
[Federal Register: November 13, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 218)]
[Rules and Regulations]               
[Page 58554-58560]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13no09-8]                         

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 300

[EPA-HQ-SFUND-1983-0002; FRL-8979-2]

 
National Oil and Hazardous Substance Pollution Contingency Plan; 
National Priorities List: Partial Deletion of the California Gulch 
Superfund Site

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Direct final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 8 is 
publishing a direct final rule, a Notice of Partial Deletion of the 
California Gulch Superfund Site (Site), located in Lake County, 
Colorado, including all of Operable Unit 8 (OU8), from the National 
Priorities List (NPL). The NPL, promulgated pursuant to section 105 of 
the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability 
Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended, is an appendix of the National Oil 
and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP). This direct 
final partial deletion is being published by EPA with the concurrence 
of the State of Colorado, through the Colorado Department of Public 
Health and Environment (CDPHE) because EPA has determined that all 
appropriate response actions at these identified parcels under CERCLA, 
other than operation, maintenance, and five-year reviews, have been 
completed. However, this partial deletion does not preclude future 
actions under Superfund.
    This partial deletion pertains to all of OU8 including the 
impounded tailing, non-residential area soils, waste rock, fluvial 
tailing and stream sediment. The

[[Page 58555]]

Yak Tunnel (OU1), D&RGW Slag Piles and Easement (OU3), Upper California 
Gulch (OU4), Asarco Smelter/Colorado Zinc-Lead Mill site (OU5), Stray 
Horse Gulch (OU6), Apache Tailing (OU7), Residential Soils (OU9), 
Arkansas River Floodplain (OU11), and Site-wide Surface and Groundwater 
Quality (OU12) will remain on the NPL and are not being considered for 
deletion as part of this action.

DATES: This direct final partial deletion is effective January 12, 2010 
unless EPA receives adverse comments by December 14, 2009. If adverse 
comments are received, EPA will publish a timely withdrawal of the 
direct final partial deletion in the Federal Register informing the 
public that the partial deletion will not take effect.

ADDRESSES: 
    Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID no. EPA-HQ-SFUND-
1983-0002, by one of the following methods:
     http://www.regulations.gov. Follow online instructions for 
submitting comments.
     E-mail: Linda Kiefer, kiefer.linda@epa.gov.
     Fax: (303) 312-7151.
     Mail: Linda Kiefer, Remedial Project Manager, 
Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8, Mail Code 8EPR-SR, 1595 
Wynkoop Street, Denver, CO 80202-1129.
     Hand delivery: Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8, 
Mail Code 8EPR-SR, 1595 Wynkoop Street, Denver, CO 80202-1129. Such 
deliveries are only accepted during the Docket's normal hours of 
operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of 
boxed information.

Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID no. EPA-HQ-SFUND-1983-
0002. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in 
the public docket without change and may be made available online at 
http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be 
Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose 
disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you 
consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through http://
www.regulations.gov or e-mail. The http://www.regulations.gov Web site 
is an ``anonymous access'' system, which means EPA will not know your 
identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of 
your comment. If you send an e-mail comment directly to EPA without 
going through http://www.regulations.gov, your e-mail address will be 
automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is 
placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. If you 
submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name 
and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any 
disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to 
technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA 
may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid 
the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of 
any defects or viruses.
    Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the http://
www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some 
information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information 
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such 
as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard copy. 
Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically 
in http://www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at:

U.S. EPA Region 8, Superfund Records Center, 1595 Wynkoop Street, 
Denver, CO 80202. (303) 312-6473 or toll free (800) 227-8917; Viewing 
hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays;
     and
Lake County Public Library, 1115 Harrison Avenue, Leadville, CO 80461, 
(719) 486-0569.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Linda Kiefer, Remedial Project 
Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8, Mailcode EPR-
SR, 1595 Wynkoop Street, Denver, CO 80202-1129, (303) 312-6689 e-mail: 
kiefer.linda@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Contents

I. Introduction
II. NPL Deletion Criteria
III. Partial Deletion Procedures
IV. Basis for Site Partial Deletion
V. Partial Deletion Action

