Anti-smelter Movement Disappointed with Election Results and the Official Narrative

Anti-smelter Movement Disappointed with Election Results and the Official Narrative

Massive disappointments for the anti-smelter movement. None of the current crop of useless public officials that rule over our community were removed from office in yesterday’s elections. We are still stuck with the same ignorant, complicit morons as before.

Personally, I am not particularly surprised. The fledgling anti-smelter movement in Pend Oreille County has had little time to organize and resist before the November election (just a few weeks in actuality).

This doesn’t change anything. We did not have any competent, capable politicians on our side before - and we don’t now. The playing field remains the same as before. But we are stronger than ever, there are thousands of people now who are aware of the silicon smelter that weren’t previously aware, we are getting stronger.

The Newport Miner has once again, betrayed their readership and reported only what they want readers to read. This too is as before, the paper is unlikely to ever change its presentation of biased reporting and siding with toxic development for the town.

But we do learn that the Commissioners, HiTest Sands Inc., and State government officials in both Washington and Idaho are pretty angry that citizens have dared to have the gall to organize and resist the smelter. How dare they defy us?

Idiots. We're just getting started. What they're really revealing is fear. Fear that their complicity and collusion with a foreign corporation will be brought to trial. If there is going to be prosecution, it will be because we have uncovered evidence of wrong doing.

This is not hyperbole. It's already clear that there have been underhanded dealings with HiTest Sands, Inc., the land purchase, grant money, the claimed "net environmental benefit", contractors, secret meetings, bogus job creations, community involvement and the push-back against any community resistance to a toxic industry. Many people are working to expose what has transpired to date. Whether this comes out in court remains to be seen, but what is clear to us at this stage is there has been a clear pattern of intent to deliberately deceive the public.

Proponents of the smelter continue to allege that they can't find any information regarding health issues or emission problems or how this might harm the environment. This admission has now been published in the local paper and admitted to in person. This is a stunning admission that reveals either gross ignorance, incompetence or disinterest in the topic. The CANSS group has brought up these issues on their website, public meetings and publications. This blog has linked to numerous documents, studies and issues related to emissions, complaints and known health effects from silicon smelters. But proponents, including Commissioners in Washington and Idaho continue to pretend that they "can't find any evidence" which is quite ridiculous.

Most likely, they are the front-men and woman who are taking all of the heat and blame for the communities displeasure, and have been told to keep professing public ignorance over these issues. It's simply safer that way for all concerned. It prevents them from having to investigate, from having to admit to real concerns and real issues regarding health and the environment, and it deflects culpability and blame away from them and the offices they currently hold. But this does not mean that our concerns are not real, it only means that they have once again, not done their jobs.

They have created a "straw man" argument, which is a technique used to deflect and dissuade further discussions and to place the responsibility upon the public to "provide the evidence". Seriously? I always thought it worked the other way around - that elected officials were supposed to protect the public they were elected to represent. But they've admitted to not doing that, using the argument that they haven't done the actual research. So where is their argument actually coming from that a silicon smelter is "safe" for the community? This is the question that everybody should be asking. They've claimed they do not know the details of the proposed smelter design - and yet they also claim that it will be "safe"? How in the hell could they know that?

It is no leap in logic to realize that they are simply parroting what they've been told, most likely by HiTest Sands executives themselves (remember all those secret meetings?). If they really don't have any understanding of the design, measures, mitigation, scrubbers, baggers, filters and stacks going into the plant - then they could not possibly know if it is "safe" for the community or not. But they have consistently publicly claimed to have this knowledge.

My own research into the "closed-loop" system reveals that this is actually a misrepresentation of terms and technology. The latest designs are actually not fully closed-loop, they do not eliminate all emissions, they do in fact emit sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and volatile organic compounds, these gasses and particulate emissions HAVE been documented on this blog for everyone to read.

Moreover, these are the very gasses and emissions that DO cause harm to humans, wildlife and the environment. Even the Preliminary Air Quality Report rejected as honest or accurate by the Kalispel Tribe review reveals that there will be many tons (thousands) of these gasses emitted into the environment. This is another report that they have refused to read (or claimed to).

For these Commissioners to continue to claim that this is "harmless" or "safe" and that we are lying about these issues is beyond absurd. HiTest Sands, Inc. ADMITS to these gasses in their preliminary study and we know that there will be MORE if all four proposed sub-arc furnaces are operational.
What we have here is a smear campaign against the people of this community that are really concerned about their health, the environment and the future of this town.

It's called "push-back" and like the good little parrots that they are, they're starting to push back. They do not want us to inform YOU, nor do they want any kind of resistance to this toxic project. They're angry and they're upset because they've been called out as being deceptive, dishonest, secretive and working with a foreign corporation to bring in a toxic industry and industrialize this town. Their job now (and the job of the other pro-smelter people, including HiTest) will be to divide this community and the resistance movements by interjecting false claims, distracting statements and arguments and seeding doubt. They've already got the ear of the Newport Miner. They will also work to infiltrate every group that is forming to gain first-hand knowledge of what the resistance is working on.

It is absolutely stunning that these officials continue to play the "I don't know card" and then turn around and claim that they do know - but won't admit to anything.

It is clear to anyone who has been involved that this is just another Three Card Monty game being played out here. We've been focusing on our Commissioners, Shelly Short and Shirley Sands as the "face of the opposition" (which they are), but there are many, many other players who are playing THEM. These people aren't too bright; they are not well-informed and they're not willing to inform themselves or read any of the research. One Idaho Commissioner (Oldtown) claimed he "checked the Web" and couldn't find anything! A basic primer in online research is probably a prerequisite for anyone holding a public office.

Why aren't these public officials actually working to protect us? How can they be so blindly ignorant of the toxic effects of smelting operations and industry? Is this just ignorance or incompetence? What part of "smelter" do they not comprehend? How can they claim "safe" when there are documented emissions that affect human and environmental health? Are we supposed to believe that they are just dumb pawns in this game that go up all the way to the Washington Governor?

An example of collusion exists of officials with the Mississippi Silicon plant. Pay special attention to the "jobs" offer here - we've all heard about the promised "jobs" benefits, but what you have not heard is it is supposed to be 200 full-time jobs within five years (required stipulation for HiTest).

They've not even been honest about that either, or how few local people will actually be hired. Like Burnsville, MS officials here are only interested in keeping the project moving forward. Our officials have literally bent over backwards to ensure this happens (its recording in their letters and minutes).

