City hosts smelter panel tonight
SANDPOINT — A proposed silicon smelter in Newport, Wash., has been a topic of controversy across state lines for the past several months.
To address the possible impact to North Idaho, Sandpoint Mayor Shelby Rognstad is hosting a panel discussion this evening in the Panida Theater.
"Air pollution knows no political boundaries, and I think there are a number of concerns that would have direct relevance to Idaho residents," Rognstad said.
HiTest Sand, a company based out of Canada, purchased 186 acres of land last year just south of Newport in order to build a silicon smelter plant that will produce silicon for solar panels. The plant would employ 130 workers making from $40,000 to $100,000 annually, said HiTest Sands President Jayson Tymko during a meeting in November.
In addition to air pollution, Rognstad said he has heard concerns regarding transportation — impact on local railroads and roadways. The proposed route for truck traffic, he said, would include Highway 2 and Highway 95, having a direct impact on the road system around and through Sandpoint. During the November meeting, Tymko said the company will bring in seven to eight trucks of wood chips per day and is working with BNSF to bring rail to site for its other materials. If rail were unavailable, up to 31 trucks per day would be on the roads.
The smelter could also affect water quality and impact property values along the lake, Rognstad said. There are a lot of questions, he said, such as if they will be required to acquire a discharge permit, how much water they will use and where that water is coming from.
"These are the kinds of questions that we want to have verified," Rognstad said. "I think the most significant for North idaho is air quality impact, because we are immediately downstream from the prevailing winds. That is what I am hearing from the majority of constituents — they are concerned about what that means for our airshed."
The panel will consist of Dan Redline, regional director for the Department of Environmental Quality; Matt Nykiel with the Idaho Conservation League; Shannon Williamson, Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper; Grant Pfeifer, regional director for the Washington Department of Ecology; Deane Osterman, director of natural resources for the Kalispel Tribe; Michael Naylor, Citizens Against the Newport Silicon Smelter board member; and Aaron Qualls, Sandpoint planning and economic development director.
HiTest Sand was invited to provide a panelist, Rognstad said, but the company declined. Rognstad said it is unfortunate, because it would have been valuable to have a representative available to answer questions. In addition, Greg Snow, Pend Oreille County community development director, was originally scheduled as a panelist, but had to cancel.
Chris Bessler with KFRY Radio and Ben Olson with the Reader will serve as panel moderators.
The event is scheduled from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Panida, 300 N. First Ave., and is free and open to the public.
Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.