I. Introduction

    EPA Region 8 is publishing this direct final Notice of Partial 
Deletion for Operable Unit 8 (OU8) of the California Gulch Superfund 
Site (Site), from the National Priorities List (NPL). This partial 
deletion pertains to all of OU8 including the impounded tailing, non-
residential area soils, waste rock, fluvial tailing and stream 
sediment. The NPL constitutes Appendix B of 40 CFR part 300, the Oil 
and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP), which EPA 
promulgated pursuant to Section 105 of the Comprehensive Environmental 
Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended. 
EPA maintains the NPL as the list of sites that appear to present a 
significant risk to public health, welfare, or the environment. Sites 
on the NPL may be the subject of remedial actions financed by the 
Hazardous Substance Superfund (Fund). This partial deletion of the Site 
is proposed in accordance with 40 CFR 300.425(e) and is consistent with 
the Notice of Policy Change: Partial Deletion of Sites Listed on the 
National Priorities List. 60 FR 55466 (Nov. 1, 1995). As described in 
Sec.  300.425(e)(3) of the NCP, a portion of a site deleted from the 
NPL remains eligible for Fund-financed remedial action if future 
conditions warrant such actions.
    Because EPA considers this action to be noncontroversial and 
routine, this action will be effective January 12, 2010 unless EPA 
receives adverse comments by December 14, 2009. Along with this direct 
final Notice of Partial Deletion, EPA is co-publishing a Notice of 
Intent for Partial Deletion in the ``Proposed Rules'' section of the 
Federal Register. If adverse comments are received within the 30-day 
public comment period on this partial deletion action, EPA will publish 
a timely withdrawal of this direct final Notice of Partial Deletion 
before the effective date of the partial deletion and the partial 
deletion will not take effect. EPA will, as appropriate, prepare a 
response to comments and continue with the deletion process on the 
basis of the Notice of Intent for Partial Deletion and the comments 
already received. There will be no additional opportunity to comment.
    Section II of this document explains the criteria for deleting 
sites from the NPL. Section III discusses procedures that EPA is using 
for this action. Section IV discusses OU8 of the California Gulch 
Superfund Site and demonstrates how it meets the deletion criteria. 
Section V discusses EPA's action to partially delete the Site parcels 
from the NPL unless adverse comments are received during the public 
comment period.

II. NPL Deletion Criteria

    The NCP establishes the criteria that EPA uses to delete sites from 
the NPL. In accordance with 40 CFR 300.425(e), sites may be deleted 
from the NPL where no further response is appropriate. In making such a 
determination pursuant to 40 CFR 300.425(e), EPA will consider, in

[[Page 58556]]

consultation with the State, whether any of the following criteria have 
been met:
    i. Responsible parties or other persons have implemented all 
appropriate response actions required;
    ii. all appropriate Fund-financed response under CERCLA has been 
implemented, and no further response action by responsible parties is 
appropriate; or
    iii. the remedial investigation has shown that the release poses no 
significant threat to public health or the environment and, therefore, 
the taking of remedial measures is not appropriate.
    Pursuant to CERCLA section 121(c) and the NCP, EPA conducts five-
year reviews to ensure the continued protectiveness of remedial actions 
where hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants remain at a 
site above levels that allow for unlimited use and unrestricted 
exposure. EPA conducts such five-year reviews even if a site is deleted 
from the NPL. EPA may initiate further action to ensure continued 
protectiveness at a deleted site if new information becomes available 
that indicates it is appropriate. Whenever there is a significant 
release from a site deleted from the NPL, the deleted site may be 
restored to the NPL without application of the hazard ranking system.

III. Partial Deletion Procedures

    The following procedures apply to the deletion of OU8 of the Site:
    (1) EPA has consulted with the State of Colorado prior to 
developing this direct final Notice of Partial Deletion and the Notice 
of Intent for Partial Deletion co-published in the ``Proposed Rules'' 
section of the Federal Register.
    (2) EPA has provided the State 30 working days for review of this 
notice and the parallel Notice of Intent for Partial Deletion prior to 
their publication today, and the State, through the Colorado Department 
of Public Health and Environment, has concurred on the partial deletion 
of the Site from the NPL.
    (3) Concurrently with the publication of this direct final Notice 
of Partial Deletion, a notice of the availability of the parallel 
Notice of Intent for Partial Deletion is being published in a major 
local newspaper, the Leadville Herald Democrat. The newspaper notice 
announces the 30-day public comment period concerning the Notice of 
Intent for Partial Deletion of the Site from the NPL.
    (4) The EPA placed copies of documents supporting the partial 
deletion in the deletion docket and made these items available for 
public inspection and copying at the Site information repositories 
identified above.
    (5) If adverse comments are received within the 30-day public 
comment period on this partial deletion action, EPA will publish a 
timely notice of withdrawal of this direct final Notice of Partial 
Deletion before its effective date and will prepare a response to 
comments and continue with the deletion process on the basis of the 
Notice of Intent for Partial Deletion and the comments already 
received.
    Deletion of a portion of a site from the NPL does not itself 
create, alter, or revoke any individual's rights or obligations. 
Deletion of a portion of a site from the NPL does not in any way alter 
EPA's right to take enforcement actions, as appropriate. The NPL is 
designed primarily for informational purposes and to assist EPA 
management. Section 300.425(e)(3) of the NCP states that the deletion 
of a site from the NPL does not preclude eligibility for further 
response actions, should future conditions warrant such actions.