We have every reason to distrust "the process", the people involved, the official narrative, the evidence of collusion, the numerous but unproven claims of "safety", the alleged "benefits" to the town and large community, the secretive meetings with HiTest, the handling of meetings, schedules and speakers, the expenditure of public funds and grants, the out-of-area contractor that has been hired, the dubious and highly questionable land purchase, the violation of zoning, legislative decrees, County plan, the use of water and sources, the known emissions and their effects upon humans and the environment, the catastrophic failure of real public involvement (meaningful involvement - not the bogus "file your complaints" that just get chronically ignored) and on and on. They're pissed off at us because we dared to question any of this.

None of the anti-smelter people agree that any of this is being done in our best interests. We live here - and we wanted to stay here, but they have now caused the disruption of thousands of lives in our communities over this project. We do not think it is safe. More homes are already going up on the market. They don't seem to even care about what disruptions, anger and despair they've created. Their actions are unconscionable.

But we're just getting started. Seriously, there is a lot of work to be done here. Their narrative is not true and their goal now is to gain the audience wherever they can. Read the published information that they have refused to consider - get informed. The "process" will proceed as I've already explained, but the concerns and issues we have raised, the violation of the public trust and well-being have NOT been addressed.

Silicon Smelting Air Quality Permitting and Measurement Issues

Silicon Smelting Air Quality Permitting and Measurement Issues

Title V of the federal Clean Air Act requires states to develop and implement an air operating permit program in accordance with 40 CFR Part 70 for facilities that are the largest sources of air pollution.

These operating permits are often referred to as Air Operating Permits (AOPs), Title V Permits, or Part 70 Permits. They combine into one document requirements for operations, procedures, applicable regulations, emissions standards, monitoring, record keeping, and reporting. The purpose of the air operating permit is to make it easier to comply with and enforce air pollution laws.

Washington’s (Air) Operating Permit Regulation is in Chapter 173-401 Washington Administrative Code (WAC). The regulation requires a facility to have an air operating permit if it has the potential to emit any of the following:

•  more than 100 tons per year of any pollutant, such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and particulate matter (PM). Lower thresholds may apply in nonattainment areas;
• more than 10 tons per year of any hazardous air pollutant (HAP), as listed in subsection 112(b) of the federal Clean Air Act; or
• more than 25 tons per year of a combination of any HAPs.

A facility may also be required to have an air operating permit if it is subject to certain federal air quality requirements, including:

Title IV Acid Rain Program;
New Source Performance Standards (NSPS); or
National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP).

Title V Permit is required for any “major emitting source”, which the HiTest Sands, Inc., silicon smelter plant in Newport will certainly be. Emissions admitted to so far (but certainly not all - we know there are many, many more) are in the thousands of tons.

Most likely, HiTest will apply for the PTE exemption (Potential To Emit), which changes the status from a “major source” of emissions to a “minor source” by a simple play of words.

A facility that avoids the Title V program by accepting a potential to emit limit on the amount of air pollution it may release is referred to as a “synthetic minor” [source]. It is referred to by this name because instead of being a “major source” subject to Title V, the Permitting Authority’s regulatory action has turned it into a “minor source.”

This is nothing more then double-speak, deliberately taking the real meaning and emissions from a major pollution source and claiming it is less then it actually is, but the permit process is designed this way. The process is in fact, designed to give approval to major pollution emitters. 

Unbeknown to the public which is repeatedly told to simply “trust the process”, the air quality permit process is plagued with significant loopholes that can easily allow major polluting emitters to be authorized (that’s how they get built). This is why blind trust in the process is the same thing as doing nothing, or giving your approval for a toxic industry to destroy your town.

The PTE is easily obtained by the simple trick of claiming lower hours of operation (and thus alleged lower emissions) and by other means to claim “reduced emissions” (on paper). Voila! Your toxic industry is now only a "minor source" of emissions!

Facilities that obtain the PTE to avoid Title V program, the limit must be practically enforceable, meaning that it must be possible to know in a timely manner whether the facility is actually complying with the limit, which often doesn't happen.

The US EPA has already required that a limit be federally enforceable in order to avoid the Title V program, the public and the US EPA must be able to enforce the limit in court.

a. what the actual limit is,
b. how the limit relates to the amount of pollution being released (e.g. if the limit is on the amount of fuel used each day, how does that relate to the amount of sulfur dioxide released by the facility?)
c. how the facility shows that it is complying with the limit;
d. when and how often the facility is required to measure compliance with the limit; and
e. when and in what form the facility reports the results of any monitoring to the Permitting Authority. This is important because once reports are given to the Permitting Authority, they must be made available to the public. You may have trouble getting records that have not been submitted to the Permitting Authority. 

A facility can include permit conditions that will limit or "cap" its emissions to levels below the thresholds of Title V. To appropriately limit potential to emit, all permits must contain a production or operational limitation in addition to the emission limitation.

A production limitation is a restriction on how much of a final product a facility produces. An operational limitation is a restriction on how many hours a facility operates or how much raw material a facility uses. Restrictions on production or operation that will limit potential to emit include limitations on quantities of raw materials consumed, fuel combusted, hours of operation, or conditions that specify that the source must install and maintain controls that reduce emissions to a specified emission rate or to a specified efficiency level.

Yet despite these papered claims, without constant status reports based upon actual measurements taken daily or even hourly, what the paperworks says - and what the plant admits to are not always the same. Many industries will dump elevated emissions at night when they cannot be seen, but their effects (and smell) remain and can be reported by residents. It is up to the regulatory agencies - and a concerned public to demand enforcement.

It is important to remember that the permit process has been designed to grant permit approvals. This all happens before construction, and before plant operation. What this means for the region is when the permit is granted, it will be too late to stop the construction of the plant.

This is what the Commissioners, Greg Dohrn, Senator Short and every other complicit agency, public employee and supporter of the silicon smelter want. They have all told the public that they are “waiting on the permit process” and we should too, which is in effect, the same thing as telling the public "don’t resist this project". 

1. If the plant requires an air quality permit (which it clearly does), then this means they are aware of air quality issues, emissions and pollutants. Pretending they aren’t aware only means they are being deliberately deceptive.

2. If the air quality permit process approves the permit, then this means they are also in agreement with the air quality issues, emissions and pollutants that will be emitted - and cannot claim no knowledge later on. This right here is grounds for future lawsuits.

