Project Background
In 1996, isolated livestock deaths associated with excessive selenium uptake in the vicinity of historic phosphate mines in southeast Idaho prompted concerns regarding potential human health and ecological effects from past mining operations. In response to these concerns, the primary mine operators in the region formed the Idaho Mining Association (IMA) Selenium Committee, an "ad hoc" organization to jointly and voluntarily investigate and address any mining-related environmental and public health issues associated with past operations. Similarly, an Interagency/Phosphate Industry Selenium Working Group (SeWG) consisting of voluntary participants from federal, state and tribal agencies, as well as other stakeholder groups, was established to collaborate on these efforts.
From 1997 to 2000, numerous phased investigations were conducted by the IMA Selenium Committee's contractor, agency investigators, and regional academic scholars and scientists. Due to the similarities in operations and mine design, and to provide some level of cost effectiveness, the investigations were directed at a limited number of constituents and conducted on a representative "area-wide" basis.
In August of 2000, DEQ formally took the agency lead for the selenium area-wide investigation through voluntary agreements with the companies and interagency participants. DEQ hired a contractor for technical assistance and developed a scope of work and project schedule for completing the area-wide investigation targeted at ultimately developing regional risk-management guidance. DEQ also established an interagency technical group to coordinate their activities with other jurisdictional and administrative agencies, and a Selenium Area-Wide Advisory Committee (SeAWAC) to continue to solicit input from mining company representatives, project stakeholders, and other participants in the former SeWG.
The data presented at this website are results of the efforts of the IDEQ, Interagency Technical Group, Selenium Area Wide Advisory Committee (former SeWG), IMA Selenium Committee and their contractors.
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Web page last updated by Kindra Serr
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