IV. Basis for Partial Site Deletion

    The following information provides EPA's rationale for deleting 
OU8.

Site Background and History

    The California Gulch Superfund Site (Site), EPA ID No. 
COD980717938, is located in Lake County, Colorado approximately 100 
miles southwest of Denver. The Site was listed on the National 
Priorities List on September 8, 1983, 48 FR 40658. The Site is in a 
highly mineralized area of the Colorado Rocky Mountains covering 
approximately 18 square miles of a watershed that drains along 
California Gulch to the Arkansas River.
    Mining, mineral processing, and smelting activities have occurred 
at the Site for more than 130 years. Mining in the District began in 
1860, when placer gold was discovered in California Gulch. As the 
placer deposits were exhausted, underground workings became the 
principle method for removing gold, silver, lead, and zinc ore. As 
these mines were developed, waste rock was excavated along with the ore 
and placed near the mine entrances. Ore was crushed and separated into 
metallic concentrates at mills, with mill tailing generally slurried 
into tailing impoundments. As a result of these operations, the Site 
contains many tailing impoundments, fluvial deposits, slag piles, waste 
rock piles, and mine water drainage tunnels. The Site was placed on the 
NPL due to concerns regarding the impact of mine drainage on surface 
waters leading to California Gulch and the impact of heavy metals 
loading into the Arkansas River.
    The Site includes the City of Leadville, various parts of the 
Leadville Historic Mining District, Stringtown, and a section of the 
Arkansas River from the confluence of California Gulch to the 
confluence of Two-Bit Gulch.
    A Site-wide Phase I Remedial Investigation (Phase I RI), which 
primarily addressed surface and groundwater contamination, was issued 
in January 1987. As a result of the Phase I RI, EPA developed the first 
operable unit at the Site, the Yak Tunnel. This first operable unit was 
designed to address the largest single source of metallic loading. A 
number of additional Site-wide studies followed the Phase I RI. These 
include the Tailing Disposal Area Remedial Investigation Report 
(Tailing RI), Baseline Human Health Risk Assessment Part A, Part B, and 
Part C, Ecological Risk Assessment for Terrestrial Ecosystems, Baseline 
Aquatic Ecological Risk Assessment, Groundwater RI, Surface Water RI, 
Waste Rock RI, and Site-wide Screening Feasibility Study (SFS).
    In order to expedite the clean-up of the Site, EPA agreed, pursuant 
to a May 2, 1994 Consent Decree (1994 CD), to divide the Site into 
twelve Operable Units (OUs). With the exception of OU12, the operable 
units pertain to distinct geographical areas corresponding to areas of 
responsibility for the identified responsible parties and/or to 
distinct sources of contamination. The OUs are as follows:

1. Yak Tunnel/Water Treatment Plant
2. Malta Gulch Tailing Impoundments and Lower Malta Gulch Fluvial 
Tailing
3. D&RGW Slag Piles and Easement
4. Upper California Gulch
5. Asarco Smelter Sites/Slag/Mill Sites
6. Starr Ditch/Stray Horse Gulch/Lower Evans Gulch/Penrose Mine Waste 
Pile
7. Apache Tailing Impoundments
8. Lower California Gulch
9. Residential Populated Areas
10. Oregon Gulch
11. Arkansas River Valley Floodplain
12. Site-wide Surface and Ground Water
    To date, OU2, OU10 and portions of OU9 have been deleted from the 
Site. The remaining OUs are still on the NPL.

