CERCLA IMMINENT HAZARD - US EPA

SiteNameSource ofContaminationCost ofCleanupStateNature of DamageGround waterBingham CreekChannel - Phase IUTExtensive copper andlead mining. 3,250,000Bingham CreekChannel - Phase IIUTOpen pit miningactivities.NABingham ReservoirUTCopper tailings.NA- EPAcosts limitedto oversight.Essex CopperProcessing PlantUTCopper processingfacility. 392,200Kennecott Tailings(North Zone)UTMineral processingactivities.NAKennecott Tailings(South Zone)UTMining of gold, silver,and copper.NANA Information Not AvailableSurface waterHuman ExposureOtherContinued releaseof lead posedthreat to surfacewater.High concentrations oflead posed threat tochildren in thesurrounding area.Exposure of lead tolivestock was a primarythreat. Large amount ofsoil contaminated withhigh levels of lead.Potential adverse impactsfrom migration ofcontamination in soils.Potential adverseimpacts frommigration ofcontamination insoils.Incidental ingestion ofcontaminated soil orinhalation ofcontaminated dustparticles presented anactual and potential threatto human health.Potential adverse impactson surroundingecosystem.Ground water has beencontaminated by heavymetals up to two milesfrom site.Surface waterquality in nearbycreeks and riversthreatened.Toxic effects of severalheavy metals (copper,lead, nickel, zinc) posed asubstantial potential threatto public health.Copper and zincconcentrations were toxicto aquatic life.High concentrations ofPCBs, phenol, andphenol compounds posedan imminent andsubstantial threat tohuman health.Wildlife in adjacent areasthreatened by exposure tocontaminated soil,standing water, andsediments.Wastes deposited inunlined impoundmentsand spills have causedmetal-bearing groundwater contamination.Potential health risks forthose using private wellsor those who ingest soilscontaminated with leadand arsenic.Wetlands on or near thesite are threatened. Earlysmelter emissionsdevastated surroundingvegetation.Plume of ground watercontaminated withmetals, acids and sulfates.Leach water escaping thecollection systemcontaminated a principalaquifer.Potential health risks areassociated with directcontact and ingestion ofcontaminated soils andgroundwater.

SiteSource ofContaminationCost ofCleanupNameStateKern River/BinghamCreek PipelineUTMineral extraction andbeneficiation activities.NALeeds SilverReclamation SiteUTSilver and copperextraction. Stockpile,leach pile and collectionpond are specificsources. 579,000Midvale SlagUTCopper and leadsmelting activitiesNASandy SmelterUTLead, copper, and zincsmelting activities. 5,880,900Sharon Steel(Midvale Tailings)UTMilling and smeltingoperations. 5,063,000Yttrium ProcessingPlantWYExtraction of yttriumfrom ore. 49,200Nature of DamageGround waterNA Information Not AvailableSurface waterHuman ExposureOtherUpper two inchesof soil arecontaminated withhigh levels oflead, which arereleased intosurroundingwaters.Potential exposure to leadconstitutes an imminentand substantialendangerment to humanhealth.Contamination posesthreat to livestock andwildlife. Soils haveelevated levels of lead andarsenic.Arsenic, beryllium, andmercury are present insub-surface waters.Arsenic,beryllium, andmercury arepresent in surfacewaters.Potential for substantialrisk to human health ifsediment or waste waterreleased.The sediment and water inthe site ponds are acutelytoxic to aquatic organismsand a release would resultin severe ecologicaldamage.Ground water andsediments arecontaminated with heavymetals including arsenic,cadmium, lead, andchromium.Nearby river ispotentiallycontaminatedfrom run-off fromthe site andgroundwaterdischarge.Drinking contaminatedground and surface wateras well as ingestingcontaminated soil posepotential human healthrisks.On-site soils contaminatedwith cadmium, lead,arsenic, and chromium.Lead contamination ofsoils posed an immediaterisk to human health.Shallow ground watercontaminated with heavymetals such as arsenic,iron, manganese, andzinc.Nearby rivercontaminated withheavy metals.Exposure to lead andarsenic through directcontact with or inhalationof contaminated soilsposes greatest potentialhuman health risk.Soil contaminated withheavy metals. Nearbywetlands contain heavymetals and zinc tailings.Threat to human healthposed by exposure tolead, uranium and otherradiologicalcontaminants.Site soils had highconcentrations of lead,radium, yttrium, zinc,copper and mercury.

CHAPTER 2.CERCLA § 106 ACTION EVALUATIONSThis chapter presents 72 abatement actions that have taken place at mineral extraction, beneficiation, andprocessing sites since 1985. These federal actions were taken in response to an "imminent and substantialendangerment to the public health or welfare or the environment because of an actual or threatened release of ahazardous substance from a facility." The actions are listed alphabetically by state and within each statealphabetically by site name, as shown in Exhibit 2-1. Detailed information on each of the actions follows thisexhibit.Also, the following sites are summarized and are in addition to the sites in exhibit 1.1. Blackbird Mine, Lemhi County, Idaho-IDD 980725832-This is an abandoned mine and millwhich covers 830 acres with an 18 acre open pit and 4.8 million tons of waste rock. Operations ceasedin 1967. There is evidence of soil, surface water and ground water contamination at the site. In 1993,Noranda entered into an Administrative Order to divert the west fork of Blackbird Creek. EPA Actionmemo for a Non-Time Critical Removal dated June 16, 1995, estimated the removal cost at 24,000,000. In 1993 the state filed a natural resource damage claim which has not yet been finalized.2. Success mine, Wallace, Shoshone County, Idaho-IDD 984674986-This closed zinc, lead andsilver mine operated from 1900 to 1945. The main source of soil, surface water and ground watercontamination are runoff through large tailings piles. Heavy metal contamination is noted at the site.EPA Action Memo for Removal Action dated September, 21, 1993 estimated the cost of the removal at 905,000.3. Arsenic mines, Kent, New York-This abandoned arsenic mine includes two shafts. The sitehas caused ground water contamination. EPA Preliminary Assessment and Request for CERCLAFunding dated July 7, 1988 estimated the cost of removal at 125,000.4. Aluminum Company of America-Riverdale Iowa-This site produced aluminum ingots,aluminum sheet and plate, and foil rolling mills. It is referred to as the Alcoa-Davenport Works. Alcoaentered into a 1990 Administrative Order on consent (Docket 90-F-0027) to address groundwatercontamination from on-site impoundments holding grease, solvents, pickle liquors, paint coatings, andPCBs. EPA Administrative order on Consent for Removal Action and RI/FS dated August 14, 1995(CERCLA Docket 95-F-0026) indicated that contamination from the impoundments required additionalaction to control ground water contamination. No cost estimates for this removal have been preparedpending completion of the RI/FS.February 19, 1997Page 9

Iron Mountain MineSite Overview: This site is located nine milesnorthwest of Redding, California. From 1865 to1963, this site was mined for iron, silver, gold,copper, zinc, and pyrite. Underground mineworkings, waste rock dumps, piles of ore minetailings, and an open mine pit still remain at thesite today. Surface water has been contaminatedby sulfuric acid, zinc, copper, and cadmium.Site Mining Activity: From 1865 to 1963, this 4,400acre site was used for the mining and processing ofcopper, silver, gold, zinc, and pyrite. Although miningoperations were discontinued in 1963, undergroundmine workings, waste rock dumps, piles of ore, milltailings, and an open mine pit remain at the site. Inrecent years, metal recovery activity has been limitedto extracting copper from acid mine drainage usingcopper cementation.Nature and Type of Contamination: The miningactivity at this site fractured the mountain, exposingminerals in the mountain to surface water, rain water, and oxygen. Exposure of pyrite to moisture and oxygenresulted in the formation of sulfuric acid. This sulfuric acid runs through the mountain and leaches out copper,cadmium, zinc, and other heavy metals, flowing out of the seeps and portals of the mine. Much of the drainage ischanneled into the Spring Creek Reservoir by creeks surrounding the site.Nature of Environmental Damages: Surface water has been contaminated by the release of sulfuric acid,copper, zinc, and cadmium from the mine. Accidental ingestion or direct contact with contaminated water or minedrainage poses a human health risk. There is a potential for accumulation of contaminants in fish. The unplannedrelease of contaminants acutely toxic to fisheries into Spring Creek Reservoir has led to the steady decline in fishpopulations and contributed to the listing of the Winter Run Chinook Salmon as an endangered species.Type of Cleanup Utilized: This site is being addressed in five stages: emergency actions and four long-termremedial phases focusing on water management, and cleanup of Boulder Creek, the Old Mine/No. 8 Mine, and theentire site. The Spring Creek Debris Dam was constructed in 1963 to act as a sediment basin and to control acidmine drainage. Cementation plants were constructed in 1940 and 1977 to recover copper from the drainage. InFebruary 1989, EPA constructed an emergency lime neutralization plant to reduce metal discharges from the siteby 50 percent.Estimated or Actual Costs of Cleanup: The cost of cleanup has been estimated at 68.1 million.Party(ies) Responsible for the Action: This site is being addressed through Federal and potentially responsibleparties' actions.February 19, 1997Page 10

ColoradoCalifornia GulchSite Overview: This site, located 100 miles westof Denver, Colorado, is a 130-year old mining areacovering eighteen and one-half square miles of awatershed area along the California Gulch.Surface water, sediments, and ground water arecontaminated with heavy metals. The ArkansasRiver receives water from the California Gulch andis heavily used for irrigation, livestock watering,public water supply, fisheries, and recreation.Approximately 4,000 people live in nearbyLeadville and Lake County.Site Mining Activity: This site covers a watershedarea that drains along California Gulch to the ArkansasRiver. The area was mined extensively for gold, silver,lead, copper, zinc, and manganese. The Yak Tunnelwas built by miners to drain water from the mine worksand to make mineral exploration and developmenteasier. Seventeen smelters operated at various timesaround the city of Leadville and processed silver, lead,and zinc.Nature and Type of Contamination: CaliforniaGulch collects large amounts of highly-contaminatedwater draining from former mining, milling, andsmelting operations; this contaminated water flows to anearby major river, where measured concentrations of cadmium and zinc have exceeded EPA’s drinking waterstandards. Copper, lead, and arsenic are also present in this contaminated water flow. It is estimated that the YakTunnel drains hundreds of miles of mine workings and discharges water containing 210 tons of various heavymetals each year. Residues of heavy metals are present in many parts of Leadville, and contaminated run-offflows through the local town storm drains and streets.Nature of Environmental Damages: The surface water, sediments, and ground water are contaminated withheavy metals such as cadmium, copper, lead, arsenic, and zinc. The water in shallow ground water wells andsome private wells exceeds EPA's drinking water standards for cadmium and zinc. Arsenic, cadmium, and leadare present in waste piles and soils. There have been adverse effects observed in the fish population of theArkansas River, and vegetation in pastures downstream are contaminated. Other potential threats to the health ofthe resident population include direct contact with contaminants in the soil.Type of Cleanup Utilized: The site is being addressed in six stages. In 1986, EPA emergency response workersextended public water supply system lines to residences using private wells. In 1990, the storm water drainagesystem in the area was improved to prevent contaminated surface water from coming into contact with residentialareas. Other early actions addressed mine tailing impoundments and mine waste rock piles at the site, as well asstream sediment. In 1991, the EPA modified remedy features by installing a surge pond to capture tunnel drainageand dissipate the effect of surges from the tunnel, constructing a treatment system for tunnel water before it wasdischarged, installing a flow control bulkhead in the tunnel to stop the uncontrolled discharge of mine drainage,preparing a contingency plan, and establishing a surface water and ground water monitoring system. Theseoperations have improved water quality significantly. In addition, metal-contaminated sludges resulting fromtreatment plant operations are being shipped off-site for recycling at a potentially responsible party's East HelenaSmelter.Estimated or Actual Costs of Cleanup: The cost of the cleanup was to be paid by the potentially responsibleparties, ASARCO and Resurrection Mining Company. However, both alleged that the United States was liable formining operations conducted in Leadville during World War II. Therefore, the United States and the State ofColorado are paying 6.1 million and 225,000 respectively to the potentially responsible parties to be used in sitecleanup. Eight and one-half million dollars was paid for immediate site work and the operations addressingcontamination in the Yak Tunnel. One and a quarter million dollars was paid for immediate site work and thecleanup of slag piles throughout the site.February 19, 1997Page 11

ColoradoParty(ies) Responsible for the Action: This site is being addressed through Federal and potentially responsibleparties' actions.February 19, 1997Page 12

ColoradoCaptain Jack Mine and MillSite Mining Activity: The site was an active silvermining and milling facility for 29 years, ceasingoperations in 1984. However, recent maintenance workis evident, implying that the site is not totallyabandoned. Residents near the mill area indicate thatthe mill facility probably processed ore from othermines after its closure and may occasionally performprocessing activities. The mill site consists of oremilling and processing equipment and a mine shaft situated on what appears to be old tailings. Further upstream isanother mine shaft with a water discharge and a tailings pile and pond.Site Overview : The Captain Jack Mill and Mineare located in the foothills above Boulder,Colorado approximately two miles southwest of thetown Ward. The site is adjacent to Left HandCreek.Nature and Type of Contamination: Seven 55-gallon drums containing a slightly corrosive substance and seven30-gallon drums containing “Aerofix,” an acidic liquid used in film development, were found on-site. Tailingscontained in the area may contain high concentrations of heavy metals and elevated levels of arsenic and cyanidefrom the treatment and processing of the ore. Samples from drum piles indicated elevated levels of lead andarsenic, possibly from the spillage of materials from drums or contamination from various processes that occurredon-site. The tailings pile, pond, and upper mine shaft discharge are typical of other front range mining operationsand pose no immediate threat. These areas, however, do present potential long-term environmental concerns.Nature of Environmental Damages: The deteriorating drums were close to the access road and Left HandCreek, and access to the site was unrestricted. The corrosive nature of the drums’ contents created potential threatto public health and welfare and the environment. Contact by the public with the low pH liquids would havecaused burns to the exposed skin or eyes, and ingestion of the material would also have been harmful. A release ofthe liquids would have affected aquatic life, and posed a threat to downstream users.Type of Cleanup Utilized: Removal activities began on December 8, 1987, when Emergency Response CleanupServices were activated. Due to the deteriorated condition of the drums, the liquids were pumped into 55-gallonpoly-drums and secured on-site until disposal arrangements were finalized. The drums were later disposed of at aRCRA-permitted disposal facility.Estimated or Actual Costs of Cleanup: The actual cost of the cleanup was 24,137, including EPA payroll,EPA indirect, Technical Assistance Team cost, and ERCS cost.Party(ies) Responsible for the Action: The Mine Safety Health Administration reported the potential release toEPA. The only identified potentially responsible parties at the site were Captain Jack Company and the currentproperty owner. The current property owner provided access, but did not participate in the removal. TheColorado Department of Health was informed of the Removal Action, but did not assist. The Technical AssistanceTeam completed the sampling activities and the Emergency Response Cleanup Services conducted the removal.February 19, 1997Page 13

ColoradoCentral City/ Clear CreekSite Overview: This site is located approximately30 miles west of Denver, Colorado. Extensivegold mining took place during the late 1800s,contaminating the soils with heavy metals.Recreational uses of Clear Creek include fishing,kayaking, rafting, tubing, gold panning, andwildlife watching. Clear Creek and its tributariesare used in whole or in part as a drinking watersource by several municipalities. Active mines arestill present at some locations in Gilpin and ClearCreek Counties, where the Upper Clear Creekdrainage basin is located.Site Mining Activity: Gold, silver, copper, lead,molybdenum, and zinc mining began in the late 1800s.There are 25 mines and six milling operations currentlyactive. Due to the nature of the contamination this sitehas not been narrowly defined, but the

manufacturing. levels of arsenic, copper, lead, manganese, and zinc. Smuggler Mountain CO Mining and processing 7.2 million Potential for Potential for human Soil contaminated with of silver, lead, and zinc. contamination. exposure exists through lead, cadmium, and direct contact of