Folks want to talk about basin cleanup.

They'll get their chance.

In response to public demand for more opportunities to comment on the Upper Coeur d'Alene River Basin Proposed Plan, Sen. Mike Crapo will hold a listening session from 6 to 8 p.m. on Aug. 9 at the Kellogg High School gymnasium.

"The senator was asked by local folks to see if we could have a listening session," said Lindsay Northern, spokesperson for Crapo. "There have been some concerns from some folks on the basin that they'd like to have additional public meetings in addition to what the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) is doing."

There will be plenty of ears to hear residents' complaints.

Also present at the session will be Gov. Butch Otter, Coeur d'Alene Tribal Chairman Chief Allan, Shoshone County Commissioner Jon Cantamessa and EPA Region 10 Administrator Dennis McLerran.

Crapo is a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, which oversees EPA responsibilities.

The senator has already taken the position that he would like the EPA to allow more time for public comment on the proposed cleanup plan, Northern said.

"This is a critical issue. There are a lot of environmental issues, a lot of economic issues," Northern said. "They all deserve careful consideration."

Still, the goal of the listening session is to take all sides into account, he said.

"There are different sides on the issue, obviously," he said. "If we can find some common ground, that will hasten whatever environmental cleanup activities can be taken."