3.     The air quality permit does not in any way, protect the public, workers or employees from possible harm. It is simply a paper chase, required by law, a process designed to grant approval (dot the i's and cross the t's and you're good to go).

 Asking the public to “wait on the permit” is not in any way any kind of objection, concern, resistance or refusal of the silicon smelter, it is in fact a tacit admission that the silicon smelter will pollute the area and will be built. Once the permit is issued, public commentary or input is going to be useless.  With that permit in hand, they're going to steamroll ahead right over this entire community.

The complicity, denial, claimed ignorance and disinterest by our elected officials is a gross dereliction of duty. The public which they were hired to serve is not being informed at all about the pollutants and HAP that will be emitted, or the effects upon the air, water, soil, health, forests and wildlife. Nor have they admitted to the environmental degradation and problems this is going to cause with the region’s forests, tree mortality and the resulting forest fires.

A few more things you should know:
 
What are Hazardous Air Pollutants?

Hazardous air pollutants, also known as toxic air pollutants or air toxics, are those pollutants that are known or suspected to cause cancer or other serious health effects, such as reproductive effects or birth defects, or adverse environmental effects. EPA is working with state, local, and tribal governments to reduce air emissions of 187 toxic air pollutants to the environment.

Link to list of 187 toxic air pollutants

Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs). The Clean Air Act regulates 188 hazardous air pollutants. Hazardous air pollutants are toxic in small quantities. Health problems related to hazardous air pollutants include cancer, respiratory irritation, nervous system problems, and birth defects.

Sulfur dioxide is a known emission from silicon smelters and has a pungent unpleasant odor, and can mix with nitrogen oxide to form acid rain, causing serious harm to forests and plants (deforestation). Thousands of tons of sulfur dioxide will be released into the environment, along with nitrogen oxide, which will make for acid rain, degrading our forests and polluting the air.

Sulfur dioxide (SO2). SO2 reacts with oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and other substances in the air to form acid rain. Acid rain damages forests, makes lakes and streams unsuitable for most types of fish, and damages buildings, monuments, and cars. Also, high concentrations of SO2 can cause breathing problems for people with asthma. Symptoms include wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. SO2 emissions are transformed in the atmosphere into acidic particles. Long-term exposures to high concentrations of SO2, in combination with high levels of particulate matter (discussed below), may lead to respiratory illness, weakening of the lungs' defenses, and aggravation of existing cardiovascular disease. People with cardiovascular disease or chronic lung disease, as well as children and the elderly, are most likely to suffer from health problems linked to elevated SO2 levels.

Particulate Matter (PM)

PM essentially consists of small particles of soot, wood smoke, and other compounds in solid or liquid droplet form. PM can cause respiratory problems, as well as damage to lung tissue and premature death. PM can cause or worsen respiratory diseases and aggravate heart disease. PM reduces visibility, an issue that is of particular concern at national parks and other scenic areas.

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

The main source of CO is automobile emissions, but CO is also released by woodstoves and by industrial sources such as boilers and waste incinerators. The health effects related to CO include visual impairment, reduced work capacity, reduced coordination, poor learning ability, and difficulty in performing complex tasks.

Volatile emissions (VOC) from silicon smelting contain 200 different chemical compounds, many which are toxic, hazardous, carcinogenic and deadly (and unmeasured). These compounds can be found within the plant and in the air emissions released by the plant.

VOCs combine with oxides of nitrogen (NOx) in the presence of heat and sunlight to form ground-level ozone. Ground-level ozone damages lung tissue and can make it difficult to breathe. Children and people with asthma and other lung diseases are most susceptible to health problems caused by ground level ozone. When ozone levels are high, however, even healthy adults may suffer. In addition, some VOCs are hazardous in small quantities in the absence of any chemical reaction.

Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)

NOx is linked to almost every air pollution problem. NOx emissions result in the formation of ground-level ozone, acid rain, coastal water pollution, and reduced visibility. Because NOx can travel very long distances after being released into the atmosphere, NOx released in one state can cause environmental damage in another state.

The problematic United Silicon plant operating in Iceland was measured for emissions both inside and outside the plant. This is the same problematic silicon smelting plant reported here – “Gasping for Air - UnitedSilicon’s Enduring Problems".

A Research paper was conducted on the United Silicon Plant.

On behalf of Multiconsult ASA, a pilot study of VOC within and around a silicon smelter, United Silicon, has been carried out. The silicon smelter is located at Reykjanesbær in Iceland. 10 Tenax tubes were used as passive samplers and placed in a residential area and close to the silicon smelter, both inside and outside the plant. The samples were taken between 21.05.2017 and 23.06.2017.

This paper reveals the 200 different chemical compounds, but it claims that they “could not identify any compound at concentration levels, which could have effects on the population in surrounding villages.”
 
They found high values of anhydrides in the baghouse, and 1-3-5-Trioxane which (a polymerisation product of formaldehyde), but admit that there are likely higher concentrations of formaldehyde, but they were not covered by the measurement technique used (Anhydrides are acids, irritants to skin, eyes and the respiratory system).

Formaldehyde is listed as a hazardous air pollutant by the EPA.

“Some compounds that could occur in the emissions of a silicon factory, like Formaldehyde and Acetaldehyde or COS,will not be detected by the chosen measurement technique, because of their  high volatility.  Compounds bound to particle  emissions will also not be detected.”

One of the more interesting points is they’ve claimed that -

a) The emissions are safe and will not cause any effects on the local population;
b) Over 200 chemical compounds were found, but few were actually measured from this list;
c) Only 12 measurements were made over a one month period; 

I’m not the only one who identified the failures and claims being made here, there is this assessment too: Inconclusive Report on United Silicon’s Problems

What this reveals is the following:

Inadequate measurements were taken over too short a period; and the measurement techniques were insufficient. But this also reveals that there are a huge range of chemical compounds being produced, which the silicon industry does not care to admit to. They are not being adequately measured, considered, reported or addressed. Anywhere.

Moreover, their claim that there would be “no effects on the population” absolutely fly in the face of the numerous complaints and problems reported.

How serious is the problem? Please be sure to read “Gasping for Air - United Silicon’s Enduring Problems” and what has occurred with a newly built silicon smelter in Iceland.

Plagued with numerous problems and issues, the local residents complained of chemical burns, toxic emissions, respiratory complaints, elevated and extremely dangerous levels of arsenic, and air pollution.

This isn’t just a one-off issue or complaint, an Iceland citizens group was formed years ago to try to stop the smelter from being built. They’ve also documented quite a few issues, complaints, violations and problems with the smelter after it was placed into operation.

There have been over 1,000 registered complaints made against the air pollution and issues caused (Google translation) that clearly shows major issues with air pollution, respiratory, resident complaints and sulfur dioxide issues.

How does this even happen? It happens because industry helped create things like the Clean Air Act (in the United States) and have had a handle on this ever since. Many of the research papers are actually funded by industry, which is akin to asking a wolf to protect the chickens. They know what's for dinner - do you? Baked Ala Newport, and Oldtown, Idaho silica dust on the side!

Lung Function Loss Associated with Occupational Dust

Exposure in Metal Smelting -

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is caused by chronic  inhalation of toxic  particles and gases can lead to progressive tissue injury via a cascade of inflammatory processes in the lung.

What dust? Silica dust. The same toxic material that HiTest wants to truck into our communities by the millions of tons.

There is a real danger unfolding upon the Newport, Oldtown, Priest River, Sandpoint and surrounding communities that is cause for serious alarm. Fortunately, the Mayor of Sandpoint has written a letter of non-support on the silicon smelter. It's a start, but we need a lot of people now! This should be a top priority in every home and family in this entire area.

If only our untrustworthy officials in Newport would also do the same! So far, all we've seen is a red carpet treatment for a foreign corporation as they conspire and collude to betray the public trust, violate our air, water, soil and quality of life and ask us to just "trust the process" which we already know does not work as we would expect, nor does it actually protect us as it should.

If it did - there would be no complaints, no sickness, no disease, no illness, no shortness of breath, no silicosis, no cancer, nothing but happy people and industry working side by side. But that is a fairy tale and it does not exist anywhere in the world. Smelter operations are TOXIC.

Pend Oreille County & PUD Land Sale to HiTest Sands, Inc. – What you need to know

Pend Oreille County & PUD Land Sale to HiTest Sands, Inc. – What you need to know

A trove of documents has arrived, which reveal numerous inconsistencies, questions, concerns and even more alarms over the entire HiTest Sands, Inc. smelter proposed for Newport, Washington and the machinations that have occurred to date.

It would be impossible for me to deal with all of these issues in a single article, so that simply won’t be done. Rather, it will be easier to break this down by topic and the issues discovered so far. This entry will be about what is known (so far) about the land sale.

The land sale from Pend Oreille County to the Public Utility District (PUD) raises particular concern, as this directly relates to the site selected by HiTest Sand, Inc., and the immediate proximity over a densely populated area, County participation in this private venture for a foreign corporation, expenditure of public funds used for this process, rural development, the price of the land, the switch from “appraised value” to “assessed value” by the Commissioners, its alleged but totally incorrect “land locked” status claimed by the Commissioners, its resale price weeks later to HiTest Sands, Inc., by the PUD, and PUD’s refusal to date to communicate their own negotiations.

There is also just under $14,000 discrepancy on the listed prices of the land sold and the total paid. At this time, we do not know where that money went, what is was for, why this amount was not represented on the real estate contract or what happened.

These are serious issues that will directly affect the entire process, site location, ethics, legal issues and outcome of the proposed smelter.

Beginning with Pend Oreille County Resolution 2017-22 dated 6/20/2017, the County Commissioners Manus, Skoog (Kiss was absent) signed this document testifying to its accuracy and claims.

In this document, the County stated that the parcel of land, known as Parcel No. 19182 was was “land locked”. A County plat map shows that the State Line Road borders this parcel along the entire eastern border. This is the long edge of a narrow, rectangular 14 acre parcel and it is not land locked at all, access is by State Line Road and you can drive right to it right now.

D. “The Board of County Commissioners finds it is not practical to build on property identified as Assessor’s Parcel No. 19182 as it is land-locked with no road access”

This is outright dishonesty and misrepresentation to deliberately justify the land sale to the PUD, which just happens to be the site selected by HiTest Sands, Inc.

Moreover, the County Commissioners also claimed that the property could be sold “without a call for bids, under certain circumstances”, citing RCW36.25.150, which reads:

(a) When the sale is to any governmental agency and for public purposes; (b) when the county legislative authority determines that it is not practical to build on the property due to the physical characteristics of the property or legal restrictions on construction activities on the property; (c) when the property has an assessed value of less than five hundred dollars and the property is sold to an adjoining landowner; or (d) when no acceptable bids were received at the attempted public auction of the property, if the sale is made within twelve months from the date of the attempted public auction.

The PUD did not acquire the land for any public purposes; nor were there any public auctions conducted to my knowledge.

Resolution 2017-22 specifies that the land will be sold by direct negotiation with the PUD at a “minimum price equal to the total appraised value”. That didn’t happen either, because 21 days later, via Resolution 2017-26 dated 11/07/2017, which appears to be almost, but not quite, a boilerplate copy of Resolution 2017-22 states that the “minimum price equal to the total assessed value”.

A copy of the tax assessment was obtained, showing an assessed value of $27,660. This was the amount the non-land locked parcel No. 19182 was sold for to the PUD. The appraised value however, is different. It would be higher according to the actual market value (whatever the market on similar land like this really is). I am not aware of any land selling at this incredibly low price - anywhere in the County, yet the County went ahead and sold this parcel at the assessed value in a private negotiation with PUD.

This parcel is also a perfectly usable piece of ground (I’ve been there and seen it) that was not land locked at all, it’s quite buildable for any number of purposes. The PUD in turn, sold this parcel just six weeks later, as part of a package land deal to HiTest Sands, Inc. for $300,000 – all without a public auction required by Washington law. I still don't know yet if there was even any published notice of this possibly illegal land sale.

The County sold the land to the PUD on August 2, 2017 – and it was then resold by the PUD to HiTest Sands, Inc., on 9/18/17. Yeah – that’s seems mighty weird, coincidental and highly suspicious all at the same time.

There is also a serious question regarding the actual selling price of the land parcels by the PUD to HiTest. All four parcels were sold at “assessed value” versus appraised value (market value) and their assessed value does not add up to $300,000 Total Selling price shown on the PUD Real Estate Contract. There is a $13,635 discrepancy between assessed values and the Total Selling Price that I’ve not been able to account for. Where did this additional money go? Who received it and why?

