Proposing the Flat Creek/Iron Mountain
Mine Site For Superfund Cleanup
Topics:
Introduction
Listing Process
Contamination
Investigations
2007
Re-assessment
Health Risks
Opportunities to
be Involved
Submitting Public
Comments
Project Contacts
Introduction
With support from the local community (Town of Superior and Mineral County)
and the State of Montana, the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to
propose the Flat Creek/Iron Mountain Mine Site for the Superfund National Priori-
ties List (NPL).
EPA expects to propose the Flat Creek I MM site to the
NPL in spring 2009.
Placement on this List ("Listing") would make funds
available to clean up contaminated areas and protect
public health and the environment in and around the
Town of Superior, Montana.
Listing Process
Twice a year (usually every six months) EPA places sites
on the National Priorities List (NPL) or Superfund.
This fact sheet
provides background
information about
Superfund Listing,
what it means, and
how YOU can be
involved now
and in the future.
Please take a few
minutes to look it over.
When a site is proposed to the National Priorities List (NPL) or Superfund, a public
notice and news release are sent to local papers announcing that it has been
proposed and can be found in the Federal Register.
There is a 60-day comment period for the public to review documents used in the
decision making process and comment on the proposed action. During the public
comment period, comments can be submitted in the following ways:
ON-LINE: Go to www.regulations.gov
and follow the online instructions for
submitting comments using FDMS
Docket # EPA-HQ-SFUND-2008-0075
BY EMAIL: Email written comments referring to
FDMS Dockets EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0075, to:
superfund.docket@epa.gov
BY REGULAR MAIL: Send written comments
referring to FDMS Docket # EPA-HQ-SFUND-
2009-0075, to:
Docket Coordinator, Headquarters
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
CERCLA Docket Office (Mail Code - 5305T)
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington D.C. 20460
(202) 566-0276
If there are no significant comments opposing listing, then the Flat Creek IMM site
could be officially added to the NPL this fall (2009).
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Areas of Contamination
The Site contains multiple mine waste tailings piles
outside of town found to have levels of arsenic, anti-
mony, lead, and manganese that could pose long-term
risks to public health and the environment. The full ex-
tent of contamination has not been determined yet, and
many of the tailings were directly deposited into and
near Flat Creek. Some of the tailings were transported
further from flooding after a forest fire in 2000. Water
draining from the mine was also found to contain highly
elevated levels of arsenic, lead, and antimony above the
drinking water standards (Maximum Contaminant Levels or MCLs).
The Town of Superior in the past used a drinking water j
well (ground water) two miles downstream from the
Iron Mountain Mine and Mill. That well is no longer in
use because sampling showed levels of antimony above
the drinking water standard (MCL). The water that is
provided to residents is safe and is regularly sampled to
ensure it is within drinking water standards. A private
well in the area also was found to contain elevated levels
of antimony.
NSifl
Seep at head of tailings pile in Hall Gulch at
Iron Mountain Mine and Mill
_../,'
:hat
Base of tailings pile look back toward seep
in Hall Gulch
Mine tailings were brought into town and used as fill, road base and driveway material over
40 years ago. In town, contaminants of concern primarily consist of lead and arsenic.
FLAT CREEK/IRON MOUNTAIN MINE AND MILL SITE FACT SHEET
PAGE
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Brief Summary of Previous Investigations
In 1993, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (formerly the Department of State
Lands) conducted an abandoned mine investigation of the Iron Mountain Mine and Mill area.
The investigation found elevated levels of lead, arsenic, copper, mercury, zinc, cadmium, man-
ganese, and antimony. In 2004 DEQ added the Iron Mountain Mine and Mill Site to its State
Superfund List (CECRA). Site boundaries have not yet been determined.
In 1998, the Town of Superior became concerned about
the potential public health effects from the Iron Mountain
Mine and Mill after a water sample from the Town's well
two miles downstream of the Mine tested above the
MCL for antimony.
