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Environmental health managers press for air‑quality specialist and update on Lincoln Creek, OWTS and radon work
Summary
Environmental health managers told the board they are modeling Lincoln Creek contamination, preparing updated septic (OWTS) rules, and seeking an air‑quality specialist to improve local monitoring and communications.
Kurt Dahl, environmental health manager, briefed the board on environmental health priorities for 2026, asking for staffing to increase local air‑quality expertise and reporting progress on Lincoln Creek and other programs.
Dahl described an ongoing Lincoln Creek watershed assessment to model sources of copper, aluminum and iron that have impaired aquatic life and to evaluate mitigation options. He also said staff are preparing updated on‑site wastewater treatment system (OWTS) regulations to align county code with new state OWTS rules; the updated regulations will go to the board for adoption after a 30‑day public comment period, with a target of the January board meeting for approval.
Dahl said county staff also want an air‑quality specialist to interpret monitoring — including airport study data and traffic sources on Highway 82 — and to help the county develop proactive smoke forecasting communications, radon follow‑up and open‑burn guidance with fire departments. "We need some various expertise that's beyond what Brian and I have, both in terms of policy and the example I have up there is smoke forecasting," Dahl said. He said about 30% of the radon test kits distributed are returned and that follow‑up capacity would increase kit usage.
At the meeting staff said the requested air‑quality specialist was not included in the recommended 2026 budget because no funding source had been identified; environmental health will continue to pursue funding. Dahl also updated the board on Smuggler Mountain Superfund budget items and soil removal coordination with the city and EPA.
Ending: Environmental health will submit the updated OWTS regulations for public comment and continue work on Lincoln Creek modeling and radon follow‑up while seeking funding for the air‑quality specialist.
