Abandoned Mine lands Case Study

Elizabeth Mine

Protecting People, Ecosystems, and Heritage - A Shared Legacy

*	Elizabeth Mine covers approximately
850 acres.

*	Elizabeth Mine is one of the oldest
copperas and copper mines in the
nation.

•	Since 2003, EPA has provided $9 million
for removal cleanup activities.

•	In September 2006, EPA signed a
Record of Decision (ROD) to determine
the cleanup actions for the entire site.
EPA will continue stabilization and
cleanup activities.

The Elizabeth Mine Superfund site is an abandoned copper and

copperas (ferrous sulfate) mine located in the Vermont Copper Belt in the
east-central part of the state. The ore body was first di scovered in the late
1700s and copperas production began soon after in the early 1800s.
Mining activities continued at Elizabeth Mine for nearly 150 years. Over
the years, historic tailing piles and waste piles have become a substantial
source of acid mine drainage (AMD). The historic significance of the
site complicates planning, investigations, and cleanup activities. To
provide the best opportunity to fully consider stakeholder concerns, EPA
has implemented a phased cleanup. The initial phase is a non-time-
critical removal action (NTCRA) to address three major sources of
contamination. When funding was not available to initiate the NTCRA
after the discovery that the tailing dam was at risk of failure, EPA began
a time-critical removal action (TCRA) to stabilize the dam and re-route
surface water. In 2006, EPA began work under the NTCRA to further
stabilize the dam and address remaining contamination. This mine is one
of the most significant remnants of the once thriving northeastern U.S.
copper mining industry. The site's historic nature inspired a great deal of
local and regional interest, as there are few such mine landscapes
remaining in New England. EPA has strived to maintain a balance
between historic resource preservation and environmental remediation;
however, it is increasingly difficult when historic resources are often the
primary source of contamination. EPA has developed a cleanup
approach that will achieve the environmental cleanup objectives at
Elizabeth Mine while minimizing the effect on the historic resources.

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Elizabeth Mine

Protecting People, Ecosystems, and Heritage - A Shared Legacy

Surrounded by hilly and steep terrain, the mine is
located at elevations between 940 feet at the top of
Copperas Hill and 1,600 feet at the West Branch of
the Ompompanoosuc River. There are two small
watersheds that have been impacted by the mining
activities at Elizabeth Mine: Copperas Brook
watershed and Lord Brook watershed. Copperas
Brook drains an area of 266 acres, a valley
containing the most significant contaminant
sources at Elizabeth Mine. Flowing just over one
mile from the upper most waste rock and heap
leach tailing pile (known as Tailing Pile #3 [TP-
3]), Copperas Brook is adjacent to the Upper and
Lower Copperas Factories which are the oldest
mining works. It then travels through Tailing Piles
#1 and #2 (TP-1 and TP-2), to its confluence with
the West Branch of the Ompompanoosuc River.
The confluence is located approximately 5.7 miles (9 kilometers) upstream from the Union Village dam. The
Ompompanoosuc River then empties into the Connecticut River, approximately 3 miles (5.5 kilometers)
downstream from the Union Village Dam. Concurrently, Lord Brook drains an area of 2,270 acres, flowing for
4.5 miles before reaching the West Branch of the Ompompanoosuc River. Lord Brook receives mine drainage
from an unnamed stream that drains a waste rock dump, the South Mine, and the South Open Cut. The
unnamed stream enters Lord Brook about 3 miles above its confluence with the West Branch of the
Ompompanoosuc River.





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Geography/Geomorphology

Elizabeth Mine is located in the heart of the
Vermont Copper Belt, near the village of South
Strafford in east-central Vermont. The Vermont
Copper Belt is composed of massive, copper-rich
sulfide deposits that trend north to south. The rock
strata (predominantly metamorphosed sediments)
containing these deposits extend from
Massachusetts to the Gaspe Peninsula, Quebec. It
is hypothesized that the deposits were formed on
an ancient ocean floor near vents which released
the sulfur deposited in the sediments. Several
mines were constructed along this deposit in
Vermont, including Ely Mine and Pike Hill Mine
to the north.