In 2001, because of State and local concerns DEQ asked
US EPA to assess the Iron Mountain Mine and Mill, Flat
Creek, and Superior areas. EPA conducted some prelimi-
nary soil sampling in October 2001 at the Iron Mountain
Mine and Mill, along Flat Creek, and at three sites in Supe-
rior where tailings from the Mill had been used.
Surface water drainage across top
of tailings pile in Hall Gulch
Based on these sampling results, EPA conducted a time-critical removal of mine tailings used as
fill in town because of possible short-term health risks from heavy metal contamination of lead
and arsenic. The remediated areas included the high school track, portions of the county
fairgrounds, and a few private driveways and roads in Superior. In 2003 USFS sampled along
Flat Creek and found high levels of metals.
In 2007, US EPA conducted a re-assessment of the Iron Mountain Mine and Mill, Flat Creek,
and Superior areas to determine if residual contamination could pose long-term risks to public
health and the environment.
2007 Site Re-assessment
Responding to State and Local con-
cerns, EPA conducted a re-
assessment of the Iron Mountain
Mine, Flat Creek drainage, and the
Town of Superior in early 2007.
From this re-assessment, EPA
determined that elevated levels of
contaminants do exist in the
following areas:
Iron Mountain Mine and Mill Site.
Mine tailings and waste piles at the Iron Mountain Mine and Mill
Along Flat Creek
Mine tailings used as fill in several areas in Superior
If you know/suspect you have tailings on your property, please contact EPA.
FLAT CREEK/IRON MOUNTAIN MINE AND MILL SITE FACT SHEET
PAGE 3
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Health Risks
PUBLIC NOTICE
HEALTH ADVISORY
EPA's 2007 Investigation, the Preliminary Assessment,
found that areas in the Town of Superior, along Flat
Creek, as well as at the Iron Mountain Mine and Mill have
levels of lead and arsenic higher than typical EPA action
levels and higher than what EPA typically considers safe.
In addition, concentrations of arsenic, mercury, lead,
antimony, and zinc have been found at three times the
background (natural to the area) level at both the waste and tailings piles at the former
Iron Mountain Mine and Mill. Antimony, arsenic, and lead are all naturally-occurring
elements, however, mining, milling, or other processing can concentrate these ele-
ments to a level where they pose a risk to public health.
Antimony Breathing antimony over the long-term (longer than I year) can cause
eye and lung irritation. It can also cause heart and lung problems as well as stomach
pain, vomiting, and stomach ulcers. In large doses, antimony can cause vomiting.
It is not currently known if antimony causes cancer.
Arsenic Breathing high levels of inorganic arsenic can give you a sore throat or
irritated lungs. Ingesting very high levels of arsenic can result in death. Exposure to
lower levels can cause nausea and vomiting, decreased production of red and white
blood cells, abnormal heart rhythm, damage to blood vessels, and a sensation of "pins
and needles" in hands and feet. Ingesting or breathing low levels of inorganic arsenic
for a long time can cause a darkening of the skin and the appearance of small "corns"
or "warts" on the palms, soles, and torso. Skin contact with inorganic arsenic may
cause redness and swelling. Inorganic arsenic is a known carcinogen.
Lead The effects of lead are the
same whether it enters the body
through breathing or swallowing.
Lead can affect almost every organ
and system in your body. The main
target for lead toxicity is the nerv-
ous system, both in adults and chil-
dren. Long-term exposure of adults
can result in decreased perform-
ance in some tests that measure
functions of the nervous system. It
may also cause weakness in fin-
gers, wrists, or ankles. Lead ex-
posure also causes small in-
creases in blood pressure, par-
ticularly in middle-aged and older people and can cause anemia. Exposure to high lead
levels can severely damage the brain and kidneys in adults or children and ultimately
cause death. In pregnant women, high levels of exposure to lead may cause miscarriage.
High level exposure in men can damage the organs responsible for sperm production.
There is no conclusive evidence that lead can cause cancer in humans.