Background and History

    Operable Unit 8 (OU8) also known as Lower California Gulch is 
defined by the 500-year floodplain of the California Gulch from 
immediately below the boundary of the Yak Tunnel Water Treatment Plant 
(OU1) to the point of confluence of California Gulch with the Arkansas 
River, and includes the

[[Page 58557]]

Colorado Zinc-Lead (CZL) Tailing Impoundment outside the 500-year 
floodplain. OU8 is approximately 97 acres in size and 4.3 miles long. 
OU8 borders portions of several other operable units including OU1 (Yak 
Tunnel Treatment Plant), OU2 (Malta Gulch), OU3 (D&RGW slag piles), OU5 
(Asarco smelters/slag/mill sites), OU7 (Apache Tailing Impoundments), 
OU9 (Residential Populated areas), and OU10 (Oregon Gulch). Lower 
California Gulch receives runoff and water from tributaries that drain 
all or portions of these other operable units. Lower California Gulch 
also receives tributary water from upper California Gulch and Stray 
Horse Gulch via Starr Ditch, which drain areas of OU4 (Upper California 
Gulch) and OU6 (Starr Ditch/Penrose Dump/Stray Horse Gulch). The land 
area within OU8 consists predominantly of private property. While no 
residences are located in OU8, several anthropogenic features, 
primarily consisting of highway bridges, road crossings, and culverts, 
currently exist within the 500-year floodplain of Lower California 
Gulch. Lower California Gulch roughly parallels U.S. Highway 24.
    Historically, tailing impoundments within the Site have resulted in 
fluvial deposits of tailing being transported by surface flows and 
deposited at specific locations in OU8. Since that time, remediation 
activities have occurred upstream in OUs 1, 4 and 6. Previously, during 
high flow events, stream sediments originating from source areas 
primarily upstream of OU8 were transported by California Gulch and 
associated tributaries into and within OU8. The stream sediment in 
Lower California Gulch was contaminated with mine wastes and associated 
metals transported from upstream sources. The soluble metals contained 
in runoff have contributed to the contamination of surface water and 
sediments. Additionally, waste rock from underground mining was 
frequently dumped near mineshafts within the Site and has added to the 
contamination.
    The CZL tailing impoundment is the only tailing impoundment 
identified in OU8. The CZL site was an operating flotation mill that 
processed zinc-lead ores sporadically between 1925 and 1940. The CZL 
tailing impoundment is located approximately one mile west of Leadville 
and immediately north of Stringtown. The CZL tailing impoundment at the 
site of the flotation mill operation covered approximately 1.6 acres at 
an average depth of 7 feet. The CZL tailing impoundment contained an 
estimated 17,000 cubic yards of tailing.
    The Gaw waste rock pile is located upstream of the Apache Tailing 
Impoundment (OU7) within OU8. The Gaw waste rock pile represents the 
only deposit of waste rock identified within OU8.
    Five fluvial tailing sites within OU8 were found to have elevated 
levels of contamination. Fluvial Tailing Site 1 (FTS1), comprising 
approximately 3.4 acres, is adjacent to the La Plata Slag Pile (part of 
OU3) and extends downstream in a westerly direction to a point 
approximately 1,000 feet up gradient of the CZL Tailing Impoundment. 
California Gulch flows through the tailing and the gulch has cut a 
channel through the fluvial deposits. The fine to coarse grained 
tailing and alluvial/tailing materials ranged from 1-6 feet in depth.
    Fluvial Tailing Site 2 (FTS2) lies 200 feet downstream of FTS1 and 
is estimated to be 3.2 acres. The fluvial tailing material in FTS2 is 
generally light brown to brown clay silts and sands overlying light 
brown silt that contains cobbles and sand.
    Fluvial Tailing Site 3 (FTS3) is located immediately downstream of 
Lake County Road 6 on California Gulch and covers approximately 4.8 
acres. The flow of California Gulch through FTS3 is split into a north 
and south channel, with most of the flow occurring in the North 
Channel.
    Fluvial Tailing Site 6 (FTS6) is located on California Gulch 
between the Yak Tunnel Treatment Plant Surge Pond embankment and the 
Apache Tailing Impoundments comprising approximately 4.2 acres. A 
portion of the Gaw waste rock pile also lies within FTS6. The pile 
covers approximately one half acre and is estimated to have a volume of 
7,500 cubic yards.
    Fluvial Tailing Site 8 (FTS8) extends from the Arkansas Valley Slag 
Pile (part of OU3) to a point approximately 6,500 feet downstream to 
the confluence of California Gulch with the Arkansas River. FTS8 is a 
series of small discontinuous tailing deposits with a total estimated 
area of 115 acres. Approximately 45 acres of fluvial tailing that lie 
within the floodplain boundaries of the portion of FTS8 are addressed 
in the OU8 Record of Decision.
    Non-residential area soils are defined as poorly vegetated areas 
outside of the fluvial tailing sites and within the OU8 boundary. The 
studies identified about 6.3 acres of non-residential area soils with 
elevated levels of contaminants.
    Stream sediments were identified as a potential contaminant source 
in the SFS. The primary concerns were loose and erodible sediments that 
could be resuspended and carried downstream. The studies estimated that 
there were about 4,500 cubic yards of stream sediments of potential 
concern.
    EPA is the lead agency for OU8, and the Colorado Department of 
Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is the support agency. Pursuant 
to the 1994 CD, Resurrection Mining Company (Resurrection) conducted 
and financed remediation work in OU8.