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Elizabeth Mine

Protecting People, Ecosystems, and Heritage - A Shared Legacy

History of the Elizabeth Mine

Elizabeth Mine produced both copperas (1809 - ca. 1882) and
copper (1832 - 1958) throughout its operational life. Each product
involved unique processing and refining technologies which had
different impacts on the site. Copperas production ended prior to
the most productive copper mining period, leaving waste rock and
heap leach piles that released the majority of the AMD impacting
the Copperas Brook. Over 80% of the aluminum, cadmium,
cobalt, copper, and zinc loading results from runoff in this area.

Remnants of early copperas and copper mining are still evident at TP-3. Copper production at the Elizabeth
Mine reached its zenith during its latest period of operation (1942 - 1958), which included copper production to
support World War II and the Korean War. The floatation mill discharged tailings that resulted in the creation
of the two largest tailing piles at the site, TP-1 and TP-2. Although a less significant source of aluminum,
cadmium, cobalt, copper, and zinc, the discharge from TP-1 contributes a substantial load of iron and

manganese to the West Branch of the Ompompanoosuc River.

Ely Mine and Pike Hill Mine - two other historic
Vermont Copper mines - are located nearby in
Vershire and Corinth, Vermont, and are located
along the same copper sulfide deposit that made
the Elizabeth Mine so successful. Ely Mine was
listed on the NPL in 2001 and Pike Hill Mine in
2004. The remedial investigation/ feasibility
study of these sites is underway.

Figure 2: TheARD-laden Copperas Brook below
the North Open Cut. Up the slope TP-3 can be seen.
The stone foundation of one of the Copperas
Factories is an example of the historic features of
the Elizabeth Mine.

Approximately 1 ton of iron per week is discharging from the
seeps at the toe of TP-1 into Copperas Brook. Prior to the
installation of the soil buttress, TP-1 presented a threat of slope
failure and mass movement of the highly saturated fines and
tailings. If such a catastrophic failure had occurred, it would
have resulted in downstream property damage and potentially 20
miles of stream and river contamination. In addition to the
tailing piles at TP-1 and TP-2 and the waste rock/heap leach piles
at TP-3, there are additional sources of AMD at the site. The
South Mine, South Open Cut, and Tailing Pile #4 (TP-4) are
source areas within the Lord Brook watershed, contributing
AMD to Lord Brook and its tributaries. The air vent, which is a
discharge point for the mine pool, discharges AMD directly to
the West Branch of the Ompompanoosuc River. Other potential
sources of AMD evaluated by EPA included the waste rock and
slag adjacent to Sargent Brook (Tyson Smelter); the remnant
waste rock, slag, and roast beds along Furnace Flats; and the soil
within and adjacent to the former Copperas Factories.

Copperas

The copperas deposits of the Elizabeth Mine were first discovered in 1793 at an outcrop near the top of what
would later become known as Copperas Hill. It was initially hoped that the deposit would prove to be a source
of iron, but its high sulfur content made iron difficult to extract with the mining and processing technology of
the time. All copperas in the U.S. was imported from Europe until 1807. The embargo against the U.S. during
the Napoleonic Wars effectively stopped all copperas imports. A domestic copperas source was needed. Focus
turned to Elizabeth Mine to meet the country's demand for copperas. Elizabeth Mine flourished in 1809 and
continued production well into the mid-1880s, providing copperas for fabric dying, wood treatment, inks, and
for disinfectants.

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Elizabeth Mine

Protecting People, Ecosystems, and Heritage - A Shared Legacy

Typical of early mines in the eastern U.S., the Elizabeth Mine was initially a surficial or open cut mine, which
consisted of deep excavation trenches along the ore body to allow mineral extraction. This method created the
North Open Cut, adjacent to TP-3, and was possibly used to create an exploratory cut, South Mine, found south
of the South Open Cut. Underground mining began in the 1830s when the Upper Adit was excavated to grant
greater access to the ore. This first adit also gave better access to the existing copper ore and heralded the
beginning of copper production at the mine.

