E.P.A. Clarifies Security Concerns for Cancelled Blackbird Meeting

On Monday, August 26, the U.S. EPA, decided to cancel a meeting on the suggested project for the Blackbird Mine cleanup for public safety reasons. Following the cancellation, questions were asked locally regarding the cause of the meeting cancellation. The public meeting was canceled due to threatened disruptions to the meeting by an individual that was upset with the environmental cleanup process and not because of any particular concerns about the Panther Creek Inn.

AWe know it=s easy for messages to become garbled,@ said Mark Masarik, E.P.A. Community Involvement Coordinator stationed in Boise. AAnd the last thing we want is to have the Panther Creek Inn affected by a misunderstanding. In fact, the Inn=s proprietors have been very gracious and cooperative in offering to hold the meeting at their place of business.@

Fran Allans at (208) 378-5775 is EPA=s Plan Manager for the Blackbird Mine cleanup and Mark Masarik, Community Involvement, can be reached at (208) 378-5761.