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Tribal representative urges Lincoln County to oppose higher selenium levels, urges public comment to DEQ
Summary
Mike Brunie, speaking during public comment, warned of rising selenium and fish deformities and urged commissioners to support stricter standards and to encourage DEQ public comments; commissioners said they are focused on process and site-specific standards and invited further discussion.
During the public-comment period, Mike Brunie identified himself as representing a local tribal/angling group and urged the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners not to support relaxing selenium standards for the local river. He described observed fish deformities he called "paratnose syndrome," declining insect populations on his property and cited recent studies indicating rising selenium concentrations in the region.
"Don't leave a legacy of supporting increasing selenium content in the river. Leave one as stopping it," Brunie told the board, and urged residents to submit comments to the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) before the public-comment deadline. He said Fish, Wildlife and Parks oppose the county's apparent position and are lobbying DEQ.
A commissioner responded that the public article framing had been misleading and that the county's concern centered on site-specific standards and the process, not on a wholesale change to selenium limits. The commissioner invited Brunie to meet afterward to discuss the record and noted the board planned to separate local Troy issues from the wider selenium discussion at an upcoming meeting.
Brunie encouraged public participation in DEQ’s comment process and referenced a public hearing and write-in period; commissioners reiterated the procedural pathway for addressing state standards and for submitting public comments.