The mining company, South Strafford Copperas Works, became one of the largest, most successful and longest-
lived 19th century sulfide-ore copperas works in the U.S. Copperas production ended in the 1880s due to
competition from other sources, primarily the rapidly growing steel industry. It was discovered that copperas
was a by-product generated in steel production. TP-3 is a rare surviving feature showing the copperas
extraction and processing methods of the 1880s; however, TP-3 is also the most significant source of copper
contamination at Elizabeth Mine. Remnants of the wooden troughs for sluicing ore, pilings for those troughs,
stone walls, foundations from early processing and production structures, and foundations of miners' residences
are still present in the area of TP-3, which makes this area of historic interest. Preserving this landscape and the
historic structures has been one of the major points of discussion with Elizabeth Mine Community Advisory
Group (EMCAG), the Vermont State Historic Preservation Office (VTSHPO), the Vermont Department of
Environmental Conservation, and other local stakeholders.

Copper

Copper mining and smelting began around 1830 when

the Upper Adit was excavated to allow better access to

the ore body, and lasted until the final closure of the

mine in 1958. Excavation of additional adits and

vertical shafts continued throughout the remaining life

of the mine. At closure, there were approximately 10

miles of underground works at Elizabeth Mine.

Today, a vent shaft created about half a mile upstream

of the confluence of Copperas Brook and the West

Branch of the Ompompanoosuc River has become a

source of AMD outflow, leading to the conclusion that

m uch of the underground mine workings have

gradually filled with groundwater.

Figure 3: AMD in the Copperas Brook flows across dead

t j.1 i o o r\	j >	r ,i	vegetation along lower TP-3. The bright violet color of the

In the 1880s, as copperas production was ending, the *	, • „ . r,,

'	11 r	°	roasted waste rock reveals the significant iron content oj the

mine began to focus solely on copper production. As pyrrhotite.

copper mining operations expanded, underground

workings had to be extended by excavating additional shafts and access points to allow greater access to the ore
body and mining works. Copper mining and smelting at Elizabeth Mine became sporadic in the early 20th
century and mining operations all but ceased, due to both market fluctuations in the price of copper and the rise
of larger, more productive copper mines in the western U.S. From approximately 1830 to 1930, only 9 percent
of the total copper ore the Elizabeth Mine would eventually produce had been extracted.

At the start of World War II, the demand for domestic copper production began to rise with the war effort,
requiring the mine to be reopened and underground works expanded. Throughout World War II and the Korean
War, Elizabeth Mine continued to produce copper. A new open cut to the south - South Open Cut - was also

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Elizabeth Mine

Protecting People, Ecosystems, and Heritage - A Shared Legacy

excavated and mined during the 1950's. From 1942 until 1958, nearly 3 million tons of ore were extracted,
yielding approximately 50,500 tons of copper. The extraction and processing of the copper ore during this time
period produced the largest tailing pile on the site, TP-1, which covers approximately 32 acres. These tailings
were a result of a floatation process by which copper was extracted from crushed and ground ore. This much
more efficient processing method recovered over 91 percent of the copper in the ore. The remaining materi al
was slurried down the valley into a tailing pond, which then eventually built up into TP-1 and TP-2. During this
time, the Copperas Brook was diverted via a buried concrete pipe through TP-1 and TP-2 to help prevent
erosion and further saturation of the tailing. After the mine closed in 1958, maintenance of the water control
structures ceased, the tailing dam began to erode, and the diversion pipe began to decay and accrue iron
precipitates. A portion of this diversion pipe above TP-2 (further up the valley from TP-1) has failed causing a
breach in TP-2, and resulting in Copperas Brook flowing over and into TP-1. The flow then forms a pond on
the surface of TP-1, allowing Copperas Brook to percolate through TP-1.

Historic Resources

Apart from the historic value of the mine itself, the remains of
many mining structures and production buildings can still be
found at the Elizabeth Mine site. Mining and ore processing
stopped when the mine closed in 1958, but many of the structures
built during World War II and Korean War operation remain,
though in poor condition. All of the processing equipment has
been removed and some parts of the main processing buildings
have collapsed. There are no remaining intact structures from the
earlier copper and copperas operations, but stone foundations,
early copperas production equipment, and pilings from ore
sluices can still be found around the site, with most concentrated
below TP-3.