Remedial Investigations and Feasibility Study (RI/FS)

    A number of studies and remedial investigations have been conducted 
within the California Gulch Superfund Site that have addressed Lower 
California Gulch (OU8). The following areas were identified as 
potential contaminant sources in OU8: Areas of impounded tailing in the 
Colorado Zinc-Lead (CZL) Tailing Impoundment located in the California 
Gulch 500-year flood plain, non-residential area soils, waste rock in 
the Gaw Waste Rock Pile, fluvial tailing in five fluvial tailing sites, 
and stream sediments. Potential contaminant sources identified in OU8 
by the numerous investigations are described below.
    CZL Fluvial Tailing Impoundment: Contained elevated concentrations 
of lead, cadmium, arsenic, and zinc with the potential to generate Acid 
Rock Drainage (ARD).
    Non-Residential Soils: Metals concentrations are generally low and 
decrease with depth to the native undisturbed soils.
    Gaw Waste Rock Pile: Surface soil contained lead at slightly 
elevated concentrations, outflow from the Gaw shaft demonstrated 
neutral pH values, with minimally elevated sulfate concentrations, and 
metals typically were below limits of detection.
    FTS 1,2, and 3: Surface tailings had elevated levels of arsenic, 
cadmium, lead, and zinc; subsurface tailing had elevated levels of 
arsenic, cadmium, and lead; foundation soils had elevated levels of 
silver, cadmium, arsenic, lead, and zinc.
    FTS 6: Surface tailing had elevated levels of arsenic, cadmium, 
copper, lead, mercury, silver, and zinc; subsurface tailing had 
elevated levels of arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, manganese, mercury, 
and zinc; foundation soils had elevated levels of silver, cadmium, 
copper, arsenic, lead, and zinc; the waste pile has potential for 
generating ARD.
    FTS 8: Surface tailing had elevated levels of arsenic, cadmium, 
copper, lead, and zinc; subsurface tailing had elevated levels of 
arsenic, cadmium,

[[Page 58558]]

lead, and zinc; foundation soils had elevated levels of cadmium.
    Stream sediments: Had elevated levels of arsenic, cadmium, lead, 
copper, and zinc.
    A Focused Feasibility Study (FFS) for OU8 was prepared by 
Resurrection in 2000. The FFS evaluated and screened remedial 
alternatives retained in the site-wide SFS for impounded tailing, non-
residential area soils, waste rock, fluvial tailing, and stream 
sediment within OU8. The FFS presented a comparative analysis of the 
potential remedial alternatives based on the nine NCP evaluation 
criteria. A proposed plan for OU8 was published on July 27, 2000.

Selected Remedy

    In order to take advantage of the availability of the Oregon Gulch 
Tailing Impoundment in OU10 as a repository for contaminated materials 
from OU8, two interim removal actions were approved for OU8 in 1995 and 
1998. In the first interim removal action, approximately 28,000 cubic 
yards of material were excavated from the CZL Tailing Impoundment, the 
western portion of FTS2, and the underlying foundation soils and placed 
in the Oregon Gulch Tailing Impoundment (OU10). The excavated area was 
backfilled with clean borrow soil, graded, and vegetated. Wetlands 
adjacent to the CZL Tailing Impoundment site were revegetated in the 
summer of 1996. The activities were documented in the 1995 Action 
Memorandum for OU8. In the second interim removal action, approximately 
5,794 cubic yards of fluvial tailing were excavated from poorly 
vegetated, erosion-prone areas within OU8 (specifically, FTS2, FTS3, 
FTS6, and FTS8). The excavated tailing was transported and placed in 
the Oregon Gulch Tailing Impoundment (OU10). In conjunction with 
channel excavation under the second interim removal action, 
approximately 1,339 cubic yards of sediment were removed from 
accumulated sediment in FTS2 and FTS3. The excavated stream sediment 
was transported and placed in the Oregon Gulch Tailing Impoundment 
(OU10). These activities were documented in the 1998 Action Memorandum 
for OU8. Resurrection conducted both removal actions.
    A Record of Decision for OU8 (OU8 ROD) was signed on September 29, 
2000.
    The remedial action objectives (RAOs) for the remedies presented in 
the OU8 ROD are summarized below.
     Control airborne transport of tailing particles and 
contaminated non-residential soils.
     Control leaching and migration of metals from tailing, 
soil, waste rock, and contaminated fluvial and stream sediments into 
surface water.
     Control leaching and migration of metals from tailing, 
soil, waste rock, and contaminated fluvial and stream sediments into 
groundwater.
     Control erosion of tailing material and soil materials 
into local water courses.
     Control contaminant exposure to terrestrial and aquatic 
life.

