Two western environmental groups don’t have the facts to back up their charges that phosphate mining companies are in collusion with the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to cover up selenium pollution in southeastern Idaho, according to industry and federal agency officials. The Greater Yellowstone Coalition (GYC) and Caribou Clean Water Partnership are claiming the phosphate industry and federal land managers knew about the harmful effects of elevated selenium concentrations in the area for decades before the problem was made public. They report that the pollution came to light because of a 1996 incident when several horses were euthanized after becoming poisoned by selenium in a pasture downstream from one of the phosphate mines.
“It’s been documented that these companies and the agencies have known about the dangers of selenium for years but kept quiet about it,” Marv Hoyt, Idaho director for GYC, told Green Markets. “The companies are getting away with doing just enough to make it look like they’re working on the problem.”
The J.R. Simplot Co., which is seeking federal approval to expand its Smoky Canyon mine near the Idaho-Wyoming border, responded that the documentation cited by the accusers has no basis in fact and that the truth is that phosphate mining on public lands in Southeast Idaho has occurred only under the direction and approval of state, tribal, and federal agencies, including public comment and participation.
Lynn Ballard, spokesman for the Caribou-Targhee National Forest and BLM, also denied the allegations. “Are we in collusion? No. Have we done anything wrong? No,” he said.
The report in question was produced by Edgar Imhoff, a retired federal hydrologist and environmental cleanup authority. After reviewing thousands of pages of documents obtained from federal agencies through the Freedom of Information Act earlier this year, Imhoff concluded that mining companies and federal agencies have purposefully colluded for years to cover up knowledge of potential harm from selenium contamination, as well as when such harm was known. Environmentalists say the problem is caused by phosphate mining exposing rocks rich in selenium, which leaches during rainfall and snowmelt and enters surface and ground water. From there it can move up the food chain, from phytoplankton to fish to birds, livestock, and people.
Simplot spokesman Rick Phillips insisted that the Smoky Canyon Mine was reviewed and approved by a federal environmental review process, requiring public access and comment on all environmental effects of the project, as well as the proposed mine plan. Phillips noted, “When selenium was identified as a source of ecological risk in 1997, Simplot, along with all other phosphate companies, aggressively began investigating the sources and all possible ecological effects of selenium releases. University of Idaho experts on selenium with experience at other selenium impacted sites conducted research and field studies to help identify possible sources and impacts.” He said these investigations and studies were conducted under the direction, approval, and review of federal and state agencies, and were open for public participation and comments. Work on addressing the major source of selenium at Smoky Canyon, the Pole Canyon area, will be completed this year.
Phillips added that the proposed Smoky Canyon expansion will use the best practices identified throughout this extensive investigation, including technology whereby an impermeable barrier will be installed on top of rock overburden to reduce water infiltration. In addition, the rock layers of earth naturally containing elevated selenium will be carefully managed and placed back into their original area. Also, extensive environmental monitoring and evaluations are planned throughout the extraction process to ensure these protections are working.
Still, Hoyt insisted that the deaths of domestic livestock, sheep, and horses have been traced to selenium toxicity, which is also a threat to waterfowl and fish. Hoyt said GYC has petitioned the U.S. Forest Service and EPA to list selenium as a hazardous waste and has received some encouragement from the latter. “If the EPA does the assessments and rates the mines it will serve to push the companies harder to start cleaning up those sites,” he suggested.
Richard Downey, spokesman for Agrium, which also has phosphate operations in southeast Idaho, said his company has been proactive on selenium for nearly two decades. “Agrium takes its commitment to environmental, health and safety very seriously. We continue to work with state and federal agencies and to meet and improve on mining guidelines and practices. We have been very active in addressing this specific issue since Agrium acquired these properties in the mid-1990’s.”