To document the historic resources at the site, EPA conducted a series of historic resource investigations and
prepared several reports which address the historic nature of the Elizabeth Mine. EPA has prepared three
historic reports for identification and evaluation of historic properties: Statement of Limits, National Register
Eligibility, and Potential Resources in the Proposed APE', Historical Context and Preliminary Resource
Evaluation of the Elizabeth Mine, South Strafford, Orange County, Vermont and its Addendum^ and
Historic/Archaeological Mapping and Testing Elizabeth Mine Site. EPA has also produced the Historic

Figure 4: TP-1 and TP-2 are shown in the photo
with TP-3 in the back part of the photo. The
breach in the TP-2 tailing dam and the pond on
TP-1 are shown along with the buttress to stabilize
the TP-1 tailing dam.

EMCAG, VTSHPO, and EPA created a partnership to develop a
cleanup approach that both address the environmental
degradation caused by the source areas at the Elizabeth Mine and
preserve the historical structures and character of the mine to the
extent possible. W7hile preservation of the three major source
areas (TP-1, TP-2, and TP-3) is not fully compatible with the
environmental restoration, EPA has been able to develop cleanup
plans for the Copperas Factories, South Open Cut, South Mine,
and the mine structures that will leave these historic resources
substantially intact. In addition, the historic resources at Furnace
Flats and the former Tyson Smelter will not be impacted by
cleanup activities.

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Elizabeth Mine

Protecting People, Ecosystems, and Heritage - A Shared Legacy

American Engineering Record and Historic Industrial Landscape documentation which included: a historic
narrative; 66 large format photographs of historic features; four standard FIAER format drawings; 25 aerial
photographs; 59 terrestrial photographs to document the historic resources at the site.

Mine Impacts

AMD has most likely been a part of the Elizabeth
Mine since work first began at the site. The oldest
tailing pile, TP-3, near the North Open Cut, produces
the greatest amount of acidity since it contains the
oldest and least-processed sulfide-bearing material.

This is exacerbated by the topography of the mining
site and the location of the TP-3 waste piles in the
headwaters of the natural drainage of the Copperas
Brook watershed. Air and water interact with the
remaining sulfides in the piles to create AMD, which
is then channeled through the waste rock while
flowing downgrade and then across TP-2 and TP-1.

Due to the high acidity of the runoff coming from TP-
3, the leachate more readily dissolves and suspends
toxic metals such as aluminum, copper, cadmium, iron,
and zinc found in the waste rock and native soil. These
dissolved metals remain in solution until pH increases
at the confluence of the Copperas Brook and the West Branch of the Ompompanoosuc River, over a mile
downstream from TP-1. This causes extensive iron staining downstream of the confluence of Copperas Brook
and the West Branch of the Ompompanoosuc River.

Figure 5: Copperas Brook can be seen flowing along the east
side of TP-2, where concrete piping once redirected the stream
away from the tailing piles. As can be seen here, that system
long ago failed, resulting in this deep gully.

The most recently produced tailings and fines at TP-1
and TP-2 (World War II and Korean War era) are
predominantly a source of iron contamination. Also,
prior to the TCRA, they represented a physical hazard
with potential for structural failure. The South Open
Cut, South Mine, and TP-4 were also identified as
significant sources of AMD. Adjacent and beneath
TP-3, bedrock and overburden groundwater exceeds
the groundwater standards for the State of Vermont as
well as state and federal drinking water standards.
Cadmium was detected at over 200 times the cleanup
standard of 5 micrograms per liter (|ig/l). Overburden
groundwater contamination also exists beneath and

Figure 6: TP-3 and the old roasting beds with the North Open a4) acent to TP-1 and TP-2. The water within the
Cut to the left and up the hill.	underground workings of the Elizabeth Mine was

contaminated above groundwater standards. This
water is in contact with the sulfidic wall rock of the mine workings and residual waste material within the
underground workings.

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Elizabeth Mine

Protecting People, Ecosystems, and Heritage - A Shared Legacy

Lead has been found in the soil of the former Copperas Factories. The soil was contaminated with lead at
concentrations as high as 680,000 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg). These levels are unsafe for human contact
with the soil and this area is targeted for a cleanup action.