A clear pattern of intent was put in motion by elected officials at both the County and PUD. HiTest Sands, Inc., required this parcel for their plans for expansion and development. The Commissioners facilitated that process, signing their names to the Resolutions and endorsing the entire effort. Since they are paid, elected officials, their actions and efforts also constitute unauthorized expenditures from the public treasury. In effect, they spent public money to enable HiTest Sands, Inc., to obtain this land for their silicon smelter.

Are we expected to just believe that this land sale was somehow “accidental” and not at all connected to the HiTest Sands, Inc. smelter proposal? In order for that to be true, you would have to toss out virtually all of their meeting minutes, letters of intent and efforts over the past year plus to directly assist HiTest. These dates of the land sale to the PUD mesh perfectly with Commissioner communications and their efforts to facilitate the HiTest Sands, Inc. process.

There is absolutely no doubt, based upon their own documentation that they knew exactly what they were doing.

Moreover, the PUD also facilitated the sale of the four parcels now in their possession to HiTest Sands, Inc., another public entity that is supposed to be serving the best interest of County residents and businesses. They too engaged in direct negotiations and facilitation of the sale of the land, some which was acquired very cheaply and only weeks before, to HiTest.

Were any of these other three parcels put up for public auction or public sale? That is currently unknown at this time but bears investigation. The RCW code also applies to a public utility -

RCW42.30.010 Legislative declaration.

The legislature finds and declares that all public commissions, boards, councils, committees, subcommittees, departments, divisions, offices, and all other public agencies of this state and subdivisions thereof exist to aid in the conduct of the people's business. It is the intent of this chapter that their actions be taken openly and that their deliberations be conducted openly. 

The people of this state do not yield their sovereignty to the agencies which serve them. The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know. The people insist on remaining informed so that they may retain control over the instruments they have created.

It’s quite clear that the PUD has not cooperated yet with the public interest, nor has the PUD complied with our rights to know what is going on. This bears serious further investigation. We know that private negotiations have been undertaken by the Commissioners and the PUD directly with HiTest, in direct violation of this statute.

Nobody – not one person in Pend Oreille County has yielded their sovereignty to the State of Washington or Pend Oreille County. All officials, boards, committees and public agencies are obligated by law to keep us all informed.

The use of the land for industrial activity like the HiTest Sands, Inc. smelter also directly contradicts the County land use plan, which specifically designates that the County is zoned residential and cannot be rezoned commercial without a public hearing. That never happened either. The County plan also affords residents a quiet way of life, which an industrial activity such as silicon smelter does not allow.

This rabbit hole goes much deeper. It bears mentioning that the grant money given to the Pend Oreille Economic Development Council (POEDC) stipulates the following terms and conditions:

"Whereas, the Department has the responsibility under RCW 43.330.050(5) to provide financial and technical assistance to the communities of the state, to assist in improving the delivery of federal, state, and local programs, and to provide communities with opportunities for productive and coordinated development beneficial to the well-being of communities and their residents, and"

Nobody in their right mind would list a toxic silicon smelter, that will eject thousands of tons of dangerous emissions into the atmosphere, saturating the soil and affecting water quality, wildlife and humans alike for 97,000 square miles (at least), and situated directly OVER the town of Newport and a high density populated area, as being in the “well-being of communities and their residents”. But it has now been documented that the Commissioners and PUD are actually not interested in abiding by the law and have been trying to pull a fast one over the entire region.

This includes Priest River, Idaho where I have learned that additional secret negotiations have also been underway, hidden away from public involvement and participation. It now certainly looks like there has been extensive groundwork performed using public funds to "grease the skids" throughout this region (multiple towns involved), long before the public was aware or involved by multiple parties, agencies and governments, all on behalf of a foreign corporation.

Even the $300,000 grant by the Washington Department of Commerce to the POEDC is suspect. I will have more to say on both of these issues as separate topics.

Pend Oreille County Commissioners, Senator Shelly Short Refuse Public Involvement

Pend Oreille County Commissioners, Senator Shelly Short Refuse Public Involvement

There is a serious situation unfolding in Pend Oreille County and about to get worse.

Silicon smelter protesters were shut-out (ignored) at the Pend Oreille County Commissioners public meeting. In attendance was Senator Shelly Short, Mike Manus, Karen Skoog and Steve Kiss.

The meeting started late because someone called Short and reported that a large group of protesters had arrived to protest the silicon smelter project she has endorsed. After the meeting started, Commissioner Mike Manus (as usual) left the meeting, scurrying out the back.

Protesters and KXLY news crowded the small meeting room with many protesters waiting outside in the foyer, patiently waiting for the topic of the smelter to be brought up. At the end of the meeting, one of the Commissioners informed the group that the smelter would not be discussed. The room exploded in anger, because once again, the Commissioners have refused public involvement in the decisions to bring the toxic silicon smelter to the town of Newport, Washington.

Shelly Short scurried out of the meeting like a rat and several protesters attempted to speak with her, but she refused. Anger boiled over at this non-representation by an elected official.

Several people confronted the two remaining Commissioners, Steve Kiss and Karen Skoog. I've compiled their commentary as best I can here (thank you to the contributors to this report, I have edited your comments here for inclusion).

Meanwhile, KXLY interviewed several people including Micheal Naylor, Karen Hardy (candidate for Senate to replace Shelly Short) and Axle (someone update me with his last name please).

KXLY aired a tiny, highly edited segment later that night, I got a chance to see it and apparently, it contained almost nothing of the actual interview conducted. Once again, the local media fails the citizens of Newport on an issue of critical importance.

The Newport Miner newspaper has supported the toxic silicon smelter and has steadfastly refused to accurately report the rising anger and resistance rapidly rising in Newport. The Miner was informed in writing about the dangers of smelting operations over a year ago when Usk was the location, and deliberately chose to ignore the story (biased reporting is a Miner specialty and why very few people buy this paper).

Commissioner Kiss reported that only 50% of the people were for or against the smelter (even split), which is patently absurd and a bald faced lie. Even in the deceptive reporting in the Miner, the actual survey results reports less then 25% "support" from uninformed people who admit knowing nothing about it. Virtually 100% of the people who are correctly informed about the silicon smelter are 100% opposed to it (data gathered from door-to-door and the recent CANSS meeting with nearly 300 in attendance), due to its high toxicity, poisonous emissions and long term lasting effects upon the town, the people, our health and the environment. Both the Miner and Kiss are lying to the public and now they're doing it to our faces.

