Source: http://www.kpvi.com, October 26, 2016
The state’s department of environmental equality wants Bannock County to investigate increasing ground water contamination at the Fort Hall Mine Landfill. It’s a problem the county has been dealing with for about 25 years. But Idaho’s Department of Environmental Quality wants to tackle the rising contamination problem as early as possible.
25 years ago, some Pocatello water wells were shut down because of a contamination leak coming from the Bannock County Landfill. Bruce Olenick the Regional Administrator for DEQ says, “The county took immediate action back in the ’90s to actually cap the source and put in a pump and treat system in about the year 2000.”
And it appeared that process worked, Tetrachloroethylene levels dropped. But now DEQ tests are showing a slow rise of TCE and PCE. “It’s not an issue of the containments making it down to the city’s drinking water supply,” Olenick says, “But its watching what’s happening at the landfill and requiring the county to do more action to remediate the system up there at the landfill itself.”

Hiring a consulting firm out of Utah, and already $600,000 over budget for work at the landfill, county commissioners have a long road ahead of them. “I really think with the people we have on staff, with Jeremy our engineer he has background on landfill, and DEQ. I think we know where we’re at, and the consultants. I think we’re fine. It’s gonna be work, but it’s gonna be fine,” said Cooper.
Bannock County has until November 15^th to sign the new consent order required by DEQ. In the meantime the consulting firm, commissioners, and DEQ meet tomorrow to discuss the landfill issues. The City of Pocatello released a statement to calm any fears about residents’ drinking water. You can read the release from the city below:

City of Pocatello Assures Residents Drinking Water is Safe

This morning, the City of Pocatello was notified of the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality’s intent to request that Bannock County sign a consent order addressing the ongoing groundwater contamination at the Fort Hall Mine Landfill.
City officials would like to assure residents connected to the municipal water system that their drinking water is safe. The City’s Water Department annually conducts over 1,500 tests of drinking water for more than 100 compounds. These tests have shown that contaminant concentrations do not exceed state or federal drinking water standards.

“The health and safety of the residents of Pocatello are our top priorities,” said Michael R. Jaglowski, PE, Public Works Director. “We will continue to monitor the situation and take the appropriate actions if concentrations rise to action levels.”
The Water Department produces an annual Water Quality Report in accordance with the Safe Drinking Water Act. Residents can view the most recent Water Quality Report, as well as previous reports going back to 2003 at pocatello.us/water.
For more information on the consent order, visit deq.idaho.gov/news-archives/waste-bannock-county-fort-hall-mine-landfill-remediation-102616/.
Pocatello residents with additional questions regarding the quality of their drinking water may contact the City of Pocatello Water Department at 234-6174.

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