Just as a Superfund cleanup ended, the true extent of mining's legacy in northern Idaho is revealed -- 1,500 miles of the Coeur d'Alene River basin is contaminated.
In 1982, the Environmental Protection Agency declared 21 square miles around northern Idaho's old Bunker Hill lead smelter the nation's second-largest Superfund site. The EPA ha since spent $200 million digging up contaminated lawns, demolishing the smelter site and cleaning up the community. Just as the EPA was finishing its work, they discover that sediments contaminated with lead, cadmium, zinc and arsenic have spread far outside the original Superfund site. The contaminants have polluted up to 1,500 square miles of the Coeur d'Alene River basin, from the Montana border to the Columbia River in eastern Washington. The damage dwarfs previous cleanups attempted by the EPA. Adding insult to injury, the US Government is to blame for original mining pollution. Are there lessons here for California?
Thanks to Chris Steins
FULL STORY: A Deep and Wide Mining Scar in Idaho
The Right to Mobility
As we consider how to decarbonize transportation, preserving mobility, especially for lower- and middle-income people, must be a priority.
Early Sharrow Booster: ‘I Was Wrong’
The lane marking was meant to raise awareness and instill shared respect among drivers and cyclists. But their inefficiency has led supporters to denounce sharrows, pushing instead for more robust bike infrastructure that truly protects riders.
Push and Pull: The Link Between Walkability and Affordability
The increased demand for walkable urban spaces could make them more and more exclusionary if cities don’t pursue policies to limit displacement and boost affordability.
L.A. County Towns Clash Over Homelessness Policies
Local governments often come to different conclusions about how to address homelessness within their respective borders, but varying approaches only exacerbate the problem.
A Mixed-Use Vision for Houston Landfill Site
A local nonprofit is urging the city to consider adding mixed-use development to the site, which city officials plan to turn into a stormwater detention facility.
Milwaukee County Makes Substantial Progress on Homelessness
In 2022, the county’s point-in-time count of unhoused people reflected just 18 individuals, the lowest in the country.
Town of Palm Beach
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
York County Government
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Harvard GSD Executive Education
City of Fitchburg, WI
City of Culver City
Sonoma County Transportation Authority
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