Commissioner Karen Skoog "admitted that the Commissioners have not read anything about the objections to the smelter" and another reported, "they have no idea about the Kalispel Tribe's rejection of the Preliminary Air Quality Report" and its misrepresented data.

It gets worse. Both Commissioners are simply not interested in any public input, apparently now or forever. They are going to simply rely on the "process" of permit approvals and the public involvement and concerns are effectively irrelevant. They will have zero effect upon the outcome.

Neither were reported as having any awareness whatsoever of the serious health concerns, pollutants, emissions or effects caused by silicon smelting operations. The same person reported that "they had no interest in what has happened to other towns with silicon smelting operations".

I find this absolutely unbelievable and shocking to say the least. All three County Commissioners have literally rolled out the red carpet for HiTest Sands, Inc. (a foreign corporation) to setup shop here - and have publicly admitted that they have NO IDEA what this actually means for the poisoning of this town. They are not aware of any health concerns, any pollution issues, any environmental effects and apparently, do not even care enough to find out.

Public involvement and commentary in this project is a total sham. They don't want it, they refuse to entertain our concerns and they expect us to stay quiet about it. Shelly Short has categorically refused to address any of our concerns and needs to be thrown out of office.

I will ask this again - what kind of government are we actually living under here? Shelly Short has helped ramrod this monstrosity through and totally refuses any public involvement. The County Commissioners have created a sham "Executive Committee" by appointing themselves to the positions and their HiTest Project Manager Greg Dohrn!  

The Executive Committee is an absurdity, and is designed to roll over any opposition to this poisonous industry landing here.

This should be illegal, and if it isn't, why not? Public money is being spent to endorse the smelter and pave the way for this toxic monster to industrialize this entire town.

They admitted to no understanding of the risks to the entire community that are being brought up and worst of all, they have no intentions of finding out: "the claim made was they would do nothing about investigating the health concerns or risks or what has happened to other towns". And finally, "the issue of public voting on a project that affects the entire region was brought up, and there was no response to this question except more dancing around the topic".

It's always been clear that the Commissioner have refused to even consider the community and their opinions about the toxic smelter, but now we know that they also have no interest in a public vote on the matter. As already reported here at an event that occurred in Diamond Lake, WA - they don't need or want or input, they're going to decide everything for us.

What in the hell are we paying these people for? What kind of assholes do we have in public office here?

I honestly don't know, but there is a major, growing problem in Newport that needs to be fully investigated by the Washington State Attorney General's Office and the Pend Oreille County Prosecuting Attorney (although I expect little help there).

We are in serious trouble people. I've already explained that the false narrative being promoted about the smelter, and how this includes the point that the review process is designed to grant permission for construction and operation of the plant. At no point will our comments, concerns, objections, property values, health issues be factored in. We are not a part of the process and never will be.

Almost forgot - the topic of property taxes did come up and they told everyone at the meeting that property taxes are going to increase.

So now you get the pleasure and privilege to pay for the smelter to poison your town, ruin your life, make you sick, unhealthy and perhaps die a horrible death.

The False Narrative - How Pend Oreille County and Washington State Actually Operates

The False Narrative

We are all aware that HiTest Sands, Inc., will be seeking permits and approvals for operation of a silicon smelter above the town of Newport Washington, immediately adjacent to the Idaho state border and town of Oldtown.

Pend Oreille and Bonner County residents and businesses have been encouraged by officials to simply relax their significant concerns about silicon smelting over their town, and rely upon (and trust) this process and the expertise involved. We’ve also been assured by the same deceptive County individuals that this is going to present a fair outcome for all.

It probably won’t.

The implied assumptions within their statements is that the approval process actually works as it should, and will be just, fair, honest and accurate, through a series of methodical steps, with the outcome (results) determining whether or not the silicon smelter plant can operate in Pend Oreille County.

Although “safety” is also implied by every step of the approval process, it is by no means a guarantee for residents, since nobody can predict the future, accidents can and do happen at any time. Nothing is actually guaranteed as you will see.

The approval process itself is actually flawed, because by design, it is intended to grant permission provided enough information is submitted and promises are made. This includes the design, operation, safety, disposal and measurements which are supposed to be made, during the construction, operation and maintenance of the plant. We already know that this won't happen, because this very industry is plagued with problems.

In other words, with enough effort and input on paper, the silicon smelter is coming to town, by design. By intention. By the very "process" which we are supposed to trust to actually represent us and our interests and not some foreign corporation's interest or pet State official.

And it's coming to town by the unwavering illogical support of our elected officials even before the process receives formal approvals - and all this is being done without the approval or desire of the people that live here.

This is the “False Narrative”, the story by which HiTest will proceed through the permitting process at each step, with an outcome of most likely achieving permission and approval to operate the silicon smelter in Newport. It is the narrative they fully expect already as evidenced by the amount of money, time and effort they have already expended so far (and will expend much more).

It is also the very same narrative by which local Pend Oreille County officials operate and expect, which is why they have so willingly prostituted themselves to see HiTest succeed in this endeavor. And is is the narrative that Washington State officials are also operating under and expect.

But it is not the narrative we want or expect at all. In fact, it is a false and phony narrative, a story without a happy ending for any of us. We did not write it, we did not even expect it, but they have foisted this horror story on us all. We hardly dare turn the page to discover how it all ends, but we must now, because we have absolutely no choice. They did this to us. We have to deal with this horror.

I take issue with this false narrative, the story they have promoted and desired, because it presumes much more early on then it actually should.

We all know by now that County officials have not made a single objection to HiTest and their plans. It’s as if they are actually working for HiTest now, which does indeed appear to be the case. And we also know that several Washington State officials (at least) are also working arm-in-arm with HiTest to ensure their success too. Somehow, the Washington voters were completely left out of this narrative they crafted. The voters were given no voice, no opportunity, no rights-of-rejection and no vote to determine whether or not we the people wanted this smelter. Here or anywhere else in our state.

A fair and honest democracy dictates that governments at all levels, city, county and state, operate on the basic principle that they are serving the people in accordance with their desires, needs and wishes, which for those opposed to the smelter here, did not happen. It’s also not even being allowed to happen.

So if it is not already obvious - what kind of a government are we now living under?