Apart from the mine drainage, the abandoned exploratory cuts in the southern portion of the mine, the
remaining adits, hidden shafts, and the mining cuts also present a physical hazard as the site has become
overgrown. These areas are easily accessible, and no warning signs or fences are currently in place to prevent
access. Waste materials from the mining and milling operations exist today as tailings, waste rock piles, heap-
leach piles, and smelter slag at various locations around the mine site and present physical hazards to those who
use the site for recreation.

AMD from Elizabeth Mine has resulted in extensive plant and organism die-off in the Copperas Brook and has
rendered the stream a dead water body. For the first miles below the confluence of the Copperas and West
Branch of the Ompompanoosuc River there is a decrease in both fish populations and benthic organism
populations. The impacts to the benthic community extend for 4 miles below the confluence of Copperas Brook
and the West Branch of the Ompompanoosuc River. The Air Vent across the West Branch of the
Ompompanoosuc River from the old Furnace Flats roasting and smelting beds is also a source of AMD flowing
into the West Branch of the Ompompanoosuc River. However, the water in the West Branch of the
Ompompanoosuc River upstream from the mixing zone generally meets Vermont Class B Water Criteria,
whereas the water in the mixing zone fails both Vermont Class B Water Criteria and EPA Ambient Water
Quality Criteria.

The major source of loading to the West Branch of the Ompompanoosuc River is Copperas Brook. Copper
concentrations in some of the sampling locations in the mixing zone are 700 times above the Vermont standard,
while aluminum concentrations have been found to be 200 times the Vermont standard. All of the runoff from
the source areas (TP-1, TP-2, TP-3, South Open Cut, South Mine, TP-4) also exceed Vermont Class B Water
Criteria. Sediments below confluence contain elevated levels of copper, while sediments from Copperas Brook
exceed Toxic Effects Range Medium values for copper. Sampling of local residential wells determined they
were not impacted from the AMD from the mine, and local groundwater meets safe drinking water standards.

The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (VT ANR) first conducted an environmental impact study in 1977
and again in 1990. These reports were bolstered by several other investigations over the years, including those
done by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in 1984, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in 1998, and the
Elizabeth Mine Study Group (EMSG) in 1999. In the fall of 1999, VT ANR formally requested that EPA
examine the site and seriously consider performing a cleanup action at the site.

Potential Dam Failure Changes Cleanup Plans

EPA determined that a phased approach for cleanup at Elizabeth Mine would be the best method for inclusion
of stakeholder concerns. The initial phase, the NTCRA, addressed the three major sources of contamination at
the site. These actions included addressing TP-1 and TP-2. In the past, Copperas Brook was diverted around
TP-2 and TP-1 through an underground concrete pipe. This pipe carried Copperas Brook through TP-1 and
discharged the Brook at the toe of the TP-1 tailing dam. In addition, the tailing pile contained dewatering
towers during mine operation to prevent saturation. The outlets from these towers were buried by erosion from
the face of the tailing dam and were identified as seepage areas along the toe of the tailing dam. This Copperas
Brook diversion system began along the eastern side of TP-2. The upper portion of the diversion system failed
some time after the mine closure. The evidence of the failure can be seen in the deep gully that formed after

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Elizabeth Mine

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system failure. This gully is now the current streambed of the Copperas Brook. This redirection of the
Copperas Brook, and eventual re-channeling, also contributed to the formation of a small lake on the surface of
TP-1 and the further saturation of that tailing pile. The tailing dam of TP-1 was quite steep as it had been left
as-is when the mine closed in 1958 with no additional stabilization conducted prior to closure. Due to the high
level of erosion on the face of this slope, the height of the dam, and the 32-acre tailing pile, there was a great
deal of concern on the part of EPA that the tailing dam retaining the saturated TP-1 might fail. Such a failure
would cause a mudslide downstream, burying the Copperas Brook, damaging homes, and causing severe
damage to the West Branch of the Ompompanoosuc River.

To address this concern, an analysis was conducted in 2002 to
investigate the potential for tailing dam failure at TP-1 and TP-2.

