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National Information |
Site Information |
National Priorities List (NPL) HistoryProposed Date Final Date |
Superfund Program
Eureka Mills
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Site Type: Final NPL |
Site Status & Updates
The 2008 Five-Year Review has been posted. The Site Documents section contains the text and all appendices and tables.- The total number of residential cleanups that have been completed at the Eureka Superfund site is 454. An additional 84 property cleanups are scheduled for cleanup during the 2009 construction season.
- EPA settled with Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) in 2005. UPRR has completed its cleanup of Upper Eureka Gulch as part of its settlement with EPA. EPA has determined that UPRR has fulfilled its obligations under the Consent Decree.
- EPA has begun to assess the environmental risks (e.g., impacts to plants and animals) in Eureka to determine what if any impacts mining may have had on the ecological environment of Eureka. EPA is also conducting a groundwater investigation to determine what if any impacts have occurred to the groundwater environment from the historic mining. Information on the results of the ecological risk assessment and the groundwater investigation will be available in the late spring of 2009.
Site Description
The Eureka Mills Superfund site is located in the East Tintic Mountains approximately
80 miles southwest of Salt Lake City in Juab County, Utah. The town of Eureka
is part of Utah's historic Tintic Mining District. Eureka was founded in 1870
upon the discovery of a high-grade mineralized outcrop containing silver and
lead, as well as other minerals including gold, copper, and arsenic. The area
was extensively mined until 1958. Although the Tintic mining district produced
2,648,000 ounces of gold, Eureka has since suffered an economic decline as the
result of the boom and bust cycles inherent in the mining industry
Large waste rock piles and associated waste material resulting from mining
operations are located primarily on the south side of the valley immediately
adjacent to residences and businesses. Mine waste was distributed around Eureka
by mining activities, such as transport along rail lines and milling operations.
Some of the mine waste material was also used for urban construction in Eureka.
Wind and water erosion also contributed to the spreading mine wastes within
the town.
The town of Eureka was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in
March 1979. Today, there are numerous examples of a once prosperous mining district
such as old mining structures, massive wood head frames, and the ruins of mills
and buildings. This community of 800 people is very proud of its mining history
and wishes to preserve the artifacts and legends of the past.
Site Risk
Preliminary sampling conducted in July 2000 by the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (UDEQ) and EPA found high levels of lead and arsenic in area soils. The State and EPA did more sampling on over 500 residential lots, as well as indoor sampling at over 50 homes. The levels of lead found in outdoor residential areas range from as low as 35 ppm (parts per million) to as high as 22,000 ppm with an average of 1,472 ppm.
The State and EPA also sampled mine wastepiles. Lead concentrations in the mine dumps and adjacent areas were fairly high, ranging from 2,000 ppm (parts per million) to over 51,000 ppm.
In July of 2000, the Central Utah Public Health Department (CUPHD) conducted limited blood lead sampling of 18 children in the community. The results of that sampling indicated high levels of blood lead in excess of 10 micrograms per deciliter (ug/dl) Centers for Disease Control health standard. The high levels of blood lead triggered further investigation by the Utah Department of Health (UDOH) in the fall of 2000. The UDOH did blood-lead testing on 237 Eureka residents in September, 2000. This effort combined both blood lead sampling and a survey on patterns of behavior that may impact lead exposures. The tests showed that 30 residents, mainly children, had blood-lead levels above the standard of 10 ug/dl. Studies have shown exposure to high levels of lead and arsenic may pose a health risk to children and other sensitive people. EPA and UDOH responded to these results by follow-up blood-lead testing and conducting health education in the schools. Additional blood-lead testing done in September 2001 identified other kids with elevated blood-lead levels. In the past, close to 50 children have been found with blood-lead concerns.
However, recent blood lead testing results indicate that the blood lead levels in children in Eureka have dropped considerably. The decline in blood lead levels has been so successful, that in the spring of 2008, EPA and the Utah Department of Health agreed to reduce the frequency of blood lead testing in the community from quarterly to an annual testing at the end of the summer.
| Media Affected | Contaminants | Source of Contamination |
| Soil | Lead, arsenic | Mining and milling wastes |
A Baseline Human Health Risk Assessment (BHHRA) was conducted in 2001 to identify the nature and magnitude of risks posed by mining-related waste to the residents of Eureka. While several metals were determined to be contaminants of concern, lead is the primary contaminant based on current and future health risks. Modeling results indicated that 100% of all properties have lead levels above EPA's health-based goal and the predicted incidence of children with elevated blood lead levels greater than 10 ug/dL is 69%.
Cleanup Progress
In 2001 and 2002, EPA's Emergency Response program cleaned up 72 residential properties where contaminated soils with lead levels exceeding 3000 ppm were determined to pose the highest risk to children. In September 2002, EPA listed the site on the National Priorities List (NPL). That same month EPA and UDEQ signed a Record of Decision (ROD) selecting the remedy to remediate 15 mine waste areas (piles & mill sites) and approximately 700 residential properties. In May 2003, the Remedial Action Work Plan (RAWP) was completed in accordance with the ROD by EPA and UDEQ which is the comprehensive blueprint for the construction work. Cleanup work began in August of 2003 and is expected to continue until 2010.