So far, elected officials have heard our concerns and complaints, the risks to human and environmental health, how it will affect our lives, tourism, property prices and on and on, but they have steadfastly refused to give the people of Pend Oreille County and Washington State the democratic right to vote on the smelter. They’ve already decided that our voices do not matter.

They did the same to the good people of Bonner County, Idaho, who were not even notified about the smelter on their State line either. They too rightly demand a voice on whether or not this is desired by their local residents and they have unwaveringly said what we have said - hell no.

Like us, their voices are also being ignored. This is a multi-state monstrosity that will impact both Counties and both States. And wouldn’t you know - that was also by design in their false narrative. This is an intentional act on their part, because it provides for looser environmental restrictions and prohibitions on traffic, air quality and impacts in Idaho.

And we’re supposed to just sit here and accept that too.

This is not democracy. This is dictating what will and will not be done in our counties and our towns.

We are now being increasingly reminded that we should just accept the “process” by which County and State agencies will review the project, with the unspoken but implied assumption that we have to accept those results, meekly, quietly and without protests - when we were never given any voice! We’ve even been told to protest this now (already) is “misguided” when we already know more about the actual processes involved then they seem to know.

We know why we must first protest - not only because they are still not listening, but because we are fighting for our lives here and the future of our children.

No public official has even acknowledged the health and safety concerns that have been identified and raised. They continue as ever, to ignore evidence, facts, medical data and case history of existing silicon smelting plants. By all appearances, they already have their minds made up - and this very attitude exposes their false narrative and the predetermined outcome that they are insisting upon.

What kind of influence will these politicians and officials actually have on the actual permitting process? Are we to assume that fairness, honesty, transparency and accuracy will finally be followed - when it has NOT been followed to date? Why should anyone actually trust these people at this point, or their "recommendations", or their "appointees", or their "committees" when it is now so very clear that they have betrayed their oaths of office and the public trust? 

Where is the Attorney General of Washington State on this matter and why hasn’t this come to their attention?

If you are like me, you will swiftly realize that there is a major false narrative in play here - a story by which we are supposed to be lulled asleep and meekly accept the results they clearly want.

That’s part of it - but there’s more, so please read. You, I and everyone else is also expected to play by their rules within this false narrative as dutiful good citizens. That too is the democracy that we live in, everybody is expected to play by the same rules. But what if they don’t and haven’t? What if they have already cheated as it were on those rules? Would that then negate the expectations and allowance of citizens to also re-examine the rules by which we are all bound?

This has already happened. We are uncovering more, but their Preliminary Air Quality Report shows that they are cheating on the air quality data. The County officials are also cheating by directly opposing the Kalispel Tribe Class 1 Air Quality request, a sovereign nation and which by my estimation, they have absolutely no right whatsoever to do (legality needs to be examined).

They’re doing this because the Tribe poses a real threat to their industrialization plans for this area - and so far, has been the only real threat to these horrible people.

This has been clearly document here. It is a fact.

There will be more uncovered - there always is in cases like this. We need to follow the money. We need to find out just who has sold us out and why. I found something of interest that I will quickly pass on - Secure Rural Schools funding that may be applicable (or not). The County and State officials intend to increase commercial receipt revenue significantly, part of which is allegedly supposed to fund the defunct federal SRS program.

It is highly doubtful that Washington State and County officials even realize the hornets nest they have kicked over in their stupid stumbling about and gross dereliction of duty. Angry hornets aren’t anything to mess with. They fight back.

We need to writing our own story and our own history on how this will play out. They have already rigged the game against us. But the ending to this story isn’t fact yet, and it is entirely up to us to change it.

As you think about this false narrative that they have fabricated for us all, start thinking outside of the box and how we may need to function as a political body, as independent but concerned citizens, as fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, as active citizens against this tyranny being imposed upon our community by traitors of the public trust.

We are fighting for our lives here and the life of our town and the surrounding community. If we allow HiTest to industrialize this town, it will be forever ruined and destroyed as a good, safe place to live. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE will be affected. We simply cannot let this happen, under any circumstances.

Write your own story - get involved. Stand up. Fight back. Do it now.

Happy Halloween Horrors - Please Share Far and Wide!

Hello readers - my name is John Q. Public, and as a concerned citizen of this community, I feel the urgent need to share with you what is now unfolding in our town. Please share this message as widely as you can.

I have been a resident here for the past 14 years, choosing this quiet and peaceful and beautiful place to live as an ideal location to raise my family, and enjoy the great outdoors, all the while knowing that this is really one of the best places in the world to live.

However, I am now horrified to learn that there are community leaders and politicians, elected officials who have been conspiring behind our backs to turn this pristine area into a toxic waste dump. Their justifications for doing this have stunned and startled me deeply, and I have been going through all 5 stages of grief as I try to cope with this horrible news.

I am shocked, saddened, angered and agitated beyond words. Depression and despair have also happened, but I realized that I could not stay silent, I could not allow any of this to happen.

At stake is my own family - and your family, and an entire community of families in Washington and Idaho, who are now being placed at risk by short-sighted, ill-advised and illogical politicians and community leaders bereft of reason and common sense, who have actively conspired behind the backs of every citizen in this area to bring about this toxic silicon smelter project to our town. You can find the evidence yourselves, it is all published online for all to see.

These same people have weakly assured us that they are going to follow safe practices and procedures during the operation of the silicon plant, but these empty promises do not explain the gigantic twin smokestacks that will be built, towering over the town of Newport!

What could they possibly be for? Are they there for our enjoyment and pleasure? Or do they serve some other nefarious purposes of which we have not been fully informed?

The published literature on silicon smelter emissions will reveal the horrible truth - the gigantic smokestacks are used to disperse the emissions, gasses and dust created by the metallurgical smelting operation.

Because they are to be sited immediately over the town of Newport, this means that they will be dumping the toxins directly into the environment over the town, which will in turn be spread throughout the region and every other nearby town by wind, rain, and snow.

During our frequent inversion episodes where the air quality greatly diminishes, and when there are forest fires in our area, we can expect extremely hazardous air conditions unfit for human and plant health. The air will also stink from the sulfur dioxide emissions while invisibly spreading tiny particulate matter poison throughout the region.

These are the “benefits” of silicon smelting that they have completely refused to talk about. So far, they have simply insisted that the economic benefits alone will outweigh any issues that may arise.