EPA contractors removing lead-contaminated soil along
Town street during 2002 Cleanup Action
FLAT CREEK/IRON MOUNTAIN MINE AND MILL SITE FACT SHEET
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Opportunities to be Involved
Over the past several months, the EPA and DEQ have met with local officials and members of
the public on a number of occasions in 2008: April 21; June 18; July 14; July 31; October I 3;
and October 27. During each of these meetings, EPA provided information and answered
questions about the possible listing of the area on the National Priority List (NPL). The EPA
has also been working closely with the US Forest Service who also attended a number of these
meetings. Now that the Flat Creek I MM Site is being proposed to the NPL with support
from the Town of Superior, Mineral County, and the State of Montana there are additional
opportunities for community members to stay informed and keep involved in Site activities.
For more information about any the following opportunities, please call Diana Hammer, EPA,
at 457-5040 or I -866-457-2690 during regular business hours.
Public Meetings
These will be held periodically throughout the cleanup. The next public meeting is planned for
after the close of the public comment period about the proposed NPL listing. That meeting
will likely occur in late May or early June 2009. The focus of that meeting will be to explain the
plans for sampling properties in the Town of Superior.
Community Interviews
Early in the Superfund process, EPA conducts interviews with community members and leaders
to learn about residents' concerns, preferred ways to communicate with the community, and
residents' historical knowledge of the area information which may be useful in determining
areas to be sure and sample for possible contamination. The interviews are confidential. Sum-
marized information from the community interviews is used to develop a Community Involve-
ment Plan. If you're interested in participating, please contact EPA.
Community Advisory Group (CAG)
During a Superfund cleanup, some communities form and participate on a Community
Advisory Group (CAG). A CAG is made up of about 20 residents, representing different
interests in the community. A CAG generally meets monthly or quarterly. During its
meetings, CAG members receive cleanup updates from EPA, review and comment on docu-
ments, and discuss any concerns or issues related to the cleanup. CAG members talk to their
friends and neighbors, bringing information from this "network" to the CAG. CAG members
can help keep the community informed through its community network. If a CAG is formed,
EPA would offer to support the CAG with a meeting facilitator and by providing meeting space.
Additional support may also be available from EPA. For more information about CAG, contact
EPA or visit: http://www.epa.gov/superfund/community/cag/index.htm
Technical Assistance Grant (TAG)
A Technical Assistance Grant is a $50,000 grant made available to a non-profit community
group to hire an independent Technical Advisor(s) to help the community better understand,
and thus, better participate in Superfund Site-related activities and decisions. Only one TAG
may be awarded per Superfund Site. If anyone is interested in applying or learning more,
please contact EPA or visit http://www.epa.gov/superfund/community/tag
FLAT CREEK/IRON MOUNTAIN MINE AND MILL SITE FACT SHEET
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Next Steps/Calendar
Spring 2009 (Date TBD)
Late Spring 2009
Late Spring 2009
Summer/Fall 2009
Flat Creek/I MM Proposed for NPL
Spring public meeting re: Sampling
Community Interviews
"Screening Level" Sampling
Flat Creek Web Site (available after NPL proposal)
http://www.epa.gov/region8/superfund/mt/flatcreekimm
Do you have questions? Please contact us!
US Environmental Protection Agency
Gwen Christiansen, NPL Coordinator
(303)312-6463
Toll-free: I -800-227-8917 x6463
christiansen.gwen@epa.gov
Susan Mittelstadt, Project Manager
(406)457-5019
mittelstadt.susan@epa.gov
Diana Hammer, Community Involvement
(406) 457-5040
Toll-free: 1-866-457-2690
hammer.diana@epa.gov
Montana Department of Environmental Quality
Daryl Reed, Project Officer
(406)841-5041
dreed@mt.gov
US Forest Service
Bob Wintergurst, OSC
(406) 329-3036
r.wintergerst@fs.fed.us
FLAT CREEK/IRON MOUNTAIN MINE AND MILL SITE FACT SHEET
Montana Department of
ENVIRONMENTAL QuALITY
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