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Morning News | Idaho State Journal | Sho-Ban News

Press Release
Most press releases concerning Brownfield topics will be sent to the Sho-Ban News in Fort Hall, Idaho. Press releases will also be posted on this website on the "News" page.

Tribes place warning signs at old FMC site

By Evelyn Small
Sho-Ban News
April 5, 2007

The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Land Use Commission and CERCLA/RCRA posted Warning signs around the FMC site on March 27. The 500-acres of tribal land is now a closed section of the Fort Hall Indian Reservation within Power County. The three signs read: "Warning" in capitalized bright red letters, Hazardous and Toxic Materials, Harmful to Human Health. No Trespassing—also in red capitalized letters. Closed areas of the Fort Hall Indian Reservation by Fort Hall Business Council Resolution LAND/ENVR-06-0498 May 16,

However according to Land Use Commission Chairman Tony Galloway, there is a misprint on the sign, it should read "Superfund Hazardous..."

The area is closed because of the known gas leakage on Pond 16F and Pond 18F. The whole area is considered a health and safety hazard. The two ponds are known to be generating gases of municipal toxics and the Tribes, EPA and FMC are working to find out what other gases are being ventilated. Land Use Commission

The signs are posted on the backside of the FMC site, on top and one on Michaud Creek.CERCLA/RCRA Program Manager /Environmental Scientist Kelly Wright said that part of the eastern Michaud Flat is a Superfund site and he hopes the signs will remain there for a long time. `We're trying to get access to the front of FMC to post signs," said Wright.

The FMC site has been covered up with grass and looks enticing to tribal members who are exercising their Treaty rights to hunt, gather and collect. The new posted signs are to prevent jeopardizing family members health explained Wright.

Galloway said the signs are a big issue and possibly depreciates the value for the residents of the Eastern Michaud Flats area who own fee land—parcels of land owned by non-Indians on an Indian Reservation.

The word SuperFund, explained Galloway, means no more development — to stop. In order to prevent anything to be done with the area FMC planted grass but in the Tribes view, the area needed an extra step further so the signs were the next option.

For information contact the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Land Use Commission at (208) 478-3891.