81_FR_6794 81 FR 6768 - National Oil and Hazardous Substance Pollution Contingency Plan: Partial Deletion of the California Gulch Superfund Site; National Priorities List

81 FR 6768 - National Oil and Hazardous Substance Pollution Contingency Plan: Partial Deletion of the California Gulch Superfund Site; National Priorities List

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 26 (February 9, 2016)

Page Range6768-6775
FR Document2016-02601

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 8 is publishing a direct final Notice of Partial Deletion of Operable Unit 1 (OU1) Yak Tunnel/Water Treatment Plant; and Operable Unit 3 (OU3), Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad Company (D&RGW) Slag Piles/ Railroad Easement/Railroad Yard, of the California Gulch Superfund Site (Site), located in Lake County, Colorado, 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 (State), through the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) because EPA has determined that all appropriate response actions at OU1 and OU3 under CERCLA, other than operation, maintenance, and five-year reviews, have been completed. However, this partial deletion does not preclude future actions under Superfund.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 26 (Tuesday, February 9, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 26 (Tuesday, February 9, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 6768-6775]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-02601]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 300

[EPA-HQ-SFUND-1983-0002; FRL-9936-89-Region 8]


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

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Direct final rule.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 8 is 
publishing a direct final Notice of Partial Deletion of Operable Unit 1 
(OU1) Yak Tunnel/Water Treatment Plant; and Operable Unit 3 (OU3), 
Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad Company (D&RGW) Slag Piles/
Railroad Easement/Railroad Yard, of the California Gulch Superfund Site 
(Site), located in Lake County, Colorado, 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

[[Page 6769]]

Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP). This direct 
final partial deletion is being published by EPA with the concurrence 
of the State of Colorado (State), through the Colorado Department of 
Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) because EPA has determined that 
all appropriate response actions at OU1 and OU3 under CERCLA, other 
than operation, maintenance, and five-year reviews, have been 
completed. However, this partial deletion does not preclude future 
actions under Superfund.

DATES: This direct final partial deletion is effective April 11, 2016 
unless EPA receives adverse comments by March 10, 2016. 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 on-line instructions 
for submitting comments.
     Email: Linda Kiefer, [email protected].
     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 by calling EPA Region 8 at (303) 312-7279.
    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 email. 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 email comment directly to EPA without 
going through http://www.regulations.gov, your email 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 electronically in 
http://www.regulations.gov; by calling EPA Region 8 at (303) 312-7279 
and leaving a message; and at the Lake County Public Library, 1115 
Harrison Avenue, Leadville, CO 80461, (719) 486-0569, Monday and 
Wednesday from 10:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00 
a.m.-5:00 p.m., and Friday and Saturday 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.

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, email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Table of Contents

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

I. Introduction

    EPA Region 8 is publishing this direct final Notice of Partial 
Deletion for all of Operable Unit 1 (OU1), Yak Tunnel/Water Treatment 
Plant; and Operable Unit 3 (OU3), Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad 
Company (D&RGW) Slag Piles/Railroad Easement/Railroad Yard, from the 
NPL. The NPL constitutes Appendix B of the NCP, 40 CFR part 300, which 
EPA promulgated pursuant to Section 105 of 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 
NPL. 60 FR 55466 (November 1, 1995). As described in 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.
    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 OU1, Yak Tunnel/Water Treatment 
Plant; and OU3, D&RGW Slag Piles/Railroad Easement/Railroad Yard, and 
demonstrates how they meet 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.
    This partial deletion pertains to all of OU1 and OU3. Operable Unit 
2 (OU2), Malta Gulch Tailing Impoundments and Lower Malta Gulch Fluvial 
Tailing; Operable Unit 4 (OU4) Upper California Gulch; Operable Unit 5 
(OU5), ASARCO Smelters/Slag/Mill Sites; Operable Unit 7 (OU7), Apache 
Tailing Impoundment; Operable Unit 8 (OU8), Lower California Gulch; 
Operable Unit 9 (OU9), Residential Populated Areas; and Operable Unit 
10 (OU10), Oregon Gulch, were deleted from the NPL in previous partial 
deletion actions. Operable Unit 6 (OU6), Starr Ditch/Stray Horse Gulch/
Lower Evans Gulch/Penrose Mine Waste Pile; Operable Unit 11 (OU11), 
Arkansas River Floodplain; and Operable Unit 12 (OU12), Site-wide 
Surface and Groundwater Quality, are not being considered for deletion 
as part of this action and will remain on the NPL.

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 
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;

[[Page 6770]]

    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 OU1 and OU3:
    (1) EPA has consulted with the State 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 CDPHE, has 
concurred on the partial deletion of OU1 and OU3 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 OU1 and OU3 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 OU1 
and OU3 of the Site from the NPL.

Site Background and History

    The California Gulch Superfund Site, EPA ID No. COD980717938, 
CERCLIS Site ID 0801478, is located in Lake County, Colorado 
approximately 100 miles southwest of Denver. The Site was proposed for 
inclusion on the NPL on December 30, 1982, (47 FR 58476), and listed 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. 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. 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 
mine workings became the principal 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 released into surrounding streams and after 
about 1930 slurried into tailing impoundments. Many of the mining 
operations ceased operations around 1900, although several smelters 
continued operations into the 1920s (Western Zinc) and the 1960s (AV 
Smelter) and the last active mine, the Black Cloud, shut down in 1999.
    All of the mines within the Site boundaries are presently inactive, 
and all of the mills and smelters have been demolished. Mining remains 
that contributed to environmental contamination are (1) mill tailing 
(the fine-grained residue remaining after milling has removed the metal 
concentrates form the ore) in impoundments and fluvial deposits; (2) 
mine waste rock piles (mine development rock and low grade ore removed 
to gain access to an ore body, and often deposited near adits and shaft 
openings); (3) mine water drainage tunnels; (4) draining adits; and (5) 
various smelter wastes including slag piles, flue dust and fallout from 
stack emissions.
    The Site was placed on the NPL due to concerns regarding the impact 
of acidic and metals laden mine drainage on surface waters leading to 
California Gulch and the impact of heavy metals loading into the 
Arkansas River. A Site-wide Phase I Remedial Investigation (Phase I 
RI), which primarily addressed surface water and groundwater 
contamination, was issued in January 1987. As a result of the Phase I 
RI, EPA identified the first operable unit, the Yak Tunnel, to address 
the largest single source of metallic loading. A number of additional 
Site-wide studies followed the Phase I RI.
    EPA agreed, pursuant to a May 2, 1994 Consent Decree (1994 CD), to 
divide the Site into 12 operable units (OUs). The OUs are as follows: 
OU1, Yak Tunnel/Water Treatment Plant; OU2, Malta Gulch Tailing 
Impoundments and Lower Malta Gulch Fluvial Tailing; OU3, D&RGW Slag 
Piles/Railroad Easement/Railroad Yard; OU4, Upper California Gulch; 
OU5, ASARCO Smelter Sites/Slag/Mill Sites; OU6, Starr Ditch/Stray Horse 
Gulch/Lower Evans Gulch/Penrose Mine Waste Pile; OU7, Apache Tailing 
Impoundments; OU8, Lower California Gulch; OU9, Residential Populated 
Areas; OU10, Oregon Gulch; OU11, Arkansas River Valley Floodplain; and 
OU12, Site-wide Surface and Groundwater. With the exception of OU12, 
the OUs pertain to distinct geographical areas corresponding to areas 
of responsibility for the identified responsible parties and/or to 
distinct sources of contamination. To date, OU2, OU4, OU5, OU7, OU8, 
OU9, and OU10 have been partially deleted from the NPL.
    The background and history, the Remedial Investigations and 
Feasibility Studies (RI/FS), Removal and Response Actions, Selected 
Remedies, Cleanup

[[Page 6771]]

Standards, and Operation and Maintenance activities for OU1 and OU3 are 
discussed below.

OU1 Background and History

    Operable Unit 1 (OU1) consists of the Yak Tunnel and Water 
Treatment Plant. The Yak Tunnel and Yak Tunnel Water Treatment Plant 
are located to the southeast of the City of Leadville. A map of OU1 can 
be found in the docket at www.regulations.gov under Docket ID no. EPA-
HQ-SFUND-1983-0002. The Yak Tunnel was constructed to dewater mines and 
to facilitate mineral exploration and development. The tunnel was 
driven in 1895, as an extension of the Silver Cord Tunnel, to drain the 
Iron Hill mines. The Yak Tunnel was extended several times, with the 
last extension occurring in 1923. The Yak Tunnel extends underground 
approximately 3\1/2\ to 4 miles into Iron Hill and Breece Hill. The 
tunnel has several major laterals and drifts that extend from the 
tunnel into various mine workings, such as the Horseshoe, the Rubie, 
the North Mike, the South Mike, the Ibex No. 4, the Little Winnie, the 
Resurrection No. 1, the Fortune, the Resurrection No. 2, and the Dolly 
B. The EPA estimated that 60,000 feet of tunnels and major laterals and 
55 to 74 million cubic feet of void space are associated with the 
tunnel mining activities. At the time of the ROD in March 1988, studies 
indicated that a combined total of 210 tons per year of cadmium, lead, 
copper, manganese, iron, and zinc were discharged from the Yak Tunnel 
into California Gulch, which drains into the Arkansas River. Surface 
water contamination is the major impact of the Yak Tunnel discharge. 
Shallow alluvial ground water and stream sediment may have been 
impacted by historic releases from the Yak Tunnel.

OU1 Remedial Investigations and Feasibility Study (RI/FS)

    The State, the EPA and certain Potentially Responsible Parties 
(PRPs) conducted various studies and investigations to evaluate the 
nature and extent of contamination generally at the Site. Remedial 
Investigations (RIs) began in 1986 within the Site, including mine 
waste rock piles, tailing disposal areas, surface water and aquatics, 
groundwater, smelter sites, residential/populated area soils, slag 
piles, and terrestrial studies. The Yak Tunnel/California Gulch 
Remedial Investigation (1986 RI) evaluated the human health and 
environmental impacts due to historic mining activities.
    In May 1987, the Phase I Remedial Investigation (1987 Phase I RI) 
confirmed that the Yak Tunnel is a significant source of metals 
contamination. Results of this study indicated that 75 to 80 percent of 
the cadmium, manganese, and zinc detected at the confluence of 
California Gulch with the Arkansas River originates from the Yak 
Tunnel. Historical information along with data collected during the 
1987 Phase I RI indicated that the Yak Tunnel discharge had a 
significant detrimental impact on the aquatic environment at the site. 
In addition, the Yak Tunnel discharge presented a potential public 
health risk based on exposure to affected surface and groundwater at 
the California Gulch Site.
    The EPA released the Yak Tunnel Feasibility Study (FS) in June 1987 
and a proposed plan for the Yak Tunnel in August 1987.

OU1 Selected Remedy

    The EPA issued the Record of Decision (ROD) for OU1 (1988 OU1 ROD) 
on March 29, 1988. The remedy chosen in the 1988 OU1 ROD was modified 
in an Amended ROD (AROD) signed on March 23, 1989 (1989 OU1 AROD) and, 
further, modified in an ESD signed on October 22, 1991 (1991 OU1 ESD) 
and an ESD signed on July 29, 2013 (2013 OU1 ESD).
    The selected remedy in the 1988 OU1 ROD was narrowly focused on the 
discharges from the Yak Tunnel as a major source of contamination to 
California Gulch and the Arkansas River. Broader issues of water 
quality generally in California Gulch and the Arkansas River were 
addressed as part of remedial actions taken at other operable units. 
Thus, the 1988 OU1 ROD identified a single remedial action objective 
(RAO) of decreasing the release and threatened release of hazardous 
substances, pollutants and contaminants from the Yak Tunnel into 
California Gulch.
    The original remedy selected in the 1988 OU1 ROD consisted of the 
following remedial components: (1) Construction of surge ponds to 
capture drainage from the tunnel and to minimize the impact of surges 
on California Gulch and the Arkansas River; (2) Installation of an 
interim water treatment system to treat water from the Yak Tunnel 
before discharge in California Gulch; (3) Sealing of shafts, drill 
holes and fractured rock and diversion of surface water from tunnel 
recharge areas to reduce the amount of water entering the Yak Tunnel 
system; (4) Grouting of fractured rock, caved-in areas and drill holes 
to prevent seepage of contaminated water to the land surface; (5) 
Installation of a pumping system to control water levels behind the 
portal plug. The pumped water would be routed to the interim treatment 
system; (6) Construction of a minimum of three concrete plugs in the 
Yak Tunnel to seal off the major flow route for groundwater movement; 
(7) Establishment of a surface and groundwater monitoring system to 
detect leakage, seeps or migration of contaminated groundwater, which 
may result from installation of the tunnel plugs; (8) Development and 
implementation, as necessary, of a contingency plan to address any 
adverse effects on surface or groundwater from tunnel plugging; and (9) 
Operations and maintenance of the remedy.
    The 1989 OU1 AROD made the following changes in the remedy: (1) 
Installation of a permanent water treatment system to treat 
contaminated groundwater from the Yak Tunnel before discharge in 
California Gulch, as opposed to the interim treatment facility 
originally proposed; (2) Construction of a surge pond or ponds to 
capture drainage from the tunnel and to minimize surges on California 
Gulch. The original remedy called for multiple surge ponds and did not 
consider the use of a single pond; (3) Reduction of seepage and 
recharge was made optional. Grouting of fractured rock, cave-ins and 
drill holes was removed as part of the remedy; and (4) The portal plug 
was modified to be a flow-through plug as opposed to a solid plug.
    The 1991 OU1 ESD made the following changes in the remedy: (1) 
Construction of a single surge pond as a permanent part of the remedy; 
(2) Construction of a flow-control bulkhead within the tunnel to 
prevent surges. Two of three originally planned plugs were removed from 
the remedy; (3) Identification of groundwater flow direction and 
potential gradient reversal as additional element of the monitoring 
plan. The monitoring system was proposed to include a minimum of seven 
groundwater monitoring wells as opposed to a minimum of 23 wells 
proposed in the 1989 AROD; (4) Placement of six or more weirs, or other 
flow measuring devices, at key locations in the Yak Tunnel. The weir 
locations were selected during an initial inspection of the tunnel; (5) 
Periodic inspection of the Yak Tunnel. Qualified mining crews will 
enter the tunnel annually to inspect and maintain weirs and other 
structures in the tunnel. Crews will also enter the tunnel to determine 
the cause of unexpected increases or decreased in flow within the Yak 
Tunnel; and (5) Development and implementation, as necessary, of a 
contingency plan to address any adverse

[[Page 6772]]

effects on surface or groundwater resulting from tunnel blockage. The 
implementation would be based upon decrease in flow from Yak Tunnel, 
rise in water levels in monitoring wells located near mine workings, 
indication of gradient reversal, or degradation of water quality.
    Because the selected remedy in the 1988 OU1 ROD left wastes in 
place but did not include institutional controls (ICs), a second ESD 
was signed on July 29, 2013 to include ICs. The objectives of ICs for 
OU1 are as follows: (1) Reduce or control human exposure to 
contaminants of concern; and (2) Maintain the integrity of and prevent 
disturbances to engineered features or structures established as part 
of the current remedy or future remedies. The properties that comprise 
most of OU1 are owned by Resurrection/Newmont.

OU1 Cleanup Standards

    The OU1 remedy was the first source control remedy at the Site that 
addressed the Yak Tunnel discharge as the largest single source of 
contamination to surface water and groundwater but did not contain 
numeric cleanup standards for those media. Numeric cleanup standards 
for site-wide surface water and groundwater contamination were 
established in the OU12 Record of Decision.

OU1 Response Actions

    The EPA issued a Unilateral Administrative Order (UAO) to ASARCO 
Incorporated, Newmont Mining Corporation, Res-ASARCO Joint Venture and 
Resurrection Mining Company on March 29, 1989 ordering these parties to 
perform the remedial design and remedial action for the Yak Tunnel. Two 
amendments were made to the UAO on April 30, 1993 and June 16, 1993. 
The UAO was replaced and terminated in a 2008 Consent Decree settlement 
(2008 CD) by and among the United States, State of Colorado, Newmont 
USA Limited and Resurrection Mining Company. Under the 2008 CD, Newmont 
USA Limited and Resurrection Mining Company assumed responsibility for 
the OU1 remedy. Construction of a surge pond and permanent water 
treatment plant began in September 1988 and was completed in June 1991. 
The construction efforts included four main elements: (1) A surface 
water conveyance system, (2) the surge pond itself, (3) a barge 
transfer system and (4) installation of gravity filters. The water 
treatment facility to treat waters emanating from the Yak Tunnel was 
constructed over a two-year period and the Yak Tunnel Water Treatment 
Plant has been in operation since construction was completed in 
February 1992. The Yak Tunnel Bulkhead was constructed in 1994 to 
control surges of water coming from the Yak Tunnel, particularly during 
spring melt. The bulkhead is located approximately 1,680 feet into the 
tunnel from the portal. Additional efforts were made in 1995 and 1996 
to reduce metals loading into the Arkansas River from ephemeral 
tributaries. As part of a Consent Decree settlement with Resurrection/
Newmont, Resurrection/Newmont placed environmental covenants on its 
properties in OU1 on July 31, 2012 and October 1, 2012 that meets the 
IC objectives above. All remedial components described in the 1988 OU1 
ROD and subsequent 1989 OU1 AROD, 1991 OU1 ESD, and the 2013 OU1 ESD 
have been implemented.

OU1 Operation and Maintenance

    The potentially responsible parties' (PRPs) operations and 
maintenance (O&M) responsibilities were first defined under the UAO and 
then updated in the 2008 CD. In accordance with the terms of the 2008 
CD, the Routine Monitoring Plan (RMP), Contingency Plan (CP) and the 
OU1 Work Plan (Work Plan) govern the long-term implementation of the 
selected remedy for the OU1. The OU1 Work Plan, CP and the RMP are 
appendices to the 2008 CD.
    Routine O&M includes repairing grouted areas of structures due to 
corrosion, settlement or other factors; occasional repair or 
replacement of monitor well pumps and surface water monitoring 
equipment; repair of access roads; routine repair or replacement of 
pumps, motors, mixers, piping and tankage; and inspections. The 
treatment plant operates under requirements established in the OU1 Work 
Plan, and submits monthly and annual reports to EPA. Resurrection/
Newmont summarizes monitoring data and data evaluation required by the 
OU1 Routine Monitoring Plan in the Annual Monitoring Reports, Yak 
Tunnel System for the Yak Tunnel Operable Unit, Leadville, CO. Current 
reports and associated data are available by contacting EPA Region 8.
    In regards to ICs, environmental covenants for Resurrection/
Newmont's properties within OU1 were recorded with the Lake County 
Clerk and Recorder on July 31, 2012 and October 10, 2012. The 
environmental covenants provide the following Use Restrictions: (1) No 
Residential Use, Day Care Centers or Schools, Parks or Open Space that 
are designed or intended to provide play or recreation areas for 
children, (2) Restrictions on using untreated groundwater from wells, 
and (3) Restrictions on uses or activities that would disturb/interfere 
or have the potential to disturb/interfere with the protectiveness of 
the remedy and remedial components. All of OU1 is zoned Industrial 
Mining by Lake County, which serves to limit future changes of land use 
without County approval and Lake County has established a protocol to 
notify the EPA and the CDPHE of any proposed changes.

OU3 Background and History

    D&RGW Slag Piles/Railroad Easement/Railroad Yard (OU3) included 
three slag piles (Arkansas Valley (AV), La Plata, and Harrison Street), 
approximately 12 acres at Harrison Avenue and Monroe Street which 
contained the Harrison Street slag pile, an easement that runs 
diagonally through the City of Leadville, and a portion of the rail 
yard known as Poverty Flats. The Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad 
Company (D&RGW) owned theses slag piles, property, easement and rail 
yard when OU3 was designated in 1994. A map of OU3 can be found in the 
docket at www.regulations.gov under Docket ID no. EPA-HQ-SFUND-1983-
0002.
    In 1961, D&RGW purchased the AV Slag Pile from ASARCO Incorporated 
for use as railroad ballast. D&RGW purchased the La Plata Slag Pile 
from the Leadville Sanitation District in 1970. Additionally, D&RGW 
purchased the Harrison Street Slag Pile and Harrison Avenue property 
from NL Industries in 1983.
    The AV Slag Pile covers approximately 40 acres just west of 
Stringtown. The pile generally consists of slag produced by the AV 
smelter that operated from 1882 to 1960. Based on aerial photography, 
the pile volume in the late 1950s was approximately 1.2 million cubic 
yards, whereas in 1998 approximately 422,000 cubic yards of slag 
remained, of which, approximately 190,000 cubic yards is stockpiled 
fine slag.
    The La Plata Slag Pile, located west of the City limits of 
Leadville on Elm Street, has a volume estimated at 105,000 cubic yards. 
Bimetallic Smelting Company leased the La Plata Smelter Works in OU3 
from 1892 to 1900 for pyritic smelting of low-grade ores.
    The Harrison Reduction Works was located near the northeast corner 
of Harrison Avenue and Elm Street, in a residential area. The Harrison 
Street Slag Pile ranged from 20 to 50 feet in

