Idaho
Idaho Department of Environmental Quality revokes permit granted to Perpetua Resources
The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality Board of Environmental Quality Wednesday pulled back a permit granted last year to Perpetua Resources for its planned gold and antimony mine at Stibnite in Valley County.
The Nez Perce Tribe and multiple conservation groups had appealed the air permit, saying it allowed excessive dust-based toxic air pollution beyond the mine’s boundaries, threatening land users with carcinogens like arsenic. The main focus of the challenge was the permit’s “project-specific adjustment factor for ambient concentration.” State rules do allow an “acceptable risk” level of contaminants released into the air, depending on a variety of factors.
The permit DEQ granted Perpetua allowed greater emissions than generally allowed because of the way expected toxic air emissions (known as Ambient Air Concentration for Carcinogen, or AACC) were calculated over the 16-year predicted life of the mine versus a standard human life span, explained the Idaho Conservation League’s Will Tiedemann.
“It’s kind of like saying, if you were allowed so much arsenic to be exposed to in 70 years, let’s allow Perpetua to emit that much arsenic in just 16 years,” he said.
ICL was among the groups challenging the air permit, and have filed multiple challenges to the proposed mine over other environmental concerns.
DEQ board members ultimately agreed that pro-rating emissions in that way was not a safe calculation.
“DEQ’s project specific adjustment factor creates a new, higher level of cancer risk for 16 years,” said board Vice President J Randy MacMillan during Wednesday’s determination meeting. He said the approved permit did not fit within any measure of ‘acceptable risk’ identified in the state’s air quality rules.
MacMillan spoke at length Wednesday from a prepared statement regarding the board’s reasoning behind remanding that portion of the air permit. The board in March heard oral arguments over the issue, but deliberated in closed executive session before primarily relying on MacMillan to speak publicly.
“By applying the, what I would call short sighted, project-specific adjustment factor to the Stibnite Gold project,” he said. “DEQ created a misleading risk analysis that greatly underestimates the actual cancer risk.”
The board unanimously voted to pull the permit back to DEQ to be reworked based on that finding. It upheld several other aspects of the permit which had also been challenged by the outside groups.
It’s not clear how the decision could affect Perpetua’s planned site operations. The air permit is one of a handful of ‘major’ permits needed to fully operate, in addition to approvals through the federal National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review process. A Forest Service spokesman said the final environmental impact statement and draft record of decision for the Stibnite Gold project should be released this summer, with a final record of decision issued by the end of the year. Those dates are only estimates.
Prep work at Stibnite has been underway for several years already, including as of 2022, SuperFund-sponsored cleanup of some previous mining leftovers. Perpetua has long said their plan is to mine the area and fully remediate their impact and the mess previous companies left behind after decades of mining.
Perpetua could appeal the DEQ board’s decision in state court. In a statement, the company characterized the board’s action as remanding only a ‘narrow issue’ for additional review, and said it will work with DEQ to respond. But Perpetua reserved additional reaction until after it receives the full written order from DEQ May 9.
Tiedemann called the board’s decision a big win that validates opposition groups’ concerns about the project.
“It’s maybe not as glamorous or as romanticized as water,” Tiedemann said. “But harmful effects on air quality can be just as significant and harmful to human health and the environment as water pollution. And so I think it’s an important win.”
The Idaho Transportation Department has quite a few large projects happening around the state. One of those is the replacement of the I84 interchange to Burley and Heyburn. The work began in 2024, and a new step in the progress begins this week.
There will be a number of bridge and ramp closures that will affect traffic on Interstate 84 this week while crews work. The closures will also impact access and traffic on State Highway 24, Centennial Drive, Highway 30, and State Highway 25 in the area.
Part of I84 Will Close This Week in Southern Idaho For Bridge and Ramp Work
The Idaho Transportation Department shared an update and the details of the closures today on social media. Drivers should be cautious and pay attention to signs regarding traffic changes during the closures, which are expected to last through Friday, May 15th.
Beginning on Monday evening, at 6 PM, crews closed Interstate 84 at exit 211 to work on the new bridge. Traffic in the area should use exit 211 to bypass the closure. Work should be finished by 7 AM on Tuesday, but it could still affect the morning drive for some travelers.
