PONDERAY — The city of Ponderay is kicking off planning efforts for eventual cleanup of its contaminated shoreline property during a public open house at 5 p.m. Monday, March 2, in Ponderay City Hall, 288 Fourth.

Last year, the city was awarded an $800,000 federal multipurpose grant from the Environmental Protection Agency for the planning and cleanup of the historic Panhandle Smelting & Refining Company site on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille. The site is locally known as the “Black Rock” swimming hole, which is actually an old slag heap from historic mining operations.

The city’s property, located beyond the metal gate at the end of the Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail, is contaminated with heavy metals, such as lead and arsenic. The project is in its beginning stages, and this first public meeting is an effort to educate the public about the need and purpose of the grant.

The open house will be an hour long and followed by the Ponderay City Council meeting.

Information: 208-265-5468

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