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Bannock County health staff report failed septic system at Moonlight Mountain Recovery; convenience store reopens after mold, asbestos work
Summary
Environmental Health reported a failed septic system at Moonlight Mountain Recovery in Pocatello; construction of an engineered system is underway. Fast Stop on Oak and Jefferson closed briefly for mold and asbestos remediation and is expected to reopen.
Ken Keller, Environmental Health director for Bannock County, told commissioners Jan. 23 that Moonlight Mountain Recovery in Pocatello experienced a septic system failure after the facility began generating far more wastewater than the home's original system could handle.
Keller said the site presented engineering challenges because of steep slopes and a nearby stream and pond. “The first one is regards to Moonlight Mountain Recovery. This is at Pocatello. And, situation is just so much wastewater was being generated. That system eventually failed,” Keller said. He added that an engineered design to treat higher flows has been permitted and that construction has started but is slowed by winter weather.
Keller said interim mitigation included frequent pumping of tanks to reduce surface ponding. Neighbors called county staff concerned about visible sewage on the ground; Keller said staff kept callers updated while working with the property owner and an installer on a long-term solution.
Keller also briefed the commissioners about a separate complaint at Fast Stop, a convenience store at Oak and Jefferson. He said water leaks around a soda fountain led to heavy mold behind the machine and in a walk-in cooler; asbestos floor tiles were also removed. Keller said the business voluntarily closed for three to four days while certified contractors remediated mold and removed asbestos and that the store was set to reopen the day of the meeting.
Commissioners asked about contamination and mitigation. Keller said the failing system primarily caused surface ponding rather than flow down the hill, and staff had pumped tanks and moved to a lower, more complex treatment location near the building. On Fast Stop, Keller said contracted professionals handled asbestos removal and that staff planned a site reinspection after reopening.
The commissioners said they appreciated staff updates and noted the neighborhood concerns around Moonlight Mountain Recovery, including past appeals over the facility's conversion and higher occupancy than a single-family septic system was designed to serve.
