EPA's Proposed $1.3 billion plan for Silver Valley in Idaho

EPA Coeur d’Alene Basin Team
1200 6th Avenue
Suite 900
ECL-113
Seattle, WA 98101

RE: Proposed Record of Decision Amendment – Upper Coeur d’Alene River Basin

To Whom It May Concern:

I appreciate the opportunity to comment on the EPA’s proposed Amendment to the Record of Decision for the Upper Coeur d’Alene River Basin.
I have several concerns about the proposed ROD.

1. Past cleanup efforts have significantly reduced the threat to human health. The current plan does little to improve human health while expending financial resources in consumptive activities that will not improve human standard of living.

2. The federal government is experiencing huge budget deficits which threaten the nation’s monetary system unless they are brought under control. The plan being proposed with a price tag of $1.3 billion is not prudent because of its price tag.

3. Opportunity costs. The $1.3 billion proposed budget for this project could be used in other, more effective ways. For example, there are 2,080 students in Shoshone County Idaho schools. If $7,000 were spent per child, the $1.3 billion could fund public schools in Shoshone County for 89 years. I see this as a clear example of growing a bureaucracy without regard to the children and families of the Silver Valley.

4. The proposed plan does nothing to produce wealth or stabilize the tax base. Taxes are paid by those that produce wealth. Current declines in the state of Idaho and national tax revenues are caused by a contraction in the private sector of the economy. The private sector of the economy cannot grow without access to natural resources and capital. To simulate the economy, we need to focus on five industries: mining, logging, manufacturing, energy production, and agriculture. Current environmental regulations and, specifically, this proposed plan will hamper access to natural resources, drive up costs to businesses, and reduce the standard of living in the Silver Valley and the whole nation.

5. Finally, the proposed plan severely restricts private property rights. As private property rights are restricted, the control by government over its citizens increases. The proposed plan runs the risk of undermining the very principles upon which limited government is based.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this very important matter.
Sincerely,

Steven Thayn
State Representative
District 11