BOISE, Idaho (From news reports) -- A Washington state company with land holdings in Idaho will pay $6 million in a settlement with the federal government over the cleanup of a northern Idaho Superfund site.

Potlatch Corporation and its subsidiary, Potlatch Land & Lumber, signed an agreement in early February with the Department of Justice, Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Highway Administration.

"The site is completely cleaned up and we don't anticipate any more costs," Justice Department spokesman Wyn Hornbuckle said in an email.

The Justice Department said in court documents that a railroad company that went bankrupt caused the initial pollution that included arsenic and lead at the Avery Landing Superfund Site next to the St. Joe River near the town of Avery. Activities by Potlatch made the pollution problem worse, making that company financially responsible, the court papers said.

It demanded $13.5 million in 2015 for reimbursement costs for the federal cleanup. The company and federal officials signed a consent decree in early February, agreeing to a $6 million settlement.

Mark Benson, Potlatch's vice president of public affairs, didn't respond.

"Our concern at the Avery Landing site was the contamination leaking into the St. Joe's River," the Environmental Protection Agency said in a statement. The EPA said it removed more than 116,000 tons (105,233 metric tons) of contaminated soil and treated about 22 million gallons (83 million liters) of contaminated groundwater.

"Yearly monitoring has shown the site has been successfully cleaned up and is ready for re-use and re-development," the agency said.

About 66 miles of the St. Joe River, beginning upstream of Avery, has been designated part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System and offers a range of recreational opportunities.

The site has mixed ownership that includes Potlatch, the state of Idaho and a private owner. The Federal Highway Administration was involved because pollution spread from the site to soil beneath nearby National Forest Highway 50.

The entire 10-acre site, according to court documents, was owned from 1907 to the 1980s by the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul, and Pacific Railroad, which used the area for refueling and maintenance. The company went bankrupt, and another company emerged from those proceedings and also went bankrupt.

Potlatch or Potlatch subsidiaries have owned portions of the site since about 1980.

The lawsuit said that Potlatch demolished above and below ground structures at the site to make way for log and materials storage, a rail line, and housing for employees.

Demolishing structures, the lawsuit said, spread contamination. Potlatch's attempt to clean up the area, the lawsuit said, made the problem worse because the company didn't use any form of treatment or filtration to remove hazardous substances and ultimately forced the migration of hazardous substances into the soil and groundwater.

The consent decree must be approved by a federal judge. The Justice Department is taking public comments on the agreement through March 23.

****

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES:

* An expanding company is looking for a Corporate Industrial Electro-Mechanical Engineer near Allentown, PA. Relocation is available. Do you have a storied list of unique electrical and mechanical engineering skills you're ready to take to the next level? Do you envision yourself in a corporate-level leadership role that your experience finally merits? And do you relish any opportunity to troubleshoot and solve real-time problems, all while designing and installing new services and systems that will not only ensure safety, but also turn a potentially hazardous work environment into a continuously thriving one? If you are interested or would like more information, please contact Jim Thompson at: jthompson@taii.com Ph. 678-206-6010 Cell: 404-822-3412.

* An expanding company is looking for hands-on Electro Mechanical Maintenance Techs in Conyers, Georgia. Preference will be given to candidates with higher education and additional certificates or training. You must be able to work any shift. Pay is negotiable with excellent perks and benefits. Relocation assistance is available to the right candidate. If you are interested or would like more information, please contact Jim Thompson at: jthompson@taii.com Ph. 678-206-6010 Cell: 404-822-3412.

* Working as a Consultant? Looking for some additional challenges with a flexible scheduling? Have a background in Consistency Control? This may be just the opportunity you are looking for: A large multi-national automation company seeks an expert in paper mill consistency technology. This individual will facilitate application support and start-ups in the paper mill environment. In addition, the ability to provide troubleshooting and technical advice and support is strongly desired. The individual should have an understanding of rotary, blade, microwave and optical consistency and the application of these devices in the paper mill. The company sells and maintains a line of consistency transmitters, sample valves and sheet break detectors. These products are marketed in the US through a rep. network. Knowledge of sheet break detection technology is also desirable. Individual must be willing to travel to paper production facilities across the US. Travel & Living Expenses to be reimbursed along with an agreed upon daily per diem rate. For more information, please contact Jim Thompson at: jthompson@taii.com Ph. 678-206-6010 Cell: 404-822-3412.

****

Jim Thompson is back again...with a new book on a taboo subject: the personalities in the pulp & paper industry. Jim has written in the past on many subjects based on his four plus decades in the worldwide pulp and paper industry. This new book is packed full of information valuable to the senior member of the industry as well as the recent entrant. A must for every pulp and paper library.