What benefits? The smelter will locally employ no more then 40 or fewer actual positions, with the rest going to skilled and trained outsiders coming into the area. The total number of positions is expected to be 125 - 150 employed persons, but you must weigh this all out in exchange for the declining health and disease caused over a town of at least 5000 people in the immediate vicinity - including the elderly, young children and babies and pregnant woman who will also be exposed to these toxins - 24/7, because the smelter will be running 3 shifts, day and night, non-stop.

Is it even remotely reasonable, or even economically balanced, to trade the lives, health, happiness and enjoyment of thousands of resident for a handful of promised jobs? The very notion is absurd, it is completely beyond all reason and sound thinking. It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever and yet, Washington leaders at the State and County level continue to press ahead, despite our extreme concerns, totally ignoring our voices.

We will be living under this cloud of emissions for every day of our lives here. Many of these emissions are invisible to the human eye, undetectable except for their taste and smell, yet they are still there, exercising their deadly poison on our health, shortening our lives and promising many of us a slow, agonizing death later in life.

Our esteemed leaders have had virtually no explanations to offer the residents of this community what health risks, long term exposure and levels of disease we might expect from the sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide exposure. These gasses will be put directly into the air over our town, over our schools, over our businesses, over our homes and will easily find its way into the lungs, eyes, ears and throats of every citizen in the area.

It is also quite clear to those who have bothered to research this as we have, that they have no idea whatsoever what microsilica dust actually IS, or the clear danger it poses to human health, plants, trees, fish and wildlife.

This is the dust that will be emitted by the silicon plant, affecting workers and employees, their clothes, their families and their children. It is the same dust that will be emitted by the tons into the atmosphere and throughout the region, you will find this dangerous dust in your eyes, ears, nose, throat and lungs where it will bury itself there for a entire lifetime - or whatever is now left of it. It cannot be removed. It cannot be cured. You are now literally infected - for life.

This is the dust that causes silicosis, a deadly, totally incurable disease that will leave you dying a slow, miserable, gasping death. There are other diseases of immense concern too, caused by this dust and gasses being emitted, these include cancer, and Chronic Pulmonary Disease.

Smelters are dangerous. To workers, to managers, to truck drivers, to neighborhoods and to towns. They affect wildlife, fish, air quality, water quality and forests. We can expect more tree mortality, more forest fires, acidification of our waterways and lakes, all thanks to this monstrosity coming to town, and all thanks to our local and State government leaders who brought this terror upon us without or permission, without our consent. It’s a real Halloween Horror Show.

Kalispel Tribe Rejects Invitation "Offer" from Pend Oreille County Commissioners

Kalispel Tribe Rejects Invitation "Offer" from Pend Oreille County Commissioners

Everyone should be carefully studying the shenanigans going on with our County Commissioners. I've seen enough to know that Steve Kiss, Karen Skoog and Mike Manus are directly involved and supporting the smelter development. You can read their crimes activities here.

In early October, 2017 the Kalispel Tribe was invited to participate in a "HiTest Executive Committee" scheme devised by the Commissioners. The Tribe saw through this immediately.

This is their response: (link here - http://pendoreilleco.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Kalispel-HiTest-Exec-Comm-Invitiation-Reply.pdf)

Copy of the letter is below (bolded emphasis is mine):

Thank you for the invitation to serve on the HiTest Executive Committee and for recognizing the Kalispel Tribe as a sovereign nation and valued community partner. The Tribe is committed to working with you and other community leaders to evaluate the potential risks and benefits of the proposed smelter; however, it would be premature for us to serve on a committee whose stated objective is to support an industrial development we know next to nothing about. The Tribe has done a considerable amount of research on existing silicon smelter and has yet to identify one that does not generate substantial amount of air pollution. We feel the burden is on HiTest to earn the community’s support by providing data that proves the smelter will provided good jobs without compromising the air and natural resources that are central to our way of life.

If we have misunderstood the objective of the Executive Committee, please let me know. The Tribe is willing to appoint a Council member to sit on the Executive Committee if other Committee members are willing to reserve their support for the the smelter until HiTest proves that it belongs in our community.

Glen Nenema
Chairman, Kalispel Tribe of Indians

Now that is a fantastic letter. The Kalispel Tribe has indeed done considerable research, and has reviewed the Preliminary Air Quality Report contracted out by HiTest that proves they fudged the data, and misrepresented numerous critical facts.

The Tribe is clear on what we must all remember - Pend Oreille County Commissioners have totally failed to represent a fair, unbiased, uncompromising perspective regarding the hazards and dangers of a silicon smelter over the town of Newport and the surrounding region.

The Kalispel Tribe's support for a healthy, safe community is admirable. They've been fighting not only for their nation, but for ours too. And we should thank them for their continued efforts.

You also need to know this fact - Pend Oreille County Commissioners have tried to sabotage the Tribe's request for Class 1 Air Quality designation:

There is no merit in the request for the air quality redesignation. A new classification may discourage companies from bringing their business to Pend Oreille County. We ask that you consider the adverse effects of this designation could bring to our county as well as bordering counties.

All three Commissioners are colluding against the Tribe. Moreover, there is no merit to the constantly claimed "net environmental benefit" which has totally failed to consider the full environmental and health impacts, the actual amount of pollutants emitted, the life cycle carbon footprint of silicon processing and the further full effects upon the environment and human health by the required additional processing into silicon chips suitable for solar panels.

This is not a “green” industry in the slightest - silicon and solar panel processing is extremely pollutive and causing enormous environmental damage with a large carbon footprint when correctly measured. There is no net environmental benefit - which means that the "threshold" required of HiTest Sands, Inc., was really never met and therefore, invalid as a qualified company to meet the Project of Statewide Significance requirements. The only way to demonstrate a "net benefit" is to selectively choose what is measured, which is exactly what happened.

The whole silicon scam being foisted on Pend Oreille County and how it came to even be is based on endless lies and deceptions, County collusion with a foreign corporation, Washington State officials ineptitude and incompetence and more then a little "grease" in the form of grants, public money, and cheap electricity promises.

The "HiTest Executive Committee" is a joke (already) and will be staffed with smelter supporters who fully intend to come to the pre-determined conclusions already set - build the damn thing and poison the town. Don't fall for it.

Pend Oreille County officials are continuing to proceed without honesty, integrity, or disclosure - despite the facts. It's time for a recall - on ALL THREE COMMISSIONERS - NOW.