Silver Valley History:  The history of the Coeur d'Alene River Basin and the Silver Valley is long and complicated. For more than 100 years, the basin has been one of the most productive silver, zinc and lead mining areas in the United States. But over those years, mining waste has contaminated most of the Silver Valley and Coeur d'Alene Lake in Idaho and parts of the Spokane River in Washington.

Superfund Designation:  In 1983 the United States Enviornmental Protection Agency officially listed a 21 square mile area, refered to as "the box," that surrounded the Bunker Hill Mining and Metalurgical Complex.

Operable Units 1 and 2:  The operable units 1 and 2 are loosely defined as the populated and unpopulated areas within the 21 square mile "box"

Operable Unit 3:  In 1998, EPA began efforts to expand the superfund site past the original 21 square miles. This effort resulted in Operable Unit 3 and addresses any contaminated area outside of the box.

For more information visit the Basin Environmental Improvement Commission Website.