[[Page 6773]]

height and covered an area of approximately 3 acres. The Harrison 
Street Slag Pile was removed to original grade and relocated to the AV 
Slag Pile in March 1998.
    Once a hotbed of transportation activities mostly related to 
mining, the Poverty Flats rail yard, located between 12th Street, 
Highway 24, 17th Street and County Road 8, is now vacant. The portion 
of the Poverty Flats rail yard formerly owned by D&RGW is located near 
the north end of the City of Leadville, encompasses an area of roughly 
43 acres, and is crossed by abandoned rail lines and access roads. 
Slag, which was used in the rail yard as ballast and as a road base to 
provide support for heavy vehicle traffic, was also deposited around 
the loading dock due to spillage during transportation activities.
    The rail easement includes the portion of railroad track that runs 
diagonally through Leadville and consists of approximately 25 feet on 
either side of the track centerline. Slag was used as a road base to 
provide support for heavy vehicle traffic. Slag was also deposited as 
spillage from passing rail cars.
    D&RGW identified a small volume of fine slag in the Poverty Flats 
rail yard. D&RGW prepared a plan, which addressed removal of the fine 
slag from this area to the AV Smelter Slag Pile. As a result of the 
Union Pacific Railroad Company (UPRR) purchase of the Southern Pacific 
Transportation Company (surviving corporation from an earlier merger of 
D&RGW and Southern Pacific Railroad), UPRR took ownership of all D&RGW 
property at the Site in 1996 and assumed D&RGW's responsibilities under 
the 1993 D&RGW CD.
    During the summer and fall of 1997, UPRR removed 1,264 cubic yards 
of slag, including fine slag, from the rail yard and placed it onto the 
AV Slag Pile. As a result, soils were exposed containing elevated 
concentrations of lead. Soils samples, taken before and after removal 
of the slag, showed levels of lead in soil that exceed the Site-wide 
residential action level of 3500 mg/kg lead, thus lead in the soils on 
this property may create the potential for unacceptable human health 
risks should the property be developed for residential use. This vacant 
property is zoned Business by Lake County. However, institutional 
controls are in place to protect human health in the event of future 
residential development.
    As part of their ballast operations, UPRR relocated approximately 
104,000 cubic yards of slag to the AV Slag Pile in March 1998, which 
brought the Harrison Street Slag Pile to grade. Soils samples taken 
after removal of the slag showed levels of lead in soils, both under 
where the slag pile was located and otherwise on the Harrison Avenue 
property, that exceed the residential action level for lead in soils of 
3500 mg/kg. Thus, the lead in the soils on the Harrison Avenue property 
may create the potential for unacceptable human health risks should the 
property be developed for residential use. To date, the land remains 
vacant. Sections along the highway are zoned Commercial, and the 
remaining sections are zoned Transitional Commercial by the City of 
Leadville. However, institutional controls are in place to protect 
human health in the event of future residential development.
    In July 1998, UPRR submitted a Work Plan for the Consolidation of 
Fine Slag at the Railroad Easement Near McWethy Drive to 12th Street, 
Leadville, Colorado. The work plan provided for the easement to be 
converted into a segment of the Mineral Belt Trail. Consistent with the 
plan, fine slag from the rail easement was used as base material on the 
Mineral Belt Trail. More specifically, the fine slag was consolidated 
and covered with a compacted gravel sub-base of six inches and then two 
one-inch layers of asphalt to encapsulate it. This resource utilization 
was consistent with the contingency under the 1998 OU3 ROD. The 
completion of the consolidation work was approved in September 1998. 
The conversion of the railroad easement to the Mineral Belt Trail was 
completed with the installation of a sub-base, culverts, asphalt, 
signs, centerline striping, and re-vegetation. In accordance with a 
1998 Memorandum of Understanding between EPA, UPRR, and Lake County, 
Lake County completed these projects, and UPRR provided funding for the 
sub-base, culverts, and asphalt in 2000. Ownership of the easement has 
been transferred to Lake County via quitclaim deed.

OU3 Remedial Investigations and Feasibility Study (RI/FS)

    The State, the EPA and certain Potentially Responsible Parties 
(PRPs) have conducted various studies and investigations to evaluate 
the nature and extent of contamination generally at the Site, and 
specifically within OU3. Remedial Investigations (RIs) began in 1986 
within the Site, including mine waste rock piles, tailing disposal 
areas, surface water and aquatics, groundwater, smelter sites, 
residential/populated area soils, slag piles, and terrestrial studies.
    Concurrent with the various investigations and studies, risk 
assessments were conducted at the California Gulch Superfund Site. Some 
included the Preliminary Baseline Risk Assessment (Preliminary BRA), 
and the Final Baseline Human Health Risk Assessments (Final BRA): Part 
A, Part B, and Part C. For human health risk issues at OU3, the 
Preliminary BRA and the Final BRA Part C, Evaluation of Worker Scenario 
and Evaluation of Recreational Scenarios, were most pertinent. The 
Preliminary BRA indicated that lead and arsenic are responsible for the 
majority of human health risks at the Site. Therefore, arsenic and lead 
were used as indicator contaminants for risk in the Final BRA.
    EPA and D&RGW entered into an Administrative Order on Consent (1991 
D&RGW AOC) on December 3, 1991. The 1991 D&RGW AOC required D&RGW to 
perform remedial investigations of major lead slag piles and one zinc 
slag pile within the Site. In 1992, D&RGW completed a remedial 
investigation (1992 OU3 Slag RI) of the major lead slag piles and the 
zinc slag pile within the Site. Slag was found to have elevated levels 
of zinc, lead, arsenic and cadmium along with a low acid-generating 
potential, and a neutral to basic pH. Fine slag, which is less than \3/
8\ of an inch, was found to have elevated lead levels. The fine 
fraction of slag was the only part of the slag that may present an 
unacceptable risk because fine slag poses an inhalation hazard.
    EPA and D&RGW entered into a Consent Decree on September 15, 1993 
(1993 D&RGW CD) for the completion of investigation, feasibility 
studies, and remediation activities to be performed for OU3. The 1993 
D&RGW CD stated EPA's concerns regarding the fine fraction of the 
stockpiled slag at the AV Smelter site and the potential for 
particulate release during ballast operations as a potential human 
health exposure pathway. The 1993 D&RGW CD required D&RGW to perform a 
feasibility study for stockpiled fine slag and to submit an operations 
plan before initiating any ballast operations.
    In 1993, the EPA conducted a Screening Feasibility Study (1993 SFS) 
to initiate the overall CERCLA FS process at the California Gulch Site. 
The purpose of the SFS was to develop general response actions and 
identify an appropriate range of alternatives applicable to the various 
contaminant sources to be considered during feasibility studies for the 
California Gulch Site. The 1993 SFS for Remedial Alternatives examined 
several remediation alternatives for slag located

[[Page 6774]]

at the Site based on specific criteria, such as relative cost, 
implementability, and effectiveness. The three remedial alternatives 
for slag retained for further evaluation were: No action, institutional 
controls, and resource utilization. The La Plata and Harrison Street 
Slag piles did not contain fine slag. Therefore, no further action was 
necessary. Because the AV Smelter pile contained fine slag, more 
investigation was required.
    In July of 1995, D&RGW submitted a ballast operations plan to EPA. 
Following EPA's approval of the plan, ballast operations commenced in 
August 1995 but ceased soon thereafter for lack of a profitable market 
for the slag. Ballast operations involve the sorting of larger slag so 
that the size fraction of greater than \3/8\ inch and less than 2\1/2\ 
inches is produced for road ballast. The undersized fraction (i.e., 
less than \3/8\ inch), or sorted fine slag, that is produced by the 
sorting process is stockpiled along with the previously sorted fine 
slag at the Arkansas Valley pile.
    D&RGW's 1996 Final Stockpiled Fine Slag Feasibility Study (1996 OU3 
FS) focused on the AV Smelter Slag Pile's existing fine slag subpile 
and fine slag potentially generated from future ballast production. 
Based upon the 1993 SFS and 1993 D&RGW CD, the remedial action 
objective for the stockpiled fine slag was to: prevent leaching of 
metals of concern in concentrations that would have an adverse impact 
on soils, surface or ground water near the slag piles. The 1996 OU3 FS 
provided a detailed analysis of the three retained remediation 
alternatives (no action, institutional controls, and resource 
utilization) from the 1993 SFS as applied to the stockpiled fine slag. 
The result of the 1996 OU3 FS for the stockpiled fine slag was a 
Proposed Plan with a No Action Alternative for the stockpiled fine slag 
subpile of the AV Smelter Slag Pile. In September 1996, the Proposed 
Plan was issued with a preferred alternative of ``No Action,'' with a 
contingency for future utilization of the slag.

OU3 Selected Remedy

    The EPA issued the Stockpiled Fine Slag--Arkansas Valley Smelter 
Slag Pile ROD for OU3 on May 6, 1998 (1998 OU3 ROD). Based on 
consideration of CERCLA requirements, detailed analyses of 
alternatives, and public comments, the EPA determined that a No Action 
alternative was the appropriate remedy. The No Action alternative 
leaves the stockpiled fine slag in its existing condition with no 
control or cleanup planned. The No Action alternative includes a 
provision, denoted as a contingency, for future utilization of the 
slag, if it is encapsulated prior to its use or reuse. The 1998 OU3 ROD 
also provides a provision to use the slag in the future if regional 
market demand exists for the material as a component in construction 
materials.
    The 1998 OU3 ROD did not require maintenance of the fine slag 
piles. Any future use of the slag would require encapsulation prior to 
reuse. Encapsulation can include the use of fine slag in concrete or 
asphalt aggregate, as a road base, or as backfill (so long as the slag 
is chemically bound or physically separated from an exposure by a 
barrier consisting of a different material).
    Sampling in the Poverty Flats rail yard property and the Harrison 
Avenue property shows levels of lead in soils above levels that would 
allow for unlimited use and unrestricted exposure, i.e., above the 
residential action level established for OU9, Residential Populated 
Areas of the Site. In addition, the Mineral Belt Trail, which was 
constructed on the former railroad easement, acts as a cap for fine 
slag and residual slag remains in other parts of OU3. Thus, the August 
6, 2014 ESD (2014 OU3 ESD) addresses the need for ICs, and documents 
the decision to require ICs for OU3. In addition, the use of the term 
``contingency'' for fine slag utilization in the 1998 OU3 ROD is 
clarified in the 2014 OU3 ESD. Fine slag can be used for future 
commercial purposes by following the requirements set out in the 1998 
OU3 ROD.

OU3 Cleanup Standards

    As the final determination in the 1998 OU3 ROD was No Action ROD, 
no cleanup standards were identified for fine slag in the record of 
decision. The OU12 remedy addresses site-wide surface water and 
groundwater contamination.

OU3 Response Actions

    No response actions were taken pursuant to the No Action ROD. The 
ICs established by the City and County ordinances were response actions 
that were incorporated into the OU3 remedy by the ESD. Lake County, on 
March 3, 2009, and the City of Leadville, on May 7, 2013, implemented 
ICs in the form of local ordinances, amending the Land Development 
Codes and adopting regulations that protect both engineered and non-
engineered remedies at OU3. A best management practice handout is 
provided to all applicants applying for a building permit within OU3. 
In addition, any disruptions of engineered or non-engineered remedies, 
and/or excavation of more than 10 cubic yards of soil off-site within 
OU3 require written approval from the CDPHE.

OU3 Operation and Maintenance

    Because the 1998 OU3 ROD was a No Action ROD, no maintenance was 
required.

