By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
Another bi-product of the EPA (Environmental
Protection Agency) clean-up in Eureka is that the Army now
owns some of the city property.
The EPA came to Eureka to remove and clean up
lead-contaminated soil in the historic mining town.
"We have been informed that the United State
Department of the Army does not pay taxes on real property,"
said Shirl Nichols, Juab County Assessor.
The Corps cleans up hazardous waste for the EPA at
hundreds of superfund sites. Eureka is just one of those
sites.
The county commission agreed that there was not much
recourse but to excuse the tax of $307 on six parcels of
property acquired by the 1457 Engineering Corp of the Army
Engineers.
"Next year they will be exempted," said Nichols.
The property on the rolls for 2005 will already be
recognized as belonging to the Army. Therefore, the Army
will not be charged a property tax on those parcels.
"The taxes on those parcels will now, on unanimous
vote of the commission, be abated for the year 2004," said
Wm. Boyd Howarth, commission chair.
Since 2000, lead has been removed from 71 homes in
Eureka. Each house costs $40,000-$50,000 to clean up.
Now the EPA has shifted its attention to piles of
waste that came from the mines and which are a priority
because they are the primary source of lead.
The EPA has capped three of five targeted waste piles.
The capping prevents erosion and keeps soil from blowing
away in the wind.
The Army Corp of Engineers obtained the parcels of
property, which are now property tax exempt, as part of the
effort to remove the hazardous waste in order to assist the
clean up process.
The Army is involved because, when requested, the
Corps provides engineering expertise to other agencies and
engineering professionals to help remove toxic wastes.
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