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Formosa Mine: Douglas County, Oregon
In September 2007, The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) added the Formosa Mine to the National Priorities List (NPL), also known as the Superfund list. The 76-acre site is on Silver Butte in Douglas County, southwest Oregon, about 25 miles south of Roseburg, near the town of Riddle.
Storm water flowing from the underground mine workings has resulted in an annual discharge of approximately 5 million gallons of acid mine drainage, containing up to 30,000 pounds of dissolved copper and zinc, along with other metals. This contamination has severely degraded 13 miles of Middle Creek and the South Fork of Middle Creek, affecting macroinvertebrates, resident fish, coastal steelhead trout, and Oregon coastal coho salmon. |  | |
During the next several years, EPA will complete a remedial investigation and feasibility study that will lead to a proposed plan for cleaning up the site.
In the short term, EPA is working cooperatively with the Bureau of Land Management and Oregon Department of Environmental Quality to evaluate whether interim measures to divert water either away from the mine or away from the creek would help reduce ongoing risk from contamination at the site.
Photo Gallery
Acid Mine Drainage from the Formosa Mine has killed all life in the south fork of Middle Creek. |
The "Do not drink the water" sign is a statement of the obvious. |
Contamination coats the soil outside this former Formosa Mine adit |
Officials from EPA, BLM, ODEQ and Douglas County reflect on what is needed to clean up the site. |
Deer tracks in polluted soil emphasize the fact that wildlife and fish are at risk from acid mine drainage from Formosa Mine |
Some mine waste has been encapsulated on a nearby ridge top |
Acid Mine Drainage from Formosa Mine |
A water diversion system has been attempted to keep some of the contamination from the south fork of Middle Creek |
The former Formosa Mine site sits high on Silver Butte and affects the watershed below. |
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Many miles downstream from the mine, copper and other metals coat the rocks and the stream is void of aquatic life. | |
Documents
Fact Sheets
Formosa Mine News
Contact Information:
[ Main Cleanup | Brownfields ]
[ Superfund | FOIA | Records Center ]
Point of contact: Debra Sherbina
E-Mail: sherbina.debra@epa.gov
Phone Number: (206) 553-0247
Last Updated: 10/10/2008
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