The Newport Miner THE VOICE OF PEND OREILLE COUNTY SINCE 1901
Wednesday, December 12, 2018
www.pendoreillerivervalley.com
Testifiers support tribe’s air request the EPA can only deny the request if there is a problem with the process. Bray says comments close Dec. 14. He said most written comments come in close to the deadline. After comments close, the EPA will evaluate and respond to the comments. If no substantive process issues are raised, the EPA will likely approve the designation. That could happen in a month or two, he says. After the EPA decides, it will be published in the Federal Register for a 30day objection period. If no one files a formal objection, after the 30 days, the Class I standards would go into effect, he says. The change to a Class I designation would affect new, stationary polluters. Existing businesses such as Ponderay Newsprint and Vaagen Brothers wouldn’t be impacted unless they had a major expansion. Those who did emit more than the 100 tons of particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide or sulfur dioxide, could still get a permit to do so but would have to take measures to prevent excessive pollution. It wouldn’t affect everyday life, such as wood burning stoves or sanding. Jayson Tymko, CEO of PacWest Silicon, the company that wants to build a silicon smelter near Newport, says the company has been planning the smelter with Class I standards in mind. He says the company
BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER
NEWPORT – People expressed support for The Kalispel Tribe’s proposal to have the reservation classified a Class I area under the federal Clean Air Act’s Prevention of Significant Deterioration program. A change to Class 1 would require stricter air standards for industrial emitters of air pollution. A well-attended hearing by the federal Environmental Protection Agency was held Thursday night, Dec. 6, at the PUD building in Newport to take public comment. All the commentators strongly supported the change to Class I. “We started CANSS because of a fear of pollution,” the first testifier, Michael Naylor, said. Naylor is chairman of the Citizens Against the Newport Silicon Smelter. He said CANSS has always supported the tribe’s proposal to increase the air standards. “Only with Class I status can the tribe have control,” said Jerry Person, another testifier. While the change to Class 1 designation is separate from the debate about the proposed silicon smelter, the smelter was on most of the testifiers’ minds. Tracy Morgan said greenhouse gasses from the smelter could cause “localized warming.” David C. Bray, associate director of air of EPA’s Region 10 Office of Air and Waste, says
MINER PHOTO|SOPHIA ALDOUS
Feeling artsy before dinner Eighth grade student Alyssa Bolward (left) works on a homemade Christmas tree ornament while her classmate Nakiya Green watches. The two girls helped man the arts table at the Sadie Halstead Middle School family night Monday, Dec. 10.
SEE EPA, 2A
County revenue higher than expected BY CANEEL JOHNSON OF THE MINER
NEWPORT – The Pend Oreille County Commissioners adopted the budget for 2019 Monday, Dec. 10. The total budget for the current expense and the controlled funds is $34,711,189. The current expense fund pays for the daily activities of running the county. The controlled funds must be used for specific services and are not allowed to be used for anything else. The controlled funds is budgeted at $23,192,028. Controlled funds include costs like
Volume 116, Number 46 | 2 Sections, 20 Pages $1.00
counseling, parks, veteran’s assistance, emergency 911 communications and solid waste. The total expected expenditures for the current expense are $11,519,161 and the expected revenue is $11,649,761. The $130,600 excess will be added to the cash flow reserves bringing reserves back up to $1 million. “We were pleased to pass the budget and bring the cash flow reserves back up to $1 million,” commissioner chair Steve Kiss said. “A couple of years ago we had to use it to balance the budget, which
brought it down to about $800,000 and next year we will be able to replace it.” The auditors recommended the county keep a healthy amount in reserves to help balance the budget and for emergencies, Kiss said. County officials were estimating an ending fund balance of $1.2 million, based on past year trends, but are now estimating an ending fund balance of $1.5 million. This is due to higher revenues in November and expected revenue in December. There
CANSS not a political group, PDC says
BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER
OLYMPIA – The Washington Public Disclosure Commission wrapped up its investigation of the Citizens Against the Newport Silicon Smelter for state finance law violations. The case was closed with no evidence of violations, according to the status of the investigation on the PDC website www.pdc.wa.gov/browse/ cases/42973. “Based on these initial findings, staff has determined that in this instance, no evidence supports a finding of a violation warranting further investigation,” the PDC compliance coordinator wrote to Norm Smith in a Dec. 7 email posted to the PDC website. Smith filed the complaint with the PDC alleging campaign finance law violations. “The PDC has dismissed the matter and will not be conducting a more formal investigation
SEE BUDGET, 2A
SEE CANSS, 2A
B R I E F LY Board The Polar Express this Friday
Man arrested for yelling at a school bus
PRIEST RIVER – Board the Polar Express for the fifth annual reading of the classic Christmas story at the Priest River Library. The event begins at 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14. Refreshments will be served and there will be crafts and gifts for the kids, as well as drawings for hardcover copies of The Polar Express. Tickets are available at the Priest River or Blanchard Libraries, call 208-448-2207 or email library@westbonnerlibrary.org to reserve seats.
NEWPORT – Robert L. Meeker, 26, of Priest River was arrested for disorderly conduct for attempting to remove his child from a school bus Wednesday, Dec. 9. According to Newport Police, his child became sick while on a field trip at the Roxy Theater. The bus was on its way back to the school where the child was supposed to picked up. “Witnesses saw Meeker speeding down Washington Avenue and almost hit a pedestrian in the
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bike lane,” Newport Police Chief Mark Duxbury said. “Meeker ran up to the bus yelling profanity and banging on the door while trying to open it.” Witnesses saw the incident and tried to intervene and calm Meeker. He became angry with them. Newport Police and Pend Oreille County Sheriff’s arrived on the scene. Meeker was arrested for disorderly conduct and cited for negligent driving.
CLASSIFIEDS
8B
OPINION
4A
RECORD
7B
LIFE
7A
POLICE REPORTS
7B
SPORTS
4B-6B
OBITUARIES
7B
PUBLIC NOTICES
9B-10B
GIFT GUIDE
1B-3B
LOCAL HISTORY
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