the name of a project that seeks to create a public nature trail and non-motorized right-of-way along two miles of the lake’s shoreline, connecting the cities of Sandpoint, Ponderay and Kootenai. Several areas of environmental contamination, mainly due to smelters and timber mills, are located along the trail.  They will require environmental assessments and eventual cleanup.

Steve Gill, Brownfields Specialist with the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (IDEQ), has been working on this project since 2006. A native of Sandpoint, he cites the trail’s importance to the community as a place to walk, hike and enjoy nature, as well as a pedestrian and bicycle route among the three cities. Property owners want to preserve the trail as a community asset, eventually selling the property to Bonner County or one of the affected cities.

To move the project forward, Gill formed a coalition comprised of the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, the county and the three cities, and submitted a coalition assessment grant proposal during the 2009 EPA Brownfields grant cycle.

The coalition partners built community support for the project and solicited assistance from other area organizations. For example, Avista, the local utility, pledged 360 hours of a grant writer’s time to help write the grant. Local attorneys offered pro bono services.

Although the coalition’s initial request for funding was not approved, it received an allocation of $650,000 through ARRA.  The money will be used to deal with hazardous substances ($480,000) and petroleum ($170,000). To help reach the job creation goals of the ARRA, the coalition will employ local consultants and contractors.

This AARA grant has been a catalyst in moving the project toward the goal of public ownership as well as attracting additional project partners and potential sources of funding. The coalition is anticipating leveraging millions of dollars in additional support for the project.

Recent developments include a visit to the site by Idaho Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter in September. Additionally, under the Community Assistance Partnership, the National Park Service and the Idaho-Montana chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (IMASLA) will conduct a charrette to explore design elements and features that will enhance the trail and create greater opportunities for a range of recreational uses. The charrette is scheduled for November 6th and 7th.

For more information, contact Steve Gill, Idaho DEQ, listed under “Contacts” on this website.