Based on this investigation, EPA determined that the tailing dam at TP-
1 was unstable and threatened downstream residents and the West
Branch of the Ompompanoosuc River. There was also concern that the
high levels of rainfall in New England, the freeze-thaw that took place
each spring, the fine grain size of the tailings, and the location of
tailings over relatively impermeable glacial till would all increase the
chance for catastrophic failure. In 2004, the concern for catastrophic
failure in addition to the lack of funding to initiate the NTCRA spurred
EPA and the State of Vermont to start a time-critical action - the
TCRA - for slope stabilization. EPA began installation of a soil
buttress and a new conveyance system for Copperas Brook. EPA
repaired dam erosion, installed drainage pipes, constructed wetlands,
and removed tailings material as part of the stabilization effort. Over 30,000 cubic yards of material were
removed from TP-1 during stabilization, which should also reduce the amount of AMD generated by the site.
Within a year, EPA completed the TCRA and began the design for the NTCRA.

By 2006, EPA began construction of several components of the NTCRA: the stabilization of the west side of
the tailing dam; the diversion of surface water around portions of TP-1 to reduce ponding; and the removal of
tailings from a section of Copperas Brook immediately below TP-1. From 2000 until 2006, EPA performed a
remedial investigation and feasibility study (RI/FS) to define the cleanup actions needed in addition to the
TCRA and NTCRA. In September 2006, a ROD for the remaining cleanup actions was signed. The outcome
of the RI/FS as reflected in the ROD demonstrates EPA's effort to balance all of the critical issues at Elizabeth
Mine.

Public Involvement

Elizabeth Mine closed for the last time in 1958, after
intermittently operating for over 150 years. The mining
landscape left behind is considered by some local residents to
be an important reminder of the area's mining legacy and an
important historical resource. Local residents use the site for
hiking, walking, and cross-country skiing.

The first meeting between EPA and a small group of local
officials and residents was held during the fall of 1999. EPA
held the first public information meeting in February 2000,

Elizabeth Mine Community Action Group
Member Organizations:

•	Town Strafford Selectboard

•	Town of Thetford Selectboard

•	Elizabeth Mine Study Group (EMSG)

•	Citizens for a Sensible Solution (CASS)

•	Elizabeth Mine Survivors

•	Adjacent Landowners and Residents

•	Non-residential Landowners

•	Thetford Conservation Commission

•	Strafford Planning Commission

•	Strafford Historical Society

Community Concerns:

•	Environmental/Personal health

•	Truck traffic/truck noise

•	Property impacts of noise/dust/traffic safety

•	Ecological impacts of delayed cleanup

•	Personal liability

•	Property values

•	Cost of cleanup

•	Proportional response to hazards

•	Alternatives to proposed solutions

•	Lack of community involvement in decision process

•	Justification for federal involvement

•	Historical preservation

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outlining the intent to perform the remedial and removal actions to mitigate the source of the AMD from TP-3.
This public information meeting was attended by over 200 individuals. During this meeting, the community
asked EPA to better document the threat posed by the site. Community members stressed the importance of
understanding and incorporating local interests during the cleanup process.

The community also expressed a number of concerns about having the federal government implement a project
that could disrupt community life. Many people were concerned that community members would be held liable
for the cleanup. In addition, many individuals did not feel that the mine was causing a sufficiently significant
environmental impact beyond Copperas Brook to merit cleanup. There was also strong coalition of individuals
interested in preserving the mine as a historic resource.

To address the community concerns, the diverse constituents within the community, and to serve as a focal
point for discussion and coordination, EPA helped local stakeholders form their advisory group, EMCAG, in
March 2000. EMCAG consists of ten member organizations representing a cross section of the community.
Early meetings of EMCAG focused primarily on whether or not the mining site even needed to be cleaned up.

Further discussions with EMCAG resulted in the EPA developing a Community Involvement Plan that outlined
the major concerns of the community, stressing the need for the community to remain involved throughout the
cleanup process. After six months of discussion regarding EPA involvement, EMCAG unanimously agreed to
support placing of Elizabeth Mine on the National Priorities List (NPL). The members of EMCAG felt that
EPA had taken their concerns into account. The Elizabeth Mine site was proposed for the NPL in December
2000 and was listed in June 2001. The rapid listing could not have been possible without the efforts of the
Vermont congressional delegation, the support of the Governor of Vermont, and the support and cooperation of
the members of EMCAG.

