![[logo] US EPA](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20090513002847im_/http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
National Information |
||
|
||
| |
||
|
Superfund Program
Upper Tenmile Creek Mining Area
Near Helena, Montana, Lewis and Clark County
Congressional District - At Large
EPA ID# MTD SFN7578012
Site Status and Update
Currently:
EPA is holding discussions with the Rimini Community, facilitated through the commnity group, Rimini Community, Inc., RCI received an EPA Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) and hired a technical advisor with the grant funds. The technical advisor has been working with the RCI, the local Sewer and Water District Board, and the community to identify potable water sources and delivery infrastructure that would best meet the community's needs. Construction of the potable water supply could not occur before the 2010 field season.
To ensure that residents continue to be aware of health risks associated with the local drinking water supply (private wells in Rimini), EPA sent a letter to every landowner determined to have drinking water with contaminant concentrations above maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for arsenic, cadmium or lead in drinking water. EPA continues to offer bottled water to residents until a permanent solution is implemented.
EPA continues to work with individual landowners and Lewis and Clark County to allow EPA to remove contaminated soils and repair or replace waste water systems if they are disturbed during cleanup. The Lewis and Clark County Health Board will be meeting February 12, 2009 to address wastewater variances that may be needed to complete the cleanups.
EPA is seeking funding to complete cleanup of Rimini Road during the 2009 field
season.
Upper Tenmile ROD Amendment posted. See the Site Documents section.
The Record of Decision (ROD) for this Superfund Site was issued in 2002. Since then, the estimated cleanup costs have changed. To address this and other issues, EPA issued a proposed ROD Amendment and sought public comment last fall. After reviewing public comment, EPA issued an Amendment to the 2002 ROD (September 29, 2008).
The ROD Amendment addresses:
- Differences in cost between the original ROD and actual costs and/or current engineering estimates;
- The risk-based decision process followed in selecting the Rimini community drinking water system and halting construction of a community waste water system; and
- Documentation of residual yard contamination, information about individual yard cleanups, and requirements for excavating and maintaining remediated properties.
Upper Tenmile Five Year Review Completed July 2008. Since the cleanup is not yet finished, the review focused on "determining whether the remedy is being constructed in accordance with decision documents" (the ROD) and "if the remedy is expected to be protective when completed." The Five Year Review began last fall and was completed July 30, 2008.
The review was conducted using site specific sampling results, monitoring information, site inspection, and interviews with project personnel. Information from recent interviews with community members and local officials were also used in preparing this review. In addition, the public had an opportunity to provide information for use in this review.
The Five Year Review (PDF, 61 pp, 2.2 MB) found that the cleanup is being conducted in accordance
with the ROD and is expected to be protective when complete.
Major highlights of the Five Year Review:
- The remedy is protective of human health where residential yards soils were cleaned up (contamination removed/replaced with clean soils)
- Surface water quality is largely unchanged although metals levels have declined at the Poison Creek monitoring station
- No major concerns were identified
View the Five-Year Review Fact Sheet (PDF, 2 pp, 85K)
Copies of the Five Year Review are available at the Library and at the Rimini Community Center or by calling EPA at 457-5000.
Recent Cleanup Activities:
In 2008, continued cleanup of additional residential yards in the Landmark Subdivision off the east side of Rimini Road.
In 2007, EPA excavated contaminated soils from the Lee Mountain staging area. Excavated soils were then hauled to the Luttrell Repository for disposal. After the soils were removed, clean soils were brought in and the area re-landscaped. Landscaping work was also done on residential properties in Rimini.
In 2006, EPA cleaned up a total of 44 properties in Rimini. Working in difficult conditions (tight clearances, rocky soils, and inclement weather), EPA contractors removed about 29,000 cubic yards of contaminated soils. The contaminated soils were transported to the Luttrell Repository for disposal. The yards were back-filled with clean soil and revegetated. A total of approximately 73,000 square feet of sod was installed and an additional 220,000 square feet was seeded. More than 850 trees, shrubs and bushes were planted before winter conditions halted work for the season.
View pictures of reclaimed yards and laying sod.
Site Description
The Upper Tenmile Creek Mining Area site is located in the Rimini Mining District, southwest of Helena, Montana, and it consists of numerous abandoned and inactive hard rock mine sites that produced gold, lead, zinc, and copper. Mining began in the Rimini Mining District before 1870 and continued through the 1920s. Little mining has been performed in the Rimini Mining District since the early 1930s.
The site boundary includes the drainage basin of Tenmile Creek upstream of the Helena Water Treatment Plant and includes tributaries that supply water to the plant's five intake pipelines. EPA identified 150 individual mine sites within the watershed boundary, of which 70 have been prioritized for cleanup. Many of these mine features are above the five City of Helena drinking water intakes which supply over 70 percent of the city's water.
