Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Environmental Compliance Annex Demolition topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Valley County commissioners say DEQ review is holding up annex building removal and temporary site plan
Summary
County officials say designs for a temporary loading pad tied to removing an annex building must meet Idaho Department of Environmental Quality standards; staff say further design work and possible additional costs could be needed before demolition proceeds.
Valley County commissioners were told April 28 that demolition of an existing annex building hinges on design approval from the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality and Central District Health for a temporary loading and containment pad.
County Director Klingen said staff and a contractor previously designed a floor and loading pit for a temporary structure, but DEQ has indicated the first design will not be acceptable. “They’re the ones who have to come up with a design that is acceptable by them,” Klingen said. County staff and the contractor have discussed additional design work and possibly harder surfaces such as concrete or paving to meet DEQ standards.
The matter matters because the temporary pad is needed to load materials from the annex before certain demolition work can proceed. Klingen warned that if contaminated soil is found where runoff or leachate reaches the ground, soil testing and removal may be required. “They’re gonna test the soil and contaminated soil would probably be hauled to … a landfill,” Klingen said, noting the county could face additional disposal costs depending on test results.
Commissioners pressed staff to keep them informed. Commissioner Scott asked to be kept “in the loop” and was told staff will notify the board when the issue is resolved. Staff said Travis (a county staff member referenced in the discussion) is communicating with DEQ and may request additional design funds from the contractor if redesign work is necessary.
County staff also described the temporary site’s drainage: the old annex floor drained to a trench drain that had not been functioning, and the new design routes floor slope and a catch basin to a pumped holding tank rather than a leach field. That configuration, staff said, was central to DEQ’s questions about the temporary site and site runoff.
Officials cautioned that discovery of contaminated soil could widen the project’s scope and cost, and could affect where materials are loaded during demolition. Staff said they will pursue a redesign that meets DEQ and Central District Health standards and will report back to the commissioners once a plan is accepted.
Ending: County staff said they will provide updates to the board as DEQ and Central District Health requirements become clearer and as any additional design or remediation costs are identified.