Five-Year Review

    The remedies at the entire Site, including OU1 and OU3 require 
ongoing five-year reviews in accordance with CERCLA Section 121(c) and 
Section 300.430(f)(4)(ii) of the NCP. The next five-year review for the 
California Gulch Site is planned for 2017.
    In the 2012 five-year review dated September 27, 2012 for the Site, 
the OU1 remedy was determined to be protective in the short-term. There 
were concerns regarding continued long-term protectiveness because the 
requirement of ICs was not documented in a decision document even 
though ICs had already been implemented by the PRP and Lake County. 
Environmental covenants for Resurrection/Newmont's properties within 
OU1 were recorded with the Lake County Clerk and Recorder on July 31, 
2012 and October 10, 2012. An ESD dated July 29, 2013 (2013 OU1 ESD) 
resolved this concern.
    In the 2012 five-year review for the Site, the OU3 remedies were 
determined to be protective in the short-term. The five-year review, 
recommended a review to determine whether additional response actions 
were needed at OU3 to insure long-term protectiveness. The review 
determined that ICs were needed to insure long-term protectiveness. The 
2013 OU3 ESD addresses the need for ICs because some soils and residual 
slag remained above the residential action level, and documents the 
decision to require ICs. Ordinances adopted by the City and County met 
the IC objectives set out in the ESD
    Pursuant to CERCLA section 121(c) and the NCP, EPA will conduct the 
next five-year review by September 27, 2017 to ensure the continued 
protectiveness of remedial actions where hazardous substances, 
pollutants, or contaminants remain at the Site above levels that allow 
for unlimited use and unrestricted exposure.

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. During the development and implementation of the remedies 
for these operable units, comment periods were offered for proposed 
plans, five-year reviews, and other public meetings.

[[Page 6775]]

The documents that the EPA relied on for the partial deletion of OU1 
and OU3 from the California Gulch Superfund Site are in the docket and 
are available to the public in the information repositories. 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 State, the Lake County Commissioners, the City of Leadville are 
supportive of the partial deletion of OU1 and OU3. The State signed a 
letter of concurrence on October 7, 2015.

Determination That the Criteria for Deletion Have Been Met

    EPA has consulted with the State, Lake County Commissioners, and 
the City of Leadville on the proposed partial deletion of OU1 and OU3 
of the California Gulch Site from the NPL prior to developing this 
Notice of Partial Deletion. Through the five-year reviews, EPA has also 
determined that the response actions taken are protective of public 
health or the environment and, therefore, taking of additional remedial 
measures is not appropriate.
    The implemented remedies achieve the degree of cleanup or 
protection specified in: for OU1, the 1988 OU1 ROD, 1989 OU1 AROD, the 
1991 OU1 ESD and 2013 OU1 ESD; and for OU3, the 1998 OU3 ROD and the 
2014 OU3 ESD.
    All selected removal and remedial action objectives and associated 
cleanup goals for OU1 and OU3 are consistent with agency policy and 
guidance. This partial deletion meets the completion requirements as 
specified in OSWER Directive 9320.2-22, Close Out Procedures for 
National Priority List Sites. All response activities at OU1 and OU3 of 
the Site are complete and the two operable units pose no unacceptable 
risk to human health or the environment. Therefore, EPA and CDPHE have 
determined that no further response is necessary at OU1 and OU3 of the 
Site.

V. Partial Deletion Action

    The EPA, with concurrence of the State through the CDPHE 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 OU1, Yak Tunnel/Water 
Treatment Plant; and OU3, D&RGW Slag Easement/Railroad Yard, of the 
Site.
    Because EPA considers this action to be non-controversial and 
routine, EPA is taking it without prior publication. This action will 
be effective April 11, 2016 unless EPA receives adverse comments by 
March 10, 2016. 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: January 15, 2016.
Shaun L. McGrath,
Regional Administrator, Region 8.
[FR Doc. 2016-02601 Filed 2-8-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P



                                                6768              Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 26 / Tuesday, February 9, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                                G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of                   Dated: January 21, 2016.                               (xiii) The U.S. Customs entry number;
                                                Children From Environmental Health                      Gina McCarthy,                                        *      *     *     *    *
                                                Risks and Safety Risks                                  Administrator.                                           (4) * * *
                                                                                                          For the reasons stated in the                          (v) To pass the approved used class II
                                                  The EPA interprets Executive Order
                                                                                                        preamble, 40 CFR part 82 is amended as                controlled substances through U.S.
                                                13045 as applying only to those
                                                                                                        follows:                                              Customs, the non-objection notice
                                                regulatory actions that concern
                                                                                                                                                              issued by EPA must accompany the
                                                environmental health or safety risks that
                                                                                                        PART 82—PROTECTION OF                                 shipment through U.S. Customs.
                                                the EPA has reason to believe may
                                                disproportionately affect children, per                 STRATOSPHERIC OZONE                                   *      *     *     *    *
                                                the definition of ‘‘covered regulatory                                                                           (viii) * * *
                                                                                                        ■ 1. The authority citation for part 82                  (D) The U.S. Customs entry number.
                                                action’’ in section 2–202 of the                        continues to read as follows:
                                                Executive Order. This action is not                                                                           *      *     *     *    *
                                                subject to Executive Order 13045                          Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7414, 7601, 7671–                 (d) * * *
                                                                                                        7671q.                                                   (2) * * *
                                                because it does not concern an
                                                environmental health risk or safety risk.               ■  2. In § 82.3, revise the definition for               (i) The Employer Identification
                                                                                                        ‘‘Importer’’ to read as follows:                      Number of the shipper or their agent;
                                                H. Executive Order 13211: Actions That
                                                                                                        § 82.3 Definitions for class I and class II           *      *     *     *    *
                                                Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
                                                                                                        controlled substances.                                   (3) * * *
                                                Distribution, or Use
                                                                                                                                                                 (i) The Employer Identification
                                                                                                        *      *      *     *     *
                                                  This action is not a ‘‘significant                       Importer means any person who                      Number of the shipper or their agent;
                                                energy action’’ because it is not likely to             imports a controlled substance or a                   and
                                                have a significant adverse effect on the                controlled product into the United                    *      *     *     *    *
                                                supply, distribution or use of energy.                  States. ‘‘Importer’’ includes the person              ■ 5. In § 82.104, revise paragraph (m)(2)
                                                This action makes minor changes to                      primarily liable for the payment of any               to read as follows:
                                                recordkeeping and reporting                             duties on the merchandise or an
                                                requirements to remove references to                                                                          § 82.104   Definitions.
                                                                                                        authorized agent acting on his or her
                                                U.S. Customs forms and other small                      behalf. The term also includes, as                    *     *    *    *     *
                                                edits.                                                  appropriate:                                            (m) * * *
                                                                                                           (1) The consignee;                                   (2) The importer of record;
                                                I. National Technology Transfer and
                                                Advancement Act                                            (2) The importer of record;                        *     *    *    *     *
                                                                                                           (3) The actual owner; or                           [FR Doc. 2016–02321 Filed 2–8–16; 8:45 am]
                                                  This rulemaking does not involve                         (4) The transferee, if the right to draw           BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
                                                technical standards.                                    merchandise in a bonded warehouse has
                                                J. Executive Order 12898: Federal                       been transferred.
                                                                                                        *      *      *     *     *                           ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
                                                Actions To Address Environmental                                                                              AGENCY
                                                Justice in Minority Populations and                     ■ 3. In § 82.13, revise paragraphs
                                                Low-Income Populations                                  (g)(1)(xii), (g)(3)(v), and (g)(3)(viii)(D) to        40 CFR Part 300
                                                                                                        read as follows:
                                                  EPA believes the human health or                                                                            [EPA–HQ–SFUND–1983–0002; FRL–9936–
                                                environmental risk addressed by this                    § 82.13 Recordkeeping and reporting                   89–Region 8]
                                                action will not have potential                          requirements for class I controlled
                                                disproportionately high and adverse                     substances.                                           National Oil and Hazardous Substance
                                                human health or environmental effects                   *      *      *     *      *                          Pollution Contingency Plan: Partial
                                                on minority, low-income, or indigenous                     (g) * * *                                          Deletion of the California Gulch
                                                populations because it does not affect                     (1) * * *                                          Superfund Site; National Priorities List
                                                the level of protection provided to                        (xii) The U.S. Customs entry number;
                                                                                                                                                              AGENCY: Environmental Protection
                                                human health or the environment. This                   *      *      *     *      *                          Agency (EPA).
                                                action makes minor changes to                              (3) * * *
                                                                                                                                                              ACTION: Direct final rule.
                                                recordkeeping and reporting                                (v) To pass the approved used class I
                                                requirements to remove references to                    controlled substances through U.S.                    SUMMARY:   The U.S. Environmental
                                                U.S. Customs forms and other small                      Customs, the non-objection notice                     Protection Agency (EPA) Region 8 is
                                                edits.                                                  issued by EPA must accompany the                      publishing a direct final Notice of
                                                                                                        shipment through U.S. Customs.                        Partial Deletion of Operable Unit 1
                                                K. Congressional Review Act (CRA)
                                                                                                        *      *      *     *      *                          (OU1) Yak Tunnel/Water Treatment
                                                  This action is subject to the CRA, and                   (viii) * * *                                       Plant; and Operable Unit 3 (OU3),
                                                EPA will submit a rule report to each                      (D) The U.S. Customs entry number.                 Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad
                                                House of the Congress and to the                        *      *      *     *      *                          Company (D&RGW) Slag Piles/Railroad
                                                Comptroller General of the United                                                                             Easement/Railroad Yard, of the
                                                                                                        ■ 4. In § 82.24, revise paragraphs
                                                States. This action is not a ‘‘major rule’’                                                                   California Gulch Superfund Site (Site),
                                                                                                        (c)(2)(xiii), (c)(4)(v), (c)(4)(viii)(D),
                                                as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).                                                                                located in Lake County, Colorado, from
                                                                                                        (d)(2)(i), and (d)(3)(i) to read as follows:
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES




                                                List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 82                                                                            the National Priorities List (NPL). The
                                                                                                        § 82.24 Recordkeeping and reporting                   NPL, promulgated pursuant to section
                                                  Environmental protection,                             requirements for class II controlled                  105 of the Comprehensive
                                                Administrative practice and procedure,                  substances.                                           Environmental Response,
                                                Air pollution control, Chemicals,                       *       *    *       *       *                        Compensation, and Liability Act
                                                Imports, Ozone, Reporting and                               (c) * * *                                         (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended, is an
                                                recordkeeping requirements.                                 (2) * * *                                         appendix of the National Oil and


                                           VerDate Sep<11>2014   16:23 Feb 08, 2016   Jkt 238001   PO 00000   Frm 00024   Fmt 4700   Sfmt 4700   E:\FR\FM\09FER1.SGM   09FER1


                                                                  Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 26 / Tuesday, February 9, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                          6769

                                                Hazardous Substances Pollution                          If you send an email comment directly                 1980, as amended. EPA maintains the
                                                Contingency Plan (NCP). This direct                     to EPA without going through http://                  NPL as the list of sites that appear to
                                                final partial deletion is being published               www.regulations.gov, your email                       present a significant risk to public
                                                by EPA with the concurrence of the                      address will be automatically captured                health, welfare, or the environment.
                                                State of Colorado (State), through the                  and included as part of the comment                   Sites on the NPL may be the subject of
                                                Colorado Department of Public Health                    that is placed in the public docket and               remedial actions financed by the
                                                and Environment (CDPHE) because EPA                     made available on the Internet. If you                Hazardous Substance Superfund (Fund).
                                                has determined that all appropriate                     submit an electronic comment, EPA                     This partial deletion of the Site is
                                                response actions at OU1 and OU3 under                   recommends that you include your                      proposed in accordance with 40 CFR
                                                CERCLA, other than operation,                           name and other contact information in                 300.425(e) and is consistent with the
                                                maintenance, and five-year reviews,                     the body of your comment and with any                 Notice of Policy Change: Partial
                                                have been completed. However, this                      disk or CD–ROM you submit. If EPA                     Deletion of Sites Listed on the NPL. 60
                                                partial deletion does not preclude future               cannot read your comment due to                       FR 55466 (November 1, 1995). As
                                                actions under Superfund.                                technical difficulties and cannot contact             described in 300.425(e)(3) of the NCP, a
                                                DATES: This direct final partial deletion               you for clarification, EPA may not be                 portion of a site deleted from the NPL
                                                is effective April 11, 2016 unless EPA                  able to consider your comment.                        remains eligible for Fund-financed
                                                receives adverse comments by March                      Electronic files should avoid the use of              remedial action if future conditions
                                                10, 2016. If adverse comments are                       special characters, any form of                       warrant such actions.
                                                received, EPA will publish a timely                     encryption, and be free of any defects or                Section II of this document explains
                                                withdrawal of the direct final partial                  viruses.                                              the criteria for deleting sites from the
                                                deletion in the Federal Register                           Docket: All documents in the docket                NPL. Section III discusses procedures
                                                                                                        are listed in the http://                             that EPA is using for this action. Section
                                                informing the public that the partial
                                                                                                        www.regulations.gov index. Although                   IV discusses OU1, Yak Tunnel/Water
                                                deletion will not take effect.
                                                                                                        listed in the index, some information is              Treatment Plant; and OU3, D&RGW Slag
                                                ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,                                                                              Piles/Railroad Easement/Railroad Yard,
                                                                                                        not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other
                                                identified by Docket ID no. EPA–HQ–                     information whose disclosure is                       and demonstrates how they meet the
                                                SFUND–1983–0002, by one of the                          restricted by statute. Certain other                  deletion criteria. Section V discusses
                                                following methods:                                      material, such as copyrighted material,               EPA’s action to partially delete the Site
                                                   • http://www.regulations.gov. Follow                                                                       parcels from the NPL unless adverse
                                                                                                        will be publicly available only in hard
                                                on-line instructions for submitting                                                                           comments are received during the
                                                                                                        copy. Publicly available docket
                                                comments.                                                                                                     public comment period.
                                                                                                        materials are available electronically in
                                                   • Email: Linda Kiefer, kiefer.linda@                                                                          This partial deletion pertains to all of
                                                                                                        http://www.regulations.gov; by calling
                                                epa.gov.                                                                                                      OU1 and OU3. Operable Unit 2 (OU2),
                                                                                                        EPA Region 8 at (303) 312–7279 and
                                                   • Fax: (303) 312–7151.                                                                                     Malta Gulch Tailing Impoundments and
                                                                                                        leaving a message; and at the Lake
                                                   • Mail: Linda Kiefer, Remedial                                                                             Lower Malta Gulch Fluvial Tailing;
                                                                                                        County Public Library, 1115 Harrison
                                                Project Manager, Environmental                                                                                Operable Unit 4 (OU4) Upper California
                                                                                                        Avenue, Leadville, CO 80461, (719)
                                                Protection Agency, Region 8, Mail Code                                                                        Gulch; Operable Unit 5 (OU5), ASARCO
                                                                                                        486–0569, Monday and Wednesday
                                                8EPR–SR, 1595 Wynkoop Street,                                                                                 Smelters/Slag/Mill Sites; Operable Unit
                                                                                                        from 10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m., Tuesday and
                                                Denver, CO 80202–1129.                                                                                        7 (OU7), Apache Tailing Impoundment;
                                                   • Hand delivery: Environmental                       Thursday from 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.,
                                                                                                        and Friday and Saturday 1:00 p.m.–5:00                Operable Unit 8 (OU8), Lower California
                                                Protection Agency, Region 8, Mail Code                                                                        Gulch; Operable Unit 9 (OU9),
                                                8EPR–SR, 1595 Wynkoop Street,                           p.m.
                                                                                                        FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                                                                                                                              Residential Populated Areas; and
                                                Denver, CO 80202–1129. Such                                                                                   Operable Unit 10 (OU10), Oregon
                                                deliveries are only accepted during the                 Linda Kiefer, Remedial Project Manager,
                                                                                                        U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,                 Gulch, were deleted from the NPL in
                                                Docket’s normal hours of operation, and                                                                       previous partial deletion actions.
                                                special arrangements should be made                     Region 8, Mailcode EPR–SR, 1595
                                                                                                        Wynkoop Street, Denver, CO 80202–                     Operable Unit 6 (OU6), Starr Ditch/
                                                for deliveries of boxed information by                                                                        Stray Horse Gulch/Lower Evans Gulch/
                                                calling EPA Region 8 at (303) 312–7279.                 1129, (303) 312–6689, email:
                                                                                                        kiefer.linda@epa.gov.                                 Penrose Mine Waste Pile; Operable Unit
                                                   Instructions: Direct your comments to                                                                      11 (OU11), Arkansas River Floodplain;
                                                Docket ID no. EPA–HQ–SFUND–1983–                        SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                                                                                                                              and Operable Unit 12 (OU12), Site-wide
                                                0002. EPA’s policy is that all comments                 Table of Contents                                     Surface and Groundwater Quality, are
                                                received will be included in the public                                                                       not being considered for deletion as part
                                                docket without change and may be                        I. Introduction
                                                                                                        II. NPL Deletion Criteria                             of this action and will remain on the
                                                made available online at http://                        III. Partial Deletion Procedures                      NPL.
                                                www.regulations.gov, including any                      IV. Basis for Partial Site Deletion
                                                personal information provided, unless                   V. Partial Deletion Action
                                                                                                                                                              II. NPL Deletion Criteria
                                                the comment includes information                                                                                 The NCP establishes the criteria that
                                                claimed to be Confidential Business                     I. Introduction                                       EPA uses to delete sites from the NPL.
                                                Information (CBI) or other information                     EPA Region 8 is publishing this direct             In accordance with 40 CFR 300.425(e),
                                                whose disclosure is restricted by statute.              final Notice of Partial Deletion for all of           sites may be deleted from the NPL
                                                Do not submit information that you                      Operable Unit 1 (OU1), Yak Tunnel/                    where no further response is
                                                consider to be CBI or otherwise                         Water Treatment Plant; and Operable                   appropriate. In making such a
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                                                protected through http://                               Unit 3 (OU3), Denver & Rio Grande                     determination pursuant to 40 CFR
                                                www.regulations.gov or email. The                       Western Railroad Company (D&RGW)                      300.425(e), EPA will consider, in
                                                http://www.regulations.gov Web site is                  Slag Piles/Railroad Easement/Railroad                 consultation with the State, whether any
                                                an ‘‘anonymous access’’ system, which                   Yard, from the NPL. The NPL                           of the following criteria have been met:
                                                means EPA will not know your identity                   constitutes Appendix B of the NCP, 40                    i. Responsible parties or other persons
                                                or contact information unless you                       CFR part 300, which EPA promulgated                   have implemented all appropriate
                                                provide it in the body of your comment.                 pursuant to Section 105 of CERCLA of                  response actions required;


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                                                6770              Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 26 / Tuesday, February 9, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                                  ii. all appropriate Fund-financed                     withdrawal of this direct final Notice of             Smelter) and the last active mine, the
                                                response under CERCLA has been                          Partial Deletion before its effective date            Black Cloud, shut down in 1999.
                                                implemented, and no further response                    and will prepare a response to                           All of the mines within the Site
                                                action by responsible parties is                        comments and continue with the                        boundaries are presently inactive, and
                                                appropriate; or                                         deletion process on the basis of the                  all of the mills and smelters have been
                                                  iii. the remedial investigation has                   Notice of Intent for Partial Deletion and             demolished. Mining remains that
                                                shown that the release poses no                         the comments already received.                        contributed to environmental
                                                significant threat to public health or the                 Deletion of a portion of a site from the           contamination are (1) mill tailing (the
                                                environment and, therefore, the taking                  NPL does not itself create, alter, or                 fine-grained residue remaining after
                                                of remedial measures is not appropriate.                revoke any individual’s rights or                     milling has removed the metal
                                                  Pursuant to CERCLA section 121(c)                     obligations. Deletion of a portion of a               concentrates form the ore) in
                                                and the NCP, EPA conducts five-year                     site from the NPL does not in any way                 impoundments and fluvial deposits; (2)
                                                reviews to ensure the continued                         alter EPA’s right to take enforcement                 mine waste rock piles (mine
                                                protectiveness of remedial actions                      actions, as appropriate. The NPL is                   development rock and low grade ore
                                                where hazardous substances, pollutants,                 designed primarily for informational                  removed to gain access to an ore body,
                                                or contaminants remain at a site above                  purposes and to assist EPA                            and often deposited near adits and shaft
                                                levels that allow for unlimited use and                 management. Section 300.425(e)(3) of                  openings); (3) mine water drainage
                                                unrestricted exposure. EPA conducts                     the NCP states that the deletion of a site            tunnels; (4) draining adits; and (5)
                                                such five-year reviews even if a site is                from the NPL does not preclude                        various smelter wastes including slag
                                                deleted from the NPL. EPA may initiate                  eligibility for further response actions,             piles, flue dust and fallout from stack
                                                further action to ensure continued                      should future conditions warrant such                 emissions.
                                                protectiveness at a deleted site if new                 actions.                                                 The Site was placed on the NPL due
                                                information becomes available that                                                                            to concerns regarding the impact of
                                                                                                        IV. Basis for Partial Site Deletion                   acidic and metals laden mine drainage
                                                indicates it is appropriate. Whenever
                                                there is a significant release from a site                The following information provides                  on surface waters leading to California
                                                deleted from the NPL, the deleted site                  EPA’s rationale for deleting OU1 and                  Gulch and the impact of heavy metals
                                                may be restored to the NPL without                      OU3 of the Site from the NPL.                         loading into the Arkansas River. A Site-
                                                application of the hazard ranking                       Site Background and History                           wide Phase I Remedial Investigation
                                                system.                                                                                                       (Phase I RI), which primarily addressed
                                                                                                           The California Gulch Superfund Site,               surface water and groundwater
                                                III. Partial Deletion Procedures                        EPA ID No. COD980717938, CERCLIS                      contamination, was issued in January
                                                   The following procedures apply to the                Site ID 0801478, is located in Lake                   1987. As a result of the Phase I RI, EPA
                                                deletion of OU1 and OU3:                                County, Colorado approximately 100                    identified the first operable unit, the
                                                   (1) EPA has consulted with the State                 miles southwest of Denver. The Site was               Yak Tunnel, to address the largest single
                                                prior to developing this direct final                   proposed for inclusion on the NPL on                  source of metallic loading. A number of
                                                Notice of Partial Deletion and the Notice               December 30, 1982, (47 FR 58476), and                 additional Site-wide studies followed
                                                of Intent for Partial Deletion co-                      listed on September 8, 1983, (48 FR                   the Phase I RI.
                                                published in the ‘‘Proposed Rules’’                     40658). The Site is in a highly                          EPA agreed, pursuant to a May 2,
                                                section of the Federal Register.                        mineralized area of the Colorado Rocky                1994 Consent Decree (1994 CD), to
                                                   (2) EPA has provided the State 30                    Mountains covering approximately 18                   divide the Site into 12 operable units
                                                working days for review of this notice                  square miles of a watershed that drains               (OUs). The OUs are as follows: OU1,
                                                and the parallel Notice of Intent for                   along California Gulch to the Arkansas                Yak Tunnel/Water Treatment Plant;
                                                Partial Deletion prior to their                         River. The Site includes the City of                  OU2, Malta Gulch Tailing
                                                publication today, and the State,                       Leadville, various parts of the Leadville             Impoundments and Lower Malta Gulch
                                                through the CDPHE, has concurred on                     Historic Mining District, Stringtown,                 Fluvial Tailing; OU3, D&RGW Slag
                                                the partial deletion of OU1 and OU3 of                  and a section of the Arkansas River from              Piles/Railroad Easement/Railroad Yard;
                                                the Site from the NPL.                                  the confluence of California Gulch to                 OU4, Upper California Gulch; OU5,
                                                   (3) Concurrently with the publication                the confluence of Two-Bit Gulch.                      ASARCO Smelter Sites/Slag/Mill Sites;
                                                of this direct final Notice of Partial                  Mining, mineral processing, and                       OU6, Starr Ditch/Stray Horse Gulch/
                                                Deletion, a notice of the availability of               smelting activities have occurred at the              Lower Evans Gulch/Penrose Mine Waste
                                                the parallel Notice of Intent for Partial               Site for more than 130 years. Mining in               Pile; OU7, Apache Tailing
                                                Deletion is being published in a major                  the district began in 1860, when placer               Impoundments; OU8, Lower California
                                                local newspaper, the Leadville Herald                   gold was discovered in California                     Gulch; OU9, Residential Populated
                                                Democrat. The newspaper notice                          Gulch. As the placer deposits were                    Areas; OU10, Oregon Gulch; OU11,
                                                announces the 30-day public comment                     exhausted, underground mine workings                  Arkansas River Valley Floodplain; and
                                                period concerning the Notice of Intent                  became the principal method for                       OU12, Site-wide Surface and
                                                for Partial Deletion of OU1 and OU3 of                  removing gold, silver, lead and zinc ore.             Groundwater. With the exception of
                                                the Site from the NPL.                                  As these mines were developed, waste                  OU12, the OUs pertain to distinct
                                                   (4) The EPA placed copies of                         rock was excavated along with the ore                 geographical areas corresponding to
                                                documents supporting the partial                        and placed near the mine entrances. Ore               areas of responsibility for the identified
                                                deletion in the deletion docket and                     was crushed and separated into metallic               responsible parties and/or to distinct
                                                made these items available for public                   concentrates at mills, with mill tailing              sources of contamination. To date, OU2,
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                                                inspection and copying at the Site                      generally released into surrounding                   OU4, OU5, OU7, OU8, OU9, and OU10
                                                information repositories identified                     streams and after about 1930 slurried                 have been partially deleted from the
                                                above.                                                  into tailing impoundments. Many of the                NPL.
                                                   (5) If adverse comments are received                 mining operations ceased operations                      The background and history, the
                                                within the 30-day public comment                        around 1900, although several smelters                Remedial Investigations and Feasibility
                                                period on this partial deletion action,                 continued operations into the 1920s                   Studies (RI/FS), Removal and Response
                                                EPA will publish a timely notice of                     (Western Zinc) and the 1960s (AV                      Actions, Selected Remedies, Cleanup


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                                                                  Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 26 / Tuesday, February 9, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                         6771

                                                Standards, and Operation and                            confirmed that the Yak Tunnel is a                    system to control water levels behind
                                                Maintenance activities for OU1 and                      significant source of metals                          the portal plug. The pumped water
                                                OU3 are discussed below.                                contamination. Results of this study                  would be routed to the interim
                                                                                                        indicated that 75 to 80 percent of the                treatment system; (6) Construction of a
                                                OU1 Background and History
                                                                                                        cadmium, manganese, and zinc detected                 minimum of three concrete plugs in the
                                                   Operable Unit 1 (OU1) consists of the                at the confluence of California Gulch                 Yak Tunnel to seal off the major flow
                                                Yak Tunnel and Water Treatment Plant.                   with the Arkansas River originates from               route for groundwater movement; (7)
                                                The Yak Tunnel and Yak Tunnel Water                     the Yak Tunnel. Historical information                Establishment of a surface and
                                                Treatment Plant are located to the                      along with data collected during the                  groundwater monitoring system to
                                                southeast of the City of Leadville. A                   1987 Phase I RI indicated that the Yak                detect leakage, seeps or migration of
                                                map of OU1 can be found in the docket                   Tunnel discharge had a significant                    contaminated groundwater, which may
                                                at www.regulations.gov under Docket ID                  detrimental impact on the aquatic                     result from installation of the tunnel
                                                no. EPA–HQ–SFUND–1983–0002. The                         environment at the site. In addition, the             plugs; (8) Development and
                                                Yak Tunnel was constructed to dewater                   Yak Tunnel discharge presented a                      implementation, as necessary, of a
                                                mines and to facilitate mineral                         potential public health risk based on                 contingency plan to address any adverse
                                                exploration and development. The                        exposure to affected surface and                      effects on surface or groundwater from
                                                tunnel was driven in 1895, as an                        groundwater at the California Gulch                   tunnel plugging; and (9) Operations and
                                                extension of the Silver Cord Tunnel, to                 Site.                                                 maintenance of the remedy.
                                                drain the Iron Hill mines. The Yak                         The EPA released the Yak Tunnel                       The 1989 OU1 AROD made the
                                                Tunnel was extended several times,                      Feasibility Study (FS) in June 1987 and               following changes in the remedy: (1)
                                                with the last extension occurring in                    a proposed plan for the Yak Tunnel in                 Installation of a permanent water
                                                1923. The Yak Tunnel extends                            August 1987.                                          treatment system to treat contaminated
                                                underground approximately 31⁄2 to 4                                                                           groundwater from the Yak Tunnel
                                                miles into Iron Hill and Breece Hill. The               OU1 Selected Remedy
                                                                                                                                                              before discharge in California Gulch, as
                                                tunnel has several major laterals and                     The EPA issued the Record of                        opposed to the interim treatment facility
                                                drifts that extend from the tunnel into                 Decision (ROD) for OU1 (1988 OU1                      originally proposed; (2) Construction of
                                                various mine workings, such as the                      ROD) on March 29, 1988. The remedy                    a surge pond or ponds to capture
                                                Horseshoe, the Rubie, the North Mike,                   chosen in the 1988 OU1 ROD was                        drainage from the tunnel and to
                                                the South Mike, the Ibex No. 4, the                     modified in an Amended ROD (AROD)                     minimize surges on California Gulch.
                                                Little Winnie, the Resurrection No. 1,                  signed on March 23, 1989 (1989 OU1                    The original remedy called for multiple
                                                the Fortune, the Resurrection No. 2, and                AROD) and, further, modified in an ESD                surge ponds and did not consider the
                                                the Dolly B. The EPA estimated that                     signed on October 22, 1991 (1991 OU1                  use of a single pond; (3) Reduction of
                                                60,000 feet of tunnels and major laterals               ESD) and an ESD signed on July 29,                    seepage and recharge was made
                                                and 55 to 74 million cubic feet of void                 2013 (2013 OU1 ESD).                                  optional. Grouting of fractured rock,
                                                space are associated with the tunnel                      The selected remedy in the 1988 OU1                 cave-ins and drill holes was removed as
                                                mining activities. At the time of the                   ROD was narrowly focused on the                       part of the remedy; and (4) The portal
                                                ROD in March 1988, studies indicated                    discharges from the Yak Tunnel as a                   plug was modified to be a flow-through
                                                that a combined total of 210 tons per                   major source of contamination to                      plug as opposed to a solid plug.
                                                year of cadmium, lead, copper,                          California Gulch and the Arkansas                        The 1991 OU1 ESD made the
                                                manganese, iron, and zinc were                          River. Broader issues of water quality                following changes in the remedy: (1)
                                                discharged from the Yak Tunnel into                     generally in California Gulch and the                 Construction of a single surge pond as
                                                California Gulch, which drains into the                 Arkansas River were addressed as part                 a permanent part of the remedy; (2)
                                                Arkansas River. Surface water                           of remedial actions taken at other                    Construction of a flow-control bulkhead
                                                contamination is the major impact of the                operable units. Thus, the 1988 OU1                    within the tunnel to prevent surges.
                                                Yak Tunnel discharge. Shallow alluvial                  ROD identified a single remedial action               Two of three originally planned plugs
                                                ground water and stream sediment may                    objective (RAO) of decreasing the                     were removed from the remedy; (3)
                                                have been impacted by historic releases                 release and threatened release of                     Identification of groundwater flow
                                                from the Yak Tunnel.                                    hazardous substances, pollutants and                  direction and potential gradient reversal
                                                                                                        contaminants from the Yak Tunnel into                 as additional element of the monitoring
                                                OU1 Remedial Investigations and                         California Gulch.                                     plan. The monitoring system was
                                                Feasibility Study (RI/FS)                                 The original remedy selected in the                 proposed to include a minimum of
                                                  The State, the EPA and certain                        1988 OU1 ROD consisted of the                         seven groundwater monitoring wells as
                                                Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)                  following remedial components: (1)                    opposed to a minimum of 23 wells
                                                conducted various studies and                           Construction of surge ponds to capture                proposed in the 1989 AROD; (4)
                                                investigations to evaluate the nature and               drainage from the tunnel and to                       Placement of six or more weirs, or other
                                                extent of contamination generally at the                minimize the impact of surges on                      flow measuring devices, at key locations
                                                Site. Remedial Investigations (RIs) began               California Gulch and the Arkansas                     in the Yak Tunnel. The weir locations
                                                in 1986 within the Site, including mine                 River; (2) Installation of an interim                 were selected during an initial
                                                waste rock piles, tailing disposal areas,               water treatment system to treat water                 inspection of the tunnel; (5) Periodic
                                                surface water and aquatics,                             from the Yak Tunnel before discharge in               inspection of the Yak Tunnel. Qualified
                                                groundwater, smelter sites, residential/                California Gulch; (3) Sealing of shafts,              mining crews will enter the tunnel
                                                populated area soils, slag piles, and                   drill holes and fractured rock and                    annually to inspect and maintain weirs
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                                                terrestrial studies. The Yak Tunnel/                    diversion of surface water from tunnel                and other structures in the tunnel.
                                                California Gulch Remedial Investigation                 recharge areas to reduce the amount of                Crews will also enter the tunnel to
                                                (1986 RI) evaluated the human health                    water entering the Yak Tunnel system;                 determine the cause of unexpected
                                                and environmental impacts due to                        (4) Grouting of fractured rock, caved-in              increases or decreased in flow within
                                                historic mining activities.                             areas and drill holes to prevent seepage              the Yak Tunnel; and (5) Development
                                                  In May 1987, the Phase I Remedial                     of contaminated water to the land                     and implementation, as necessary, of a
                                                Investigation (1987 Phase I RI)                         surface; (5) Installation of a pumping                contingency plan to address any adverse


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                                                6772              Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 26 / Tuesday, February 9, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                                effects on surface or groundwater                       the Yak Tunnel Water Treatment Plant                  recreation areas for children, (2)
                                                resulting from tunnel blockage. The                     has been in operation since construction              Restrictions on using untreated
                                                implementation would be based upon                      was completed in February 1992. The                   groundwater from wells, and (3)
                                                decrease in flow from Yak Tunnel, rise                  Yak Tunnel Bulkhead was constructed                   Restrictions on uses or activities that
                                                in water levels in monitoring wells                     in 1994 to control surges of water                    would disturb/interfere or have the
                                                located near mine workings, indication                  coming from the Yak Tunnel,                           potential to disturb/interfere with the
                                                of gradient reversal, or degradation of                 particularly during spring melt. The                  protectiveness of the remedy and
                                                water quality.                                          bulkhead is located approximately 1,680               remedial components. All of OU1 is
                                                   Because the selected remedy in the                   feet into the tunnel from the portal.                 zoned Industrial Mining by Lake
                                                1988 OU1 ROD left wastes in place but                   Additional efforts were made in 1995                  County, which serves to limit future
                                                did not include institutional controls                  and 1996 to reduce metals loading into                changes of land use without County
                                                (ICs), a second ESD was signed on July                  the Arkansas River from ephemeral                     approval and Lake County has
                                                29, 2013 to include ICs. The objectives                 tributaries. As part of a Consent Decree              established a protocol to notify the EPA
                                                of ICs for OU1 are as follows: (1) Reduce               settlement with Resurrection/Newmont,                 and the CDPHE of any proposed
                                                or control human exposure to                            Resurrection/Newmont placed                           changes.
                                                contaminants of concern; and (2)                        environmental covenants on its
                                                Maintain the integrity of and prevent                                                                         OU3 Background and History
                                                                                                        properties in OU1 on July 31, 2012 and
                                                disturbances to engineered features or                  October 1, 2012 that meets the IC                       D&RGW Slag Piles/Railroad
                                                structures established as part of the                   objectives above. All remedial                        Easement/Railroad Yard (OU3) included
                                                current remedy or future remedies. The                  components described in the 1988 OU1                  three slag piles (Arkansas Valley (AV),
                                                properties that comprise most of OU1                    ROD and subsequent 1989 OU1 AROD,                     La Plata, and Harrison Street),
                                                are owned by Resurrection/Newmont.                      1991 OU1 ESD, and the 2013 OU1 ESD                    approximately 12 acres at Harrison
                                                                                                        have been implemented.                                Avenue and Monroe Street which
                                                OU1 Cleanup Standards                                                                                         contained the Harrison Street slag pile,
                                                   The OU1 remedy was the first source                  OU1 Operation and Maintenance                         an easement that runs diagonally
                                                control remedy at the Site that                           The potentially responsible parties’                through the City of Leadville, and a
                                                addressed the Yak Tunnel discharge as                   (PRPs) operations and maintenance                     portion of the rail yard known as
                                                the largest single source of                            (O&M) responsibilities were first                     Poverty Flats. The Denver & Rio Grande
                                                contamination to surface water and                      defined under the UAO and then                        Western Railroad Company (D&RGW)
                                                groundwater but did not contain                         updated in the 2008 CD. In accordance                 owned theses slag piles, property,
                                                numeric cleanup standards for those                     with the terms of the 2008 CD, the                    easement and rail yard when OU3 was
                                                media. Numeric cleanup standards for                    Routine Monitoring Plan (RMP),                        designated in 1994. A map of OU3 can
                                                site-wide surface water and                             Contingency Plan (CP) and the OU1                     be found in the docket at
                                                groundwater contamination were                          Work Plan (Work Plan) govern the long-                www.regulations.gov under Docket ID
                                                established in the OU12 Record of                       term implementation of the selected                   no. EPA–HQ–SFUND–1983–0002.
                                                Decision.                                               remedy for the OU1. The OU1 Work                        In 1961, D&RGW purchased the AV
                                                                                                        Plan, CP and the RMP are appendices to                Slag Pile from ASARCO Incorporated
                                                OU1 Response Actions
                                                                                                        the 2008 CD.                                          for use as railroad ballast. D&RGW
                                                   The EPA issued a Unilateral                            Routine O&M includes repairing                      purchased the La Plata Slag Pile from
                                                Administrative Order (UAO) to                           grouted areas of structures due to                    the Leadville Sanitation District in 1970.
                                                ASARCO Incorporated, Newmont                            corrosion, settlement or other factors;               Additionally, D&RGW purchased the
                                                Mining Corporation, Res-ASARCO Joint                    occasional repair or replacement of                   Harrison Street Slag Pile and Harrison
                                                Venture and Resurrection Mining                         monitor well pumps and surface water                  Avenue property from NL Industries in
                                                Company on March 29, 1989 ordering                      monitoring equipment; repair of access                1983.
                                                these parties to perform the remedial                   roads; routine repair or replacement of                 The AV Slag Pile covers
                                                design and remedial action for the Yak                  pumps, motors, mixers, piping and                     approximately 40 acres just west of
                                                Tunnel. Two amendments were made to                     tankage; and inspections. The treatment               Stringtown. The pile generally consists
                                                the UAO on April 30, 1993 and June 16,                  plant operates under requirements                     of slag produced by the AV smelter that
                                                1993. The UAO was replaced and                          established in the OU1 Work Plan, and                 operated from 1882 to 1960. Based on
                                                terminated in a 2008 Consent Decree                     submits monthly and annual reports to                 aerial photography, the pile volume in
                                                settlement (2008 CD) by and among the                   EPA. Resurrection/Newmont                             the late 1950s was approximately 1.2
                                                United States, State of Colorado,                       summarizes monitoring data and data                   million cubic yards, whereas in 1998
                                                Newmont USA Limited and                                 evaluation required by the OU1 Routine                approximately 422,000 cubic yards of
                                                Resurrection Mining Company. Under                      Monitoring Plan in the Annual                         slag remained, of which, approximately
                                                the 2008 CD, Newmont USA Limited                        Monitoring Reports, Yak Tunnel System                 190,000 cubic yards is stockpiled fine
                                                and Resurrection Mining Company                         for the Yak Tunnel Operable Unit,                     slag.
                                                assumed responsibility for the OU1                      Leadville, CO. Current reports and                      The La Plata Slag Pile, located west of
                                                remedy. Construction of a surge pond                    associated data are available by                      the City limits of Leadville on Elm
                                                and permanent water treatment plant                     contacting EPA Region 8.                              Street, has a volume estimated at
                                                began in September 1988 and was                           In regards to ICs, environmental                    105,000 cubic yards. Bimetallic
                                                completed in June 1991. The                             covenants for Resurrection/Newmont’s                  Smelting Company leased the La Plata
                                                construction efforts included four main                 properties within OU1 were recorded                   Smelter Works in OU3 from 1892 to
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                                                elements: (1) A surface water                           with the Lake County Clerk and                        1900 for pyritic smelting of low-grade
                                                conveyance system, (2) the surge pond                   Recorder on July 31, 2012 and October                 ores.
                                                itself, (3) a barge transfer system and (4)             10, 2012. The environmental covenants                   The Harrison Reduction Works was
                                                installation of gravity filters. The water              provide the following Use Restrictions:               located near the northeast corner of
                                                treatment facility to treat waters                      (1) No Residential Use, Day Care Centers              Harrison Avenue and Elm Street, in a
                                                emanating from the Yak Tunnel was                       or Schools, Parks or Open Space that are              residential area. The Harrison Street
                                                constructed over a two-year period and                  designed or intended to provide play or               Slag Pile ranged from 20 to 50 feet in


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                                                                  Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 26 / Tuesday, February 9, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                         6773

                                                height and covered an area of                           Harrison Street Slag Pile to grade. Soils                Concurrent with the various
                                                approximately 3 acres. The Harrison                     samples taken after removal of the slag               investigations and studies, risk
                                                Street Slag Pile was removed to original                showed levels of lead in soils, both                  assessments were conducted at the
                                                grade and relocated to the AV Slag Pile                 under where the slag pile was located                 California Gulch Superfund Site. Some
                                                in March 1998.                                          and otherwise on the Harrison Avenue                  included the Preliminary Baseline Risk
                                                   Once a hotbed of transportation                      property, that exceed the residential                 Assessment (Preliminary BRA), and the
                                                activities mostly related to mining, the                action level for lead in soils of 3500 mg/            Final Baseline Human Health Risk
                                                Poverty Flats rail yard, located between                kg. Thus, the lead in the soils on the                Assessments (Final BRA): Part A, Part B,
                                                12th Street, Highway 24, 17th Street and                Harrison Avenue property may create                   and Part C. For human health risk issues
                                                County Road 8, is now vacant. The                       the potential for unacceptable human                  at OU3, the Preliminary BRA and the
                                                portion of the Poverty Flats rail yard                  health risks should the property be                   Final BRA Part C, Evaluation of Worker
                                                formerly owned by D&RGW is located                      developed for residential use. To date,               Scenario and Evaluation of Recreational
                                                near the north end of the City of                       the land remains vacant. Sections along               Scenarios, were most pertinent. The
                                                Leadville, encompasses an area of                       the highway are zoned Commercial, and                 Preliminary BRA indicated that lead
                                                roughly 43 acres, and is crossed by                     the remaining sections are zoned                      and arsenic are responsible for the
                                                abandoned rail lines and access roads.                  Transitional Commercial by the City of                majority of human health risks at the
                                                Slag, which was used in the rail yard as                Leadville. However, institutional                     Site. Therefore, arsenic and lead were
                                                ballast and as a road base to provide                   controls are in place to protect human                used as indicator contaminants for risk
                                                support for heavy vehicle traffic, was                  health in the event of future residential             in the Final BRA.
                                                also deposited around the loading dock                  development.                                             EPA and D&RGW entered into an
                                                due to spillage during transportation                      In July 1998, UPRR submitted a Work                Administrative Order on Consent (1991
                                                activities.                                             Plan for the Consolidation of Fine Slag               D&RGW AOC) on December 3, 1991.
                                                   The rail easement includes the                       at the Railroad Easement Near McWethy                 The 1991 D&RGW AOC required
                                                portion of railroad track that runs                     Drive to 12th Street, Leadville,                      D&RGW to perform remedial
                                                diagonally through Leadville and                        Colorado. The work plan provided for                  investigations of major lead slag piles
                                                consists of approximately 25 feet on                    the easement to be converted into a                   and one zinc slag pile within the Site.
                                                either side of the track centerline. Slag               segment of the Mineral Belt Trail.                    In 1992, D&RGW completed a remedial
                                                was used as a road base to provide                      Consistent with the plan, fine slag from              investigation (1992 OU3 Slag RI) of the
                                                support for heavy vehicle traffic. Slag                 the rail easement was used as base                    major lead slag piles and the zinc slag
                                                was also deposited as spillage from                     material on the Mineral Belt Trail. More              pile within the Site. Slag was found to
                                                passing rail cars.                                      specifically, the fine slag was                       have elevated levels of zinc, lead,
                                                   D&RGW identified a small volume of                   consolidated and covered with a                       arsenic and cadmium along with a low
                                                fine slag in the Poverty Flats rail yard.               compacted gravel sub-base of six inches               acid-generating potential, and a neutral
                                                D&RGW prepared a plan, which                            and then two one-inch layers of asphalt               to basic pH. Fine slag, which is less than
                                                addressed removal of the fine slag from                 to encapsulate it. This resource                      3⁄8 of an inch, was found to have