READ ALSO: 5 Injured in Southern Idaho Head-on Collision
On Tuesday, the Exit 211 on and off ramps will close intermittently while crews repave SH24. Centennial Drive will also close at some point during this work. The ramps will alternate closures for 6 to 8 hours, and work is expected to continue through Friday. The social media post shares suggestions on alternate routes for drivers during the closures.
Lane reductions are expected to last through June on State Highway 24. Details on the project can be found on the ITD website.
36 of the Worst Idaho License Plate Rejections From 2025
We have to admit that we don’t understand all of these, but the ones that we do really make us question why someone would want these on their car. This isn’t even all of them – we were sent 28 pages with 25 to 30 submissions on each page of rejected personalized plates from 2025.
Gallery Credit: Credit N8 Bird
There’s something special and timeless about the Costco food court.
Having a Costco Card doesn’t just mean you unlock your grocery shopping there but you now get to go to the best food court known to man: The Costco Foodcourt.
Everyone loves their great prices and great options. Whether you’ve wanted to get a pizza to share with your family or one of their beloved giant hot dogs everyone’s got a good reason to go to the Costco Foodcourt.
Costco has been adding a lot of new menu items recently including fun ice cream flavors. Now they have yet again added something new to their menu.
Idaho Costcos
Where to find Costcos in Idaho.
Gallery Credit: Shannon Buccola
Costco has added a new menu item that everyone is already going crazy for. In a new viral Instagram reel an influencer revealed that Costco food courts around the country would be adding chicken strips to their menu! This feels like the perfect addition to the already extremely popular Costco food court and we can already see everyone going crazy over this new menu item.
Credit: Instagram/costcohotfinds
As of right now it appears the chicken tenders are going to be 6.99 and include 5 chicken strips. They also seemingly have a new sauce that is going to be paired with these chicken strips and it looks delicious!
Credit: Instagram/costcohotfinds
You’ll have to check out all of the local Idaho Costcos for when these hit stores because they just look delicious!
Look at those chicken tenders:
Costco Foodcourt’s New Item
It’s a Caramel Brownie Sundae!!!
Gallery Credit: Shannon Buccola
Change Complete at Costco’s Food Courts
Who would have thought that an age old debate would bring out such a reaction in Costco shoppers!?
Gallery Credit: Mateo, 103.5 KISS FM
You’ve heard that our federal Constitution was made for a moral people. The line is attributed to the founding father and second President, John Adams. Notice he said “moral,” not “Christian.” One of my friends was a graduate of Liberty University, a prestigious Christian school. His mission in life was to evangelize, but he always cautioned his listeners that our founders spoke of a Creator, and not Jesus. Some of our early leaders were devout Christians. Many of them were also womanizers, drinkers, and gave religion no more than lip service. They were people who wanted to be left alone, and if they practiced faith, it was personal, and they didn’t believe it was the government’s role to dictate morality.
They Mock Good People of Other Faiths
I’m reminded of a story about the 2024 Republican National Convention. Harmeet Dhillon, a rising star in the party, spoke. She referenced her Sikh faith, and someone in the crowd felt compelled to shout “Jesus is Lord!” Now, maybe a majority believes that, but are you sure He wants you to taunt good and moral people? Or would God prefer a gentler approach? For instance, you could pray for conversions.
Where does the Great Commission instruct you to be rude to people of good moral character?
Idaho’s Glenneda Zuiderveld was an alternate delegate, and when a seatmate said the man was rude, the state senator dismissed the argument. “We’re all going to be judged,” she said. What’s a Senator’s purpose in politics?
The Pot Calling the Kettle Black
A few days ago, a local church had a men-only event for candidates. A group of liberal women demonstrated outside. I don’t know why they can’t organize their own event instead, but apparently, they would rather be confrontational. They’ve accomplished nothing more than preening and making a claim that they’re more virtuous, but the church is within its rights to hold a men-only event. If you want a women’s only event, I’m not bothered. Let me add a caveat. Some of the men involved believe that it’s okay to berate members of the LDS Church as they enter the temple. I wouldn’t say screaming at someone that they’re going to hell is a sign of moral people. Again, if you think they’re wrong, then pray for them.
Some people wonder why they’re called Christian nationalists. Do we need to draw them some pictures?
Brad Little Through The Years
Gallery Credit: Kevin Miller
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