The selected remedies for addressing the contaminated media within OU8 
are described below.

    CZL Impounded Tailing: No Further Action was the selected 
alternative for impounded tailing within OU8. All tailing were removed 
from the CZL Tailing Impoundment site in the 1995 Removal Action and no 
other impounded tailing exist within OU8.
    Non-Residential Area Soils: Containment was the selected 
alternative for non-residential area soils within OU8. The Non-
Residential Area Soils were to be regraded to promote positive 
drainage, soil amendment added, and re-vegetated. Institutional 
controls are required.
    Gaw Waste Rock: No Action was the selected alternative for waste 
rock within OU8. No Action was selected since the Site-wide studies and 
remedial investigations showed that the Gaw waste rock pile was not a 
source of contamination to surface water or groundwater.
    Fluvial Tailing: Containment was the selected alternative for 
fluvial tailing within OU8. This alternative consisted of (1) 
regrading, (2) revegetation, (3) riprap or erosion-control matting in 
erosion-prone areas of fluvial tailing, and (4) institutional controls.
    Stream Sediment: Sediment Removal and Channel Reconstruction was 
the selected alternative for stream sediment within OU8. This 
alternative consists of (1) reconstruction of unstable braided channel 
areas of FTS3, (2) construction of a channel through FTS6, (3) removal 
of sediment and channel improvements in currently erosionally unstable 
areas, and (4) institutional controls.

Response Actions

    Remedial action activities for OU8 began in August 2001 by the 
responsible party, Resurrection Mining Company. For the non-residential 
area soils remedy, approximately 4.5 acres of poorly-vegetated upland 
soils were regraded and revegetated. Revegetation of non-residential 
soils was approached on a site-specific basis utilizing amendments as 
necessary based on the results of agronomic soil tests.
    For Fluvial Tailings pile FTS1, remedial construction included 
regrading of the tailings in place and placing riprap on the embankment 
adjacent to the California Gulch stream channel. The tailing surface 
was covered with approximately one foot of growth material and was 
regraded to provide positive, non-erosive drainage into California 
Gulch. The surface was revegetated. For Fluvial Tailings pile FTS2, 
construction involved regrading existing berms and constructing new 
berms in erosion-prone areas of the north stream bank. Berms were 
reinforced with riprap, and disturbed areas were revegetated. For 
Fluvial Tailings pile FTS3, construction involved reconstruction of the 
stream channel, reinforcement of stream bank areas prone to erosion, 
and revegetation of disturbed areas. For Fluvial Tailings pile FTS6, 
remediation included reconstruction of the stream channel and 
revegetation of disturbed areas. Stream channel restoration involved 
abandonment of the elevated channel where California Gulch historically 
bypassed the Apache tailing impoundment to the valley floor. For 
Fluvial Tailings pile FTS8, construction involved placement of borrow 
soil in fluvial tailing removal areas, removal of sediments from the 
California Gulch stream channel, stabilization of existing berms, and 
construction and reinforcement of new berms in areas prone to erosion.
    Remediation activities of the California Gulch included widening 
the existing stream channel and regrading riprap on existing berms. 
Areas disturbed during construction were revegetated.
    Construction was completed in September of 2002.

Cleanup Goals

    OU8 was established pursuant to the 1994 CD. The intent of the 
parties under the 1994 CD was that source remediation would occur in 
each of the designated operable units and once source remediation was 
completed in those OUs, site-wide surface water and groundwater would 
then be examined and addressed as needed. Thus, specific numerical 
cleanup standards for surface water or groundwater were not established 
for OU8. Instead, the RAOs considered actions designed to prevent or 
control the release or threatened release of waste material or 
contaminants of concern from sources of contamination within OU8.

[[Page 58559]]

    The Selected Remedies met the RAOs by either excavating and 
removing materials from OU8, therefore preventing the release of waste 
material, or containing the contaminated materials and controlling the 
release of waste material to air and water.

