Excavation reveals unknown ash

Coal ash debris may have been discovered during recent excavations for the Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport Runway Realignment Project. County Commissioner Dean Kinzer reported this during a commission workshop meeting Monday morning.

“WSU used to burn coal for power, so I assume they used it for a dumpsite,” said Kinzer.

Public Works Director Mark Storey was present and said some heavy metal or radioactive material could be present in the ash.

“It could have lots of nasty stuff in it, but it’s not very soluble,” he said.

Troy Henderson, director of Whitman County Public Health, said there was...