[Vision2020] County Puts Limitations on Salvage Yard CUP

[deb]

While we are dissapointed they gave him 2 years to clean up his 20 year junk 
yard, and one year to get rid of the toxic chemicals which are leaching into 
the water suppluy for us and the Phillips Farm, we understand the reasoning. 
No one had any way to make him comply to anything until now. The County has 
granted him a very limited permit. It does have some teeth in it (though, in 
our opinion, not enough nor sharp enough). He must also now get some State 
permits, which make him answerable to the EPA, DEQ, and IDOT. It is also the 
first time he has been required to inventory all the crap on his place, 
though the Commission didn't set a time limit for the inventory. He is now 
subject to inspections (we hope and pray they will happen before he "buries 
evidence" as his own words suggested in the hearing). And he can be 
inspected by any local or state agency at any time without warning....

RavenCroft Farm has spent 22 years working on being 100% organic/no spray/no 
chemicals/low water/low environmental impact/forest/agriculture land. To 
have this guy directly across the road, directly in the path of our spring 
run-off fed irrigation pond, directly in the watershed for us and the 
Phillips Farm, just grits our teeth. However, the County allowed this to get 
completely out of hand and remitting the disaster is not an easy prospect. 
We appreciate the Zoning Commission's work on this. They really looked at 
everything, and they did the best they could in the situation. Now it's a 
matter of the County finding ways to enforce compliance on Mr. Holbrook. 
Given his long history of evading responsibility, his age (in his 70's), and 
his outlook on the environment, his neighbors, and his evident lack of 
consideration for anyone else, we think it unlikely he will remain in 
compliance nor even begin the clean-up in a timely fashion.

He has a year to clean up the chemicals. He has two years to get rid of his 
estimated approximately 40 wrecked cars (our estimate puts it closer to 
100). He can't bring anything else in to his property. He has to notify us 
if a crusher comes in or an auction will be held there. Our fear is that he 
will not only wait to the last second, but his monthly reports to the County 
will be that he has moved one car, that he made one trip to the toxic 
disposal unit, etc. ad naseum. Meantime, he could be running his backhoe 
non-stop, burying toxic waste, dumping stuff on the ground and covering it 
with dirt, using a torch in tinder dry areas, and thumbing his nose at 
everyone because he thinks he has a God-given right to do as he pleases on 
his own damn place, neighbors and environment be damned.

I feel very sorry for the Zoning Commission--they inherited a mess that 
should never have been allowed to happen....I'm hoping the County offices 
can follow through on compliance, but I'm sure not holding my breath (though 
it's a good idea, as Mr. Holbrook is also known for burning tires and other 
toxic waste).

Debi R-S
RavenCroft Farm


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tom Hansen" <thansen at moscow.com>
To: "Moscow Vision 2020" <vision2020 at moscow.com>
Sent: Thursday, December 16, 2010 10:59 AM
Subject: [Vision2020] County Puts Limitations on Salvage Yard CUP


"All stored hazardous liquids, including oils, antifreeze and transmission
fluids, must be removed from the property in one year."

One year to remove hazardous materials from property within a short
distance of a farming operation (RavenCroft)?!?!?!?!?!?

This is BULL SH*T!!!!!!

I wonder what Daniel Opalski of the Seattle office of the Environmental
Protection Agency would say.

Daniel Opalski, whose EPA duties consist of:

.Investigating contaminated properties;
.Cleaning up contaminated land, sediment, and water for appropriate uses;
.Emergency response;
.Emergency planning and spill prevention;

Danie Opalski, whose email address is opalski.daniel at epa.gov

---------------

Courtesy of today's (December 16, 2010) Moscow-Pullman Daily News.

---------------------------------------------------------

Commission puts strict limitations on salvage yard CUP
Land owner must remove all hazardous liquids within one year
By Christina Lords Daily News Staff Writer

The Latah County Zoning Commission on Wednesday approved a conditional use
permit allowing Larry Holbrook to place a salvage yard on his property on
U.S. Highway 95 near the summit of Steakhouse Hill north of Moscow.

However, the approval came with more than a dozen stipulations.

Several neighbors to the subject property testified Holbrook has been
accumulating vehicles, building materials such as lumber and scrap metals
and other materials for 20 years without proper management of the
property.

Several residents voiced concern over possible fire hazards, as well as
potential water quality issues due to many vehicles leaking liquids onto
the ground.

Holbrook said he is actively trying to get rid of the vehicles and the
other building materials to provide money for his retirement. He said he
did not want to operate a working salvage yard in any way, but the county
suggested the CUP as a way to legally get rid of the materials.

Deputy County Prosecuting Attorney Judith Potter said Holbrook has been
cooperative as the county has worked for years to get his land in
compliance with state and federal codes, but "progress has been
insufficient."

The commission stipulated the following conditions:

- Holbrook is required to obtain and maintain any necessary permits to
comply with all Idaho Transportation Department requirements relating to
the property.

- No additional material may come onto or be stored on the property and
salvage yard operations must take place during daylight hours.

- Holbrook must make an initial inventory of all items on the property and
keep an inventory of items and salvage records and submit that
documentation to the county's Planning and Building Department once a
month.

- Items stored along his property lines must be removed first to diminish
the salvage yard's effects on surrounding property owners.

- Officials from the Planning and Building Department, the prosecutor's
office and the Latah County Sheriff's Office must be allowed at any time
to inspect the property and verify progress is being made on getting rid
of the materials.

- Any large scale auction or salvaging events must be reported to planning
and building and all residences within one mile of Holbrook's property.

- All stored hazardous liquids, including oils, antifreeze and
transmission fluids, must be removed from the property in one year.

- Subsequent and remaining salvage materials must be removed from the
property within two years.

- Only 15 vehicles may be stored on the property, and only eight of those
vehicles may be stored outside. Holbrook said he has about 40 vehicles on
the property now.

The CUP was only granted to Larry Holbrook and may not be transferred to
anyone else that may come to own the property.

There is a two-year time limit on the CUP, and if Holbrook is found
incompliant with the CUP or the permits allotted by ITD he must
immediately remove the salvage equipment from the property or face court
charges, said Planning and Building Director Michelle Fuson.

---------------------------------------------------------

Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to change
and the Realist adjusts his sails."

- Unknown


=======================================================
 List services made available by First Step Internet,
 serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
               http://www.fsr.net
          mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
=======================================================