Operation and Maintenance

    Resurrection performs operation and maintenance pursuant to the May 
2008 OU4, OU8, and OU10 Operation and Maintenance Plan. This plan 
requires biannual inspection/maintenance of the constructed components 
of the remedies in OU8 and annual reporting to EPA and CDPHE. The 
constructed components are to be inspected and maintained as follows:
    Revegetated Channels and Ditches: Revegetated channels will be 
inspected for erosion/scour, sediment collection, and vegetative cover. 
Sediment and material in excess of two inches in depth will be removed. 
Quantities of sediment less than 10 cubic yards may be placed next to 
the channel, in areas that will minimize remobilization. Scouring 
deeper than two inches below the base of the channel or rills and/or 
gullies on the channel sideslopes deeper than two inches in depth will 
be repaired.
    Riprap-Lined Channels, Banks, and Berms: Riprap-lined channels, 
banks, and berms will be inspected for erosion and uniformity of rock 
placement and in the case of channels, capacity restriction. For 
channels, sediment and material in excess of two inches in depth above 
the top of the riprap will be removed. Quantities of sediment less than 
10 cubic yards may be placed next to the channel, in areas that will 
minimize remobilization. Larger quantities of sediment that can not be 
placed adjacent to a channel will be placed at locations within the 
Site as approved by the EPA and the State. Areas in which riprap has 
been displaced to expose the channel, bank, or berm subgrade will be 
repaired with rock meeting the as-built specifications in the 
completion report and material restricting the channel capacity will be 
removed.
    Reno Mattress-Lined Channels and Gabion Structure: Reno mattresses 
and gabions will be inspected for structural integrity. Damaged 
mattresses and baskets will be repaired. Erosion under or around the 
mattresses or gabions will be repaired.
    Erosion Control Block-lined Channels: Channels constructed using 
erosion control blocks will be inspected for eroded or broken blocks 
and erosion of the channel banks. Sediment and material in excess of 
one inch in depth above the top of the blocks will be removed. 
Quantities of sediment less than 10 cubic yards may be placed next to 
the channel, in areas that will minimize remobilization. Damaged or 
eroded blocks which cause the channel subgrade to be exposed will be 
repaired or replaced with blocks meeting the as-built specifications in 
the completion report to maintain channel integrity.
    Revegetated Areas: Areas revegetated during remedial construction 
will be inspected for erosional stability and vegetative cover. 
Inspected areas will include channel banks, floodplains, non-
residential soils, embankment toes, tailing and waste rock areas. 
Erosion rills or gullies in excess of two inches deep in revegetated 
areas will be repaired. In addition, vegetative areas will be inspected 
for the presence of bareground areas. Areas void of or containing 
little vegetation which are larger in area than 100 square feet will be 
considered bareground areas. Identified bareground areas will be 
assessed for agronomic conditions, and any necessary soil amendments 
identified by the agronomic assessment will be completed and the area 
will be reseeded during next spring or fall planting season.
    Bi-annual (twice per year) inspections will be performed in late 
spring or early summer after snowmelt has occurred and in mid- to late 
fall.
    A report will be prepared and submitted to Region 8 of the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Colorado Department of 
Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) prior to the end of each year 
(December 31) documenting the inspection and maintenance activities. 
The report will discuss the inspection and include: (1) Completed 
copies of the inspection forms contained in Appendix B, (2) photographs 
of areas where inspections and maintenance were performed, and (3) 
maintenance activities performed.
    In addition, Lake County passed an ordinance on March 2, 2009 that 
established institutional controls for OU8. Under this ordinance, the 
fluvial tailing sites, non-residential soils, and constructed elements 
of the remedies as depicted on the corresponding map available at the 
Lake County Building and Land Use Department within OU8, are designated 
as engineered remedies. The County will not issue a permit for any 
activity on property that contains a designated engineered remedy 
unless the permit applicant has secured approval for those activities 
from the CDPHE. For all other portions of OU8 not designated as part of 
an engineered remedy, the ordinance provides that any excavation or 
other earth removal activity that exceeds 10 cubic yards requires CDPHE 
approval for such activity as a condition precedent to the County 
granting a permit. Finally, the ordinance provides that all permit 
applicants shall be provided with information regarding best management 
practices regarding potentially contaminated soils and the applicant 
must certify they have received and reviewed this information before a 
permit will be issued.

