A fish advisory for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, sucker and burbot was released in 2008. There is also a Statewide mercury advisory. See page 6 for details. Fifteen beaches were sampled and found to have no apparent public health hazard. See Human Health for details. Additional beach sampling will occur in 2009-2010.

What additional precautions should I take?

Always wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved personal floatation device, use proper clothing and equipment, and know your limits when on the water. Observe National Park Service, Spokane Tribe of Indians, and Colville Confederated Tribes warning and informational signage. Dispose of waste properly and help keep our shorelines clean by removing litter. Leave habitat the way you found it. Pack it in, pack it out.

When will the Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study (RI/FS) be complete?

Nine to twelve years is the current estimate. If necessary, however, EPA can order early cleanup actions before the RI/FS is complete.

Who is participating in and funding the RI/FS?

In 2006, EPA reached an agreement with Teck Cominco (now called Teck) to conduct a Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study (RI/FS) of Lake Roosevelt. Teck is funding RI/FS activities that are overseen by EPA and meet standards set by Superfund law. EPA decisions are made in consultation with what the agreement calls "the participating parties." These include the Colville Confederated Tribes, the Spokane Tribe of Indians, the State of Washington (represented by the Washington Department of Ecology), and the U.S. Department of Interior. Interior agencies include the Bureau of Reclamation, the National Park Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Geological Survey. Although not listed in the agreement, the Washington State Department of Health is also consulted.

Where can I get more information?

The easiest way to find more information is via the world wide web. Sites include:

The Lake Roosevelt Forum: www.lrf.org, click on environment icon.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): http://yosemite.epa.gov/r10/cleanup.nsf/sites/UpperC.
Teck: www.ucr-rifs.com
The United States Geological Survey: http://wa.water.usgs.gov/projects/roosevelt/
The Washington Department of Health: www.doh.wa.gov/fish/

EPA also maintains a document repository at:

Northport Town Hall, 315 Summit St.
Colville Public Library, 195 S. Oak Street
Inchelium Tribal Resource Center, 12 Community Loop
Nespelem: Office of Environmental Trust, Bldg. #2
Grand Coulee Library, 225 Federal Street
Wellpinit: Spokane Tribe, 6290 B Ford-Wellpinit Road
Spokane Library, 906 W. Main