                                                this area to the AV Smelter Slag Pile. As               utilization was consistent with the                   elevated lead levels. The fine fraction of
                                                a result of the Union Pacific Railroad                  contingency under the 1998 OU3 ROD.                   slag was the only part of the slag that
                                                Company (UPRR) purchase of the                          The completion of the consolidation                   may present an unacceptable risk
                                                Southern Pacific Transportation                         work was approved in September 1998.                  because fine slag poses an inhalation
                                                Company (surviving corporation from                     The conversion of the railroad easement               hazard.
                                                an earlier merger of D&RGW and                          to the Mineral Belt Trail was completed                  EPA and D&RGW entered into a
                                                Southern Pacific Railroad), UPRR took                   with the installation of a sub-base,                  Consent Decree on September 15, 1993
                                                ownership of all D&RGW property at the                  culverts, asphalt, signs, centerline                  (1993 D&RGW CD) for the completion of
                                                Site in 1996 and assumed D&RGW’s                        striping, and re-vegetation. In                       investigation, feasibility studies, and
                                                responsibilities under the 1993 D&RGW                   accordance with a 1998 Memorandum                     remediation activities to be performed
                                                CD.                                                     of Understanding between EPA, UPRR,                   for OU3. The 1993 D&RGW CD stated
                                                   During the summer and fall of 1997,                  and Lake County, Lake County                          EPA’s concerns regarding the fine
                                                UPRR removed 1,264 cubic yards of                       completed these projects, and UPRR                    fraction of the stockpiled slag at the AV
                                                slag, including fine slag, from the rail                provided funding for the sub-base,                    Smelter site and the potential for
                                                yard and placed it onto the AV Slag                     culverts, and asphalt in 2000.                        particulate release during ballast
                                                Pile. As a result, soils were exposed                   Ownership of the easement has been                    operations as a potential human health
                                                containing elevated concentrations of                   transferred to Lake County via quitclaim              exposure pathway. The 1993 D&RGW
                                                lead. Soils samples, taken before and                   deed.                                                 CD required D&RGW to perform a
                                                after removal of the slag, showed levels                                                                      feasibility study for stockpiled fine slag
                                                of lead in soil that exceed the Site-wide               OU3 Remedial Investigations and                       and to submit an operations plan before
                                                residential action level of 3500 mg/kg                  Feasibility Study (RI/FS)                             initiating any ballast operations.
                                                lead, thus lead in the soils on this                      The State, the EPA and certain                         In 1993, the EPA conducted a
                                                property may create the potential for                   Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)                Screening Feasibility Study (1993 SFS)
                                                unacceptable human health risks should                  have conducted various studies and                    to initiate the overall CERCLA FS
                                                the property be developed for                           investigations to evaluate the nature and             process at the California Gulch Site. The
                                                residential use. This vacant property is                extent of contamination generally at the              purpose of the SFS was to develop
                                                zoned Business by Lake County.                          Site, and specifically within OU3.                    general response actions and identify an
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                                                However, institutional controls are in                  Remedial Investigations (RIs) began in                appropriate range of alternatives
                                                place to protect human health in the                    1986 within the Site, including mine                  applicable to the various contaminant
                                                event of future residential development.                waste rock piles, tailing disposal areas,             sources to be considered during
                                                   As part of their ballast operations,                 surface water and aquatics,                           feasibility studies for the California
                                                UPRR relocated approximately 104,000                    groundwater, smelter sites, residential/              Gulch Site. The 1993 SFS for Remedial
                                                cubic yards of slag to the AV Slag Pile                 populated area soils, slag piles, and                 Alternatives examined several
                                                in March 1998, which brought the                        terrestrial studies.                                  remediation alternatives for slag located


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                                                6774              Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 26 / Tuesday, February 9, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                                at the Site based on specific criteria,                 denoted as a contingency, for future                  excavation of more than 10 cubic yards
                                                such as relative cost, implementability,                utilization of the slag, if it is                     of soil off-site within OU3 require
                                                and effectiveness. The three remedial                   encapsulated prior to its use or reuse.               written approval from the CDPHE.
                                                alternatives for slag retained for further              The 1998 OU3 ROD also provides a
                                                                                                                                                              OU3 Operation and Maintenance
                                                evaluation were: No action, institutional               provision to use the slag in the future if
                                                controls, and resource utilization. The                 regional market demand exists for the                   Because the 1998 OU3 ROD was a No
                                                La Plata and Harrison Street Slag piles                 material as a component in construction               Action ROD, no maintenance was
                                                did not contain fine slag. Therefore, no                materials.                                            required.
                                                further action was necessary. Because                      The 1998 OU3 ROD did not require                   Five-Year Review
                                                the AV Smelter pile contained fine slag,                maintenance of the fine slag piles. Any
                                                more investigation was required.                        future use of the slag would require                     The remedies at the entire Site,
                                                   In July of 1995, D&RGW submitted a                   encapsulation prior to reuse.                         including OU1 and OU3 require
                                                ballast operations plan to EPA.                         Encapsulation can include the use of                  ongoing five-year reviews in accordance
                                                Following EPA’s approval of the plan,                   fine slag in concrete or asphalt                      with CERCLA Section 121(c) and
                                                ballast operations commenced in                         aggregate, as a road base, or as backfill             Section 300.430(f)(4)(ii) of the NCP. The
                                                August 1995 but ceased soon thereafter                  (so long as the slag is chemically bound              next five-year review for the California
                                                for lack of a profitable market for the                 or physically separated from an                       Gulch Site is planned for 2017.
                                                slag. Ballast operations involve the                    exposure by a barrier consisting of a                    In the 2012 five-year review dated
                                                sorting of larger slag so that the size                 different material).                                  September 27, 2012 for the Site, the
                                                fraction of greater than 3⁄8 inch and less                 Sampling in the Poverty Flats rail                 OU1 remedy was determined to be
                                                than 21⁄2 inches is produced for road                   yard property and the Harrison Avenue                 protective in the short-term. There were
                                                ballast. The undersized fraction (i.e.,                 property shows levels of lead in soils                concerns regarding continued long-term
                                                less than 3⁄8 inch), or sorted fine slag,               above levels that would allow for                     protectiveness because the requirement
                                                that is produced by the sorting process                 unlimited use and unrestricted                        of ICs was not documented in a decision
                                                is stockpiled along with the previously                 exposure, i.e., above the residential                 document even though ICs had already
                                                sorted fine slag at the Arkansas Valley                 action level established for OU9,                     been implemented by the PRP and Lake
                                                pile.                                                   Residential Populated Areas of the Site.              County. Environmental covenants for
                                                   D&RGW’s 1996 Final Stockpiled Fine                   In addition, the Mineral Belt Trail,                  Resurrection/Newmont’s properties
                                                Slag Feasibility Study (1996 OU3 FS)                    which was constructed on the former                   within OU1 were recorded with the
                                                focused on the AV Smelter Slag Pile’s                   railroad easement, acts as a cap for fine             Lake County Clerk and Recorder on July
                                                existing fine slag subpile and fine slag                slag and residual slag remains in other               31, 2012 and October 10, 2012. An ESD
                                                potentially generated from future ballast               parts of OU3. Thus, the August 6, 2014                dated July 29, 2013 (2013 OU1 ESD)
                                                production. Based upon the 1993 SFS                     ESD (2014 OU3 ESD) addresses the need                 resolved this concern.
                                                and 1993 D&RGW CD, the remedial                         for ICs, and documents the decision to                   In the 2012 five-year review for the
                                                action objective for the stockpiled fine                require ICs for OU3. In addition, the use             Site, the OU3 remedies were determined
                                                slag was to: prevent leaching of metals                 of the term ‘‘contingency’’ for fine slag             to be protective in the short-term. The
                                                of concern in concentrations that would                 utilization in the 1998 OU3 ROD is                    five-year review, recommended a review
                                                have an adverse impact on soils, surface                clarified in the 2014 OU3 ESD. Fine slag              to determine whether additional
                                                or ground water near the slag piles. The                can be used for future commercial                     response actions were needed at OU3 to
                                                1996 OU3 FS provided a detailed                         purposes by following the requirements                insure long-term protectiveness. The
                                                analysis of the three retained                          set out in the 1998 OU3 ROD.                          review determined that ICs were needed
                                                remediation alternatives (no action,                                                                          to insure long-term protectiveness. The
                                                institutional controls, and resource                    OU3 Cleanup Standards                                 2013 OU3 ESD addresses the need for
                                                utilization) from the 1993 SFS as                          As the final determination in the 1998             ICs because some soils and residual slag
                                                applied to the stockpiled fine slag. The                OU3 ROD was No Action ROD, no                         remained above the residential action
                                                result of the 1996 OU3 FS for the                       cleanup standards were identified for                 level, and documents the decision to
                                                stockpiled fine slag was a Proposed Plan                fine slag in the record of decision. The              require ICs. Ordinances adopted by the
                                                with a No Action Alternative for the                    OU12 remedy addresses site-wide                       City and County met the IC objectives
                                                stockpiled fine slag subpile of the AV                  surface water and groundwater                         set out in the ESD
                                                Smelter Slag Pile. In September 1996,                   contamination.                                           Pursuant to CERCLA section 121(c)
                                                the Proposed Plan was issued with a                                                                           and the NCP, EPA will conduct the next
                                                                                                        OU3 Response Actions
                                                preferred alternative of ‘‘No Action,’’                                                                       five-year review by September 27, 2017
                                                with a contingency for future utilization                  No response actions were taken                     to ensure the continued protectiveness
                                                of the slag.                                            pursuant to the No Action ROD. The ICs                of remedial actions where