Five-Year Review

    The remedies at the Site require ongoing five-year reviews in 
accordance with CERCLA Section 121(c) and Sec.  300.430(f)(4)(ii) of 
the NCP. The next five-year review for the California Gulch Site is 
scheduled for 2012.
    The five-year review in 2007 noted that all remedial actions in OU8 
have been completed. Biannual inspections were performed in accordance 
with the Final California Gulch Superfund Site Operation and 
Maintenance Plan, Operable Units 4, 8 and 10 as revised in January 
2005. Two action items for OU8 were recommended in the 2007 five-year 
review. First, a portion of Non-Residential Soils Areas, FTS1 and FTS2 
remedies were in need of repair or replacement to extend the life of 
the cap. The existing remedy was repaired so that mine waste does not 
come into contact with California Gulch flows or allow precipitation to 
accumulate on the tailing surface. Second, institutional controls were 
needed to ensure protection of human health in the event of changes in 
zoning or to preclude disturbance of engineered remedies as a result of 
development consistent with current zoning. These institutional 
controls are now in place as discussed above.

Community Involvement

    Public participation activities have been satisfied as required in 
CERCLA Section 113(k), 42 U.S.C. 9613(k) and CERCLA Section 117, 42 
U.S.C. 9617. Documents in the partial deletion docket which the EPA 
relied on for recommendation for the partial deletion from the NPL are 
available to the public in the information repositories and a notice of 
availability of the Notice of Intent for Partial Deletion has been 
published in the Leadville Herald Democrat to satisfy public 
participation procedures required by 40 CFR 300.425(e)(4).
    The Lake County Commissioners and the Mayor of Leadville are 
supportive of the deletion of OU8.

[[Page 58560]]

Determination That the Criteria for Deletion Have Been Met

    More specifically for OU8, EPA and the State have determined that 
the responsible parties completed all appropriate response actions 
required by the OU8 Record of Decision, the 1995 Action Memorandum, 
1998 Action Memorandum and the 1994 Consent Decree. Additionally 
Resurrection has continuing obligations to perform operation and 
maintenance of the remedies under the OU4, OU8, and OU10 Operation and 
Maintenance Plan. Furthermore, institutional controls are in place. EPA 
has consulted with the State, Lake County Commissioners, and the City 
of Leadville, Colorado on the proposed partial deletion of OU8 from the 
NPL prior to developing this Notice of Partial Deletion. Through the 
five-year reviews, EPA has also determined that all response actions 
have been completed such that any release from the contaminated media 
contained in place poses no significant threat to public health or the 
environment and, therefore, taking of additional remedial measures is 
not appropriate.
    Pursuant to CERCLA section 121(c) and the NCP, EPA will conduct the 
next five-year review in 2012 to ensure the continued protectiveness of 
remedial actions where hazardous substances, pollutants, or 
contaminants remain at a site above levels that allow for unlimited use 
and unrestricted exposure.

V. Deletion Action

    The EPA, with concurrence of the State of Colorado through the 
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has determined 
that all appropriate response actions under CERCLA, other than 
operation, maintenance, monitoring and five-year reviews, have been 
completed. Therefore, EPA is deleting all of OU8 including the 
impounded tailing, non-residential area soils, waste rock, fluvial 
tailing and stream sediment from the NPL.
    Because EPA considers this action to be noncontroversial and 
routine, EPA is taking it without prior publication. This action will 
be effective January 12, 2010 unless EPA receives adverse comments by 
December 14, 2009. If adverse comments are received within the 30-day 
public comment period, EPA will publish a timely withdrawal of this 
direct final notice of partial deletion before the effective date of 
the partial deletion and it will not take effect. EPA will prepare a 
response to comments and continue with the deletion process on the 
basis of the notice of intent to partially delete and the comments 
already received. There will be no additional opportunity to comment.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 300

    Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Chemicals, 
Hazardous waste, Hazardous substances, Intergovernmental relations, 
Penalties, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Superfund, Water 
pollution control, Water supply.

    Dated: October 22, 2009.
Carol Rushin,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 8.

0
For the reasons set out in this document, 40 CFR part 300 is amended as 
follows:

PART 300--[AMENDED]

0
1. The authority citation for part 300 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  33 U.S.C. 1321(c)(2); 42 U.S.C. 9601-9657; E.O. 
12777, 56 FR 54757, 3 CFR 1991 Comp., p. 351; E.O. 12580, 52 FR 
2923, 3 CFR 1987 Comp., p. 193.

APPENDIX B--[AMENDED]

0
2. Table 1 of Appendix B to part 300 is amended by revising the entry 
under ``California Gulch, CO'' to read as follows:

Appendix B to Part 300--National Priorities List

                                       Table 1--General Superfund Section
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               State                        Site name              City/County                Notes (a)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                  * * * * * * *
CO.................................  California Gulch......  Leadville.............  P

                                                  * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) * * *
* P = Sites with partial deletion(s).


[FR Doc. E9-26952 Filed 11-12-09; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
