Letters to the editor Jan. 16

Plowed in

Plowing the bike path is much appreciated for sure, but plowing driveways shut is not. Seniors and people with disabilities have trouble. Please take a few minutes to open them back up. Thanks.

— John Tellow, Kalipsell

Future of CFAC

There seems to be a lot of chatter lately concerning the Columbia Falls Aluminum Plant Superfund site cleanup. What I am curious about is, “What is the future land use plan, whatever the cleanup plan may be?”

Located just below the three forks confluence, the land is culturally and ecologically historic, having been a trading center for aboriginal tribes and a wildlife migration refugia for millennia. It has also been an industrial hub, proudly supporting families for generations. Maintaining this multi-use purpose is what we should strive for.

I am not anti-industrial. The Flathead Valley thrives on natural resource extraction. We will depend on it well into the future. What doesn’t make sense is throwing it all away, never to be used again. The concept of conservation is wisely utilizing a resource for re-use, and an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.  An invested cleanup will ensure the wild and scenic status so many of us (and money-generating tourists alike) are drawn to.

I haven’t heard of official plans for the former CFAC site but it sounds like if EPA gets its way, any future business will not be able to use the groundwater for drinking, let alone future residents. Much of the area will be fenced off to restrict human access, while toxins will continue seeping into the river adjacent unsuspecting fishermen and recreationists.

This future use does not look safe one bit.

Whoever is in charge of future use planning (county or city officials) should speak up so we can hear you, one way or the other. We the people should have a say envisioning future use. So much has been made about public access these days — if we can’t use the land there must be a (dirty) reason why.

— Amber Mitchell, Columbia Falls