EPA identified a number of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs) at the Eureka Mills Superfund Site. Some of these parties are unable to pay but have provided EPA with in-kind contributions such as access to land for soil and rock materials or water for dust control for the cleanup. One of the PRPs has also provided access to their lands for construction of an onsite repository for the disposal of the contaminated residential soils. These contributions offset some of their liability while assisting EPA with reducing its costs for cleanup.In addition to the above PRPs, EPA has identified two other PRPs who have the financial resources to conduct some cleanup work to offset their liability. The Atlantic Richfield Company (AR) settled its liability with EPA in 2004 and completed the cleanup work in accordance with the RAWP on the Chief Mine No. 2, MayDay- Godiva mine waste piles and constructed two large sediment ponds and drainage ways to control and direct drainage as part of the cleanup. In addition, AR constructed a pipeline for a secondary water supply system to provide the project with sufficient water for dust control.
The other PRP, Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR), settled its liability with EPA in 2005 and completed its work under the consent decree in 2006. Specifically, UPRR conducted the cleanup on Upper Eureka Gulch and produced rock materials (rip-rap, armoring, and roadbase) necessary for the cleanup at the Lime Peak quarry near Eureka.
EPA and the State are conducting the majority of the cleanup work as a Fund-lead cleanup. This work includes the cleanup of all the residential properties as well as the majority of the mine waste areas. In 2004, EPA completed the remediation of the Gemini-Bullion Beck mine waste piles along with Lower Eureka Gulch which passes through this mine waste area. In 2004, it commenced cleanup of the residential areas and to date has completed the cleanup on approximately 454 residential properties in addition to the 72 properties that were cleaned up under the Emergency Response Program during 2001 and 2002.
AS of November, 2008, EPA completed construction of 2 haul roads to haul rock and soil material from the quarry and borrow processing areas approximately a mile from the Site. EPA also completed the remediation of the Eagle Blue Bell mine, transition zone, and dump; completed the construction of the Eagle Blue Bell drainage and haul road; and partially completed the remediation of the north face of the Chief Mine No. 1 mine waste pile. EPA has also completed the remediation of the Snowflake and Eureka Hill mine waste piles. In addition, the construction on the Open Cell is two-thirds complete. The Open Cell is for future disposal of contaminated soils when redevelopment occurs after EPA completes the Remedial Action. EPA expects to complete construction of the Open Cell in 2009. In 2008, EPA began remediation of the Chief Mill Site No. 1 and expects to complete that in 2009.
The National Historic Preservation Act (NPHA) requires Federal agencies to take into account the effects of their undertakings on historic properties. EPA conducted cultural and archeological surveys of Eureka and surrounding mining areas to determine what if any impact would occur as a result of the cleanup in Eureka. The surveys made it clear that some impact to historic structures would be unavoidable. In an effort to mitigate the negative impacts to historic properties, EPA restored the Bullion Beck head frame located at the west entrance to Eureka and in 2006, in consultation wit the State Historic Preservation Office, UDEQ, City of Eureka, and Eureka citizens, EPA began restorative work on the Shea Building, a building which has significant historical value to the town of Eureka. The restoration of the Shea Building was completed in April, 2007.
In 2008, in coordination with UDOH, EPA initated a program to sample tap water,
household dust and paint for lead in homes where children have been identified
as having elevated blood lead levels. The results of this indoor sampling will
provide parents with information about potential exposures in the home that
they can address themselves. Because blood lead levels have been declining in
recent years, UDOH has scaled back its free quarterly blood lead testing for
all Eureka residents to a single annual blood lead testing effort. Local ordinances
governing the excavation and disposal of contaminated soil, a health education
program, and ongoing blood lead testing are being implemented to protect Eureka
residents. EPA continues to monitor the site to ensure there is no immediate
threat to human health or the environment until the completion of long-term
cleanup work.
Community Involvement
The Eureka community is continually informed of the work that EPA and UDEQ are doing in the area. A Community Involvement Plan (CIP) was developed in October, 2001. EPA revised the CIP during the Summer of 2007. Community interviews were conducted in the Spring of 2007 to seek community input on the revised CIP. The revised CIP was added to the Site Documents section below.
EPA's Remedial Project Manager routinely updates the Eureka City Council at
their regularly scheduled meetings. Fact sheets are distributed whenever there
is a noteworthy issue to report to the community and information is advertised
in the Nebo Reporter as needed. Throughout the construction season, public notices
are placed in the Nebo Reporter informing the community of any immediate concerns
that may impact the community such as water main breaks or temporary road closures
because of construction activities.
Site Documents
The 2008 Five-Year Review is available on the Eureka Mills FTP site.-
The text of the Five-Year
Review is 8.6 MB, and there is a separate folder containing the appendices.
Eureka Superfund Site Progress Profile – Administrative Record
Eureka Mills 2007 EOY Update Fact Sheet (4 pp, 2.3 MB)
Community Involvement Plan, September 2007 (30 pp, 1.4 MB)
Risk Assessment Fact Sheet, November 2001 (PDF, 300 kB)
Eureka Mills Site Update, Questions and Answers, August 2001 (PDF, 60 kB)
Press Release, September 4, 2002, Eureka Mills added to National Priorities List
Site Photos
Contacts
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EPA Paula Schmittdiel Libby Faulk |
Utah Michael Storck
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| View Documents at:
Eureka Information Repository UDEQ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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