Since the formation of the community group in March 2000, EPA has regularly met with EMCAG. Working
with EMCAG, EPA developed a process for local input in shaping the cleanup at the site. This process
included the development of a series of interim reports for review by EMCAG and public meetings to discuss
the various technical approaches for addressing mine waste. EPA provided the community with expert
technical support through the Technical Outreach Services to Communities (TOSC) Program and a Technical
Assistance Grant (TAG) to retain experts. The TOSC program provided funding for a mining expert, a
hydrogeology expert, and public health experts to assist EMCAG with its research, community outreach, and
decision making. Comments from EMCAG, the Strafford Selectboard, VT ANR, TAG advisors and the TOSC
experts were used to develop cleanup actions included in the NTCRA and the ROD.

EPA also promptly involved EMCAG and community members when the analysis of the TP-1 tailing dam
raised concerns for failure. Once EPA determined that the tailing dam at TP-1 was unstable and threatened
downstream residents and the West Branch of the Ompompanoosuc River, letters were sent to both EMCAG
and local residents identified in the hazard zone. A public meeting was held to inform community members
about what actions were to be taken to prevent dam failure and to listen to any community concerns about slope
stabilization.

Current Site Conditions

As of October 2006, EPA has completed the TCRA and has begun activities under the NTCRA. EPA
constructed a soil buttress; stabilized the tailing dam; graded the slope above the buttress to reduce erosion;
relocated 30,000 cubic yards of mine tailings; repaired the deteriorating drainage pipe that carries the flow

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around the tailing dam; and constructed a surface water conveyance channel along the west side of the large
tailing pile to carry storm water around the tailing pile. Over the next year, EPA expects to complete the design
for the entire NTCRA and implement cleanup actions for several more components of the NTCRA.

Overall, EPA developed a cleanup approach to address lead contamination at the former Copperas Factories that
will preserve the historic foundations while protecting human health. Two areas of historic significance - the
Furnace Flats area and Tyson Smelter area - will be not be subject to any cleanup actions as they do not
represent a significant threat to human health and the environment. Only two structures are being impacted by
the cleanup actions, leaving the historic mine buildings largely intact.

In September 2006, EPA signed an ROD to identify the remaining cleanup actions at the Site. The design for
these cleanup actions is expected to occur in 2007/2008.

Lessons Learned/Conclusion

The historic significance of the site and local stakeholder
interest required additional effort by EPA to ensure effective
communication. Active involvement by the community
through EMCAG allowed stakeholders a vehicle through which
to make their ideas known and help allay community concerns
while the TOSC program and TAG technical advisors also
helped communications between local stakeholders and EPA.

By working closely with local communities and quickly
responding to evolving site conditions, the stakeholders and
EPA created a process that will aid continued cleanup efforts at
Elizabeth Mine.

Progress at the site has been facilitated by the following:

•	Identification of emergency situations requiring time-
critical actions and flexible site management to address
evolving site conditions and new information;

•	Assistance from recognized experts on mining issues,
including EPA's National Mining Team, EPA Region 8,

USGS, and the U.S. Department of Energy to aid the
Region in site response;

•	Use of the NPL as a funding source for cleanup where no
potential responsible party has been identified; and

•	Public participation in all steps of the site remediation process.

In a state and Region with few large abandoned mines, reaching out to national experts brought a full breadth of
knowledge to the cleanup process. The possibility of the tailing dam failure significantly changed the
engineering approach and reprioritized the cleanup actions at the site. Close work among parties ensured the
time-critical and non-time-critical actions are appropriate to address the challenging changing conditions at
Elizabeth Mine.



Acronyms

AMD

Acid mine drainage

CASS

Citizens for a Sensible Solution

EMCAG

Elizabeth Mine Community Advisory Group

EMSG

Elizabeth Mine Study Group

mg/kg

Milligrams per kilogram

Mg/i

Micrograms per liter

NPL

National Priorities List

NTCRA

Non-time-critical removal action

RI/FS

Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study

ROD

Record of Decision

TAG

Technical Assistance Grant

TCRA

Time-critical removal action

TOSC

Technical Outreach Services to Communities

USACE

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

USGS

U.S. Geological Survey

VTANR

Vermont Agency of Natural Resources

VTSHPO

State Historic Preservation Office

10 of 10

November 2006


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