Don't rush to grab Superfund status

I am glad to see Rep. Ryan Zinke share his thoughts about cleaning up the Columbia Falls aluminum plant. I agree and say, hold up here, think about it and have a little debate. 

Many folks don't want to jump on the Superfund band wagon that rolls through town. City councils can become a circle of friends  with mutual respect between them, they can come together, reaching conclusions and make decisions that do not align with our residents. It should never be, “How dare you question our knowledge, dedication, conclusion and decisions.”  

Living within 50 miles from a Superfund site can have a negative  effect on land values. Would you want to purchase property just two miles from a Superfund site? To qualify as a Superfund site, it should be ranked by importance to America. It should be based on levels of potential disasters not political pressure. 

We all agree that there are significant issues that need to be addressed at the aluminum plant but we can deal with these issues without having the Superfund stigmatism. 

Our county residents would like to end up with a clean industrial site that would be an asset to Columbia Falls and all of Flathead County,  benefiting the whole state of Montana. Let's not let our city, county and state only be a trade route for China trinkets, supplies and goods. We need a source for a local reliable income and we should always use our resources wisely.  

It is time for discussion between all residents of Columbia Falls and the citizens of Flathead County. I thank Ryan Zinke for bringing  his  thoughts forward reflecting the feelings of many of us. It is time to share thoughts, debate differences and reach a unified conclusion that will get ’er done. —Clarence Taber, Columbia Falls