The watershed has many stakeholders, including landowners, local communities, local and state government, special interest groups, and several federal agencies, including EPA. Collaboration among the stake holders is necessary to achieve a cleanup that will be expedient, efficient and long-lasting. EPA is committed to finding the necessary resources for response actions and addressing stakeholders' interests in the cleanup process.
EPA staff is coordinating with other state and federal agencies by addressing Clean Water Act problems related to mining wastes in the watershed that have been identified by the state. Tenmile Creek is the state's top priority for a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) allocation.
EPA added the Upper Tenmile Creek Mining Area to the Superfund National Priorities List on October 22, 1999, due to mining waste problems in the 53 square mile watershed. The small historic mining community of Rimini is located within the Superfund Site boundaries. Contaminants of concern are heavy metals, primarily lead, copper and zinc, as well as arsenic. These contaminants pose potential risks to public health and the environment.
Cleanup Approach
The Upper Tenmile Site is being cleaned up using a collaborative, watershed approach. To date, EPA has been unable to identify a potentially responsible party so the cleanup is being paid for with Federal funds. Cooperating agencies have combined resources to expedite a watershed cleanup. The U.S. Forest Service has taken the lead role in cleaning up wastes on its property within the Superfund Site boundary (Beatrice, Justice and Armstrong Mines). Where individual mines involve both Federal and private lands (Upper Valley Forge Mine), cleanup expenses are shared by EPA and the Forest Service. EPA and the Forest Service also share construction and maintenance costs of a joint mine waste repository. Throughout the cleanup, EPA continues to work closely with the Forest Service, State and local community.
EPA staff are coordinating with other state and federal agencies by addressing Clean Water Act problems related to mining wastes in the watershed that have been identified by the State. Tenmile Creek is a priority for the State's Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) allocation.
In addition to its own periodic meetings, site fact sheets, and other activities, EPA participates in monthly meetings of the Upper Tenmile Watershed Group in order to inform the affected communities and the appropriate agencies of EPA's progress.
Community Involvement
Throughout EPA's Superfund response action at the Upper Tenmile Creek Mining Area Site, the Agency has provided information to the public through public meetings, the administrative record file for the site, fact sheets, and announcements published in local newspapers. EPA participates in monthly meetings of the Upper Tenmile Watershed Committee and routinely discusses the cleanup plans with area residents and property owners.
In addition, during the field season, EPA distributes periodic "construction updates" and maintains a project office in Rimini where residents are welcome to stop by with questions. Tours and briefings are offered to local officials.
EPA also provides funding to Rimini Community, Inc., to obtain independent technical assistance though a technical assistance grant (TAG). The grant was awarded in 2005.
EPA recently updated its Community Involvement Plan (PDF, 756K) for the Site. For more information or to request a copy, please call Diana Hammer at (406) 457-5040 or 1-866-457-2690.
Documents
Note: the following documents are Adobe PDF documents (about PDF files)
Annual Update to the Five Year Review December 2008 (PDF, 4 pp, 45 K)
Five Year Review Report, July 2008 (PDF, 61 pp, 2.2 MB)
Upper Tenmile ROD Amendment, September 2008 (PDF, 215 pp, 40 MB!)
Note: if you cannot open the above file, go to the public "uppertenmile" folder at ftp://ftp.epa.gov/r8/uppertenmile.September 2008 ROD Amendment Fact Sheet (PDF, 100K)
Community Involvement Plan (PDF, 756K)
EPA cleanup update July 31, 2008
EPA cleanup update September 30, 2007
Revised Proposed Plan, October 2007 (PDF, 14 pp, 6.5 MB)
Record of Decision Proposed Amendment, January 2007 (PDF, 2 pp, 256 kB)
Upper Tenmile Creek Mining Area fact sheet, January 2007 (PDF, 2 pp, 437 kB)
Photos
Laying sod:
Reclaimed yard:
Contacts
U.S. EPA
Region 8, Montana Office
Federal Building
10 West 15th Street, Suite 3200
Helena, MT 59626
Mike Bishop, Project Manager
(406) 457-5041
Email: bishop.mike@epa.gov
Diana Hammer, Community Involvement
(406) 457-5040 Email: hammer.diana@epa.gov
Montana Department of Environmental Quality
P.O. Box 200901
Helena, MT 59620
Larry Scusa, Project Officer
(406) 841-5036
Email: klarge@mt.gov
VIEW DOCUMENTS:
U.S. EPA
Montana Office
Region 8, Montana Office
Federal Building
10 West 15th Street, Suite 3200
Helena, MT 59626
(406) 457-5000
Toll Free #: 1-866-457-2690
