Hi Test Sand Inc., claims Golden, B.C., Processing Plant Site "too expensive".

Hi Test Sand Inc., claims Golden, B.C., Processing Plant Site "too expensive".

When investigating any large operation or proposal involving huge sums of money, it is common (in my experience) to uncover evidence of dishonesty and corruption. Newport / Usk residents are not being told the whole story regarding the "selection" of the proposed Usk site for the Silicon Smelter.

Residents of Golden, B.C., have already fought the battle with Hi Test Sand, Inc., and their proposal to build a silicon smelter in their backyard. Concerns and objections were raised regarding environmental health, air quality, impacts upon tourism and the long-term effects of fugitive emissions.  Golden residents won this battle - and Hi Test, Inc., went looking for another location.

That brings us to Usk, Washington. Behind our backs, by State and local representatives working in secret with Hi Test Sand, Inc., Usk was picked as the next suitable location. Reportedly, $300,000 in Washington State funds was set aside for the development. Local residents were not even informed prior to this decision, although local county representatives were.

This sort of shennanigans is common with Hi Test, Inc., apparently, as Golden residents found out, stating in the letter linked above: 

"We are trying to get as much information as we can regarding this proposed Silica Smelter, however, we are finding it difficult to get more information regarding this proposal, as neither the company or our local government are being very transparent."

This has been my experience too, meeting with hostility from local representatives including the Newport Miner. Their mind has already been made up - and the rest of us are supposed to just go along with it.

This sort of underhanded betrayal is actually quite common, especially with pollutive industries like smelting operations and mines. Because there are known hazards, long-term effects and environmental damage, it is very common to uncover deception and dishonesty if you dig deep enough. At stake is far more then $300 million dollars, but a billion dollar industry that wants to put this toxic proposal in your backyard.

This money means very little to Newport and Usk residents. Only 170 jobs are being proposed at higher-then-standard wages then already found here. That impresses a few people, but it's a terribly poor trade-off for the sickness, ill-health and environmental destruction this will mean to the Pend Oreille River corridor and local communities. These effects will last a long, long time (over 100 years) if the smelter is built here.

Of particular concern is the 47 tons of air-borne particulates, which are hazardous to all living beings. And this is the minimum estimate of air-borne particulates, since the smelter and mining operation will have over twice this capacity as noted in previous articles here.

This should be of utmost concern to Newport / Usk residents - as the air quality here is also quite poor already, especially in winter time. The Ponderay Newsprint and air quality standards / measurements have already been covered on this blog. Contributing to this by adding even more health hazards to local residents is simply insane. Yet this is only the tip of the iceberg, there a great many seriously toxic chemicals and byproducts that will also be created and used.

So you have to ask yourself, who stands to gain from this? Certainly not the local residents who spend their lives traveling up and down this area, raising their families and working at their jobs. The people that actually contribute to the lifestyle we all love here.


The obvious answer without digging deeper is simply this: a foreign corporation stands to gain, and Pend Oreille County tax collection, and most likely a few insiders who helped grease the skids and pull the wool over the eyes of the local residents. But it is we who stand to lose the most, including our health, our homes, our kids and our future here.

I know what it is like to be sick, get cancer and have an incurable disease. It is critically important for residents to make sure that their environment does not contribute to any health hazards.

Did you know that an environmental impact statement has not been done for the proposed smelter? Did you know that Washington State officials have already decided for local residents to approve this smelter? Did you know that they already promised / spent $300,000 of your money without even informing you?

How does that make you feel, knowing that they simply do not care at all about any of us?

My investigation into this proposal has uncovered a lot of malfeasance and coverup. That is the reason very few people have even an inkling of what is going on here. And that's why I've chosen anonymity because I know what happens to people who uncover corruption at these levels.  

Washington has illegally tried to foist this operation upon Pend Oreille county and the residents who live here.

The articles on the blog, and the links I have provided are FACTS that anyone can check for accuracy and validity. You are strongly encouraged to do so before it is too late. 

The Silicon Smelter in Usk must be stopped dead in its tracks before it ruins the livelihood and the environment for Pend Oreille county residents. This operation was already rejected by the residents of Golden, B.C., we must do the same!