Custer, ID

Low Risk (19/100)

Transparent derived index from EPA TRI / SDWIS / Superfund extracts: not an official EPA rating. Fixed caps: facilities ≤25 pts (50+ = max), log10 releases ≤25 pts, Superfund ≤25 pts (5/site), health-violation systems ≤15 pts (3/system), high-chemical facilities ≤10 pts. Bands: High ≥60, Moderate ≥30. See methodology.

Environmental data for Custer in Idaho · Population: 4,411

TRI sites such as Thompson Creek Mining Co; SDWIS systems such as CHALLIS CITY OF; MACKAY CITY OF; ROUND VALLEY WATER ASSN anchor Custer, ID's EPA extract. Derived burden score 19/100 (Low Risk) uses fixed national caps on density, log release volume, Superfund count, and health-flagged systems - not an official EPA rating.

Thompson Creek Mining Co is among the largest Form R filers reporting in Custer; no SDWIS system here carries an active health-based flag. AQS median AQI 6 / peak 152 in 2024.

Burden score 19/100 (Low Risk) is the only weighted composite on this page. The tables below list every TRI facility, SDWIS system, and Superfund site EPA has on record for Custer -- not just the names called out above -- reproducing the disclosure history as filed, not a current-safety verdict. Extract current as of 2026-08-25.

Release-over-release change

What changed for Custer, ID: EPA TRI 2023 reporting year

2022 → 2023

Same facilities, both years

+181.6%

1 facilities that filed in 2022 and 2023

Whole inventory

+181.6%

62.2 thousand lb → 175.2 thousand lb, every facility that filed

  • Custer, ID's total reported releases rose from 62.2 thousand lb in 2022 to 175.2 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • Custer, ID's water releases rose from 0 lb in 2022 to 29.3 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • Custer, ID's land releases rose from 62.2 thousand lb in 2022 to 146.0 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • Custer, ID's chemicals reported fell from 2 in 2022 to 1 in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
County population (Census ACS)
4,411
TRI Facilities
1
Water Systems
3
Superfund Sites
0
Total Releases
1.1M lbs

Air Quality History (2020–2024)

EPA Air Quality Index (AQI) data showing how many days per year fall into each air quality category.

Year Good Moderate Unhealthy (SG) Max AQI
2024 94 (86%) 9 5 152
2023 103 (99%) 1 0 60
2022 98 (93%) 7 0 98
2021 93 (85%) 17 0 99
2020 105 (91%) 7 3 126
2024 Good Air Quality: 86% of days
Unhealthy days: 6
Median AQI: 6

Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by County AQI categories: Good (0-50), Moderate (51-100), Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101-150), Unhealthy (151-200), Very Unhealthy (201-300), Hazardous (301+)

For real-time air quality readings and pollutant breakdowns in Idaho, see the EPA's AirNow.gov.

Water Systems (3)

System System pop (SDWIS) Violations
CHALLIS CITY OF 900 0
MACKAY CITY OF 566 0
ROUND VALLEY WATER ASSN 125 0

TRI Facilities (1)

# Facility Total Releases
1 Thompson Creek Mining Co 1.1M lbs

Cities in Custer (3)

Clayton
1 facilities · 0 water
Challis
0 facilities · 2 water
Mackay
0 facilities · 1 water

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the environmental risk level in Custer, Idaho?
Custer, ID has an environmental risk score of 19/100 (Low Risk), based on 1 TRI facilities, 0 Superfund sites, and 3 water systems on record. No water systems have current health-based violations. Source: EPA TRI, SDWIS, and Superfund NPL.
Are there Superfund sites in Custer?
No Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) sites are currently registered in Custer, ID in the EPA database.
How many toxic release facilities are in Custer?
Custer, ID has 1 TRI-reporting facility on record with the EPA Toxic Release Inventory, with a combined total of 1.1M lbs in reported toxic releases. TRI facilities self-report annual chemical release data to the EPA.
What is the air quality in Custer?
In 2024, Custer, ID recorded a median AQI of 6 and a peak AQI of 152. 86% of monitored days had "Good" air quality (AQI 0–50). Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by County.
Is the drinking water safe in Custer?
Custer, ID has 3 EPA-regulated water systems. No health-based violations are currently on record. For current water quality, contact your local water utility. Source: EPA SDWIS.
What environmental agencies cover Custer?
Environmental compliance in Custer, Idaho is overseen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at the federal level and the Idaho state environmental agency. Facilities report to the EPA Toxic Release Inventory, water systems are regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act, and contaminated sites are managed under the Superfund program. Contact your state environmental agency for local concerns.

What does this county environmental profile show?

This county environmental profile rolls up EPA Toxics Release Inventory facility reports, Safe Drinking Water Information System public-water-system filings, and Superfund National Priorities List sites for the county boundary defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. Facility counts reflect facilities with a reporting address inside the county, not where downstream environmental effects may be observed. Population figures are from the most recent Census ACS 5-year estimate. The county detail page is updated whenever the upstream EPA programs publish revised data; see the methodology page for the documented ingest cadence and the editorial choices governing how aggregations are computed.

Related

Data sourced from U.S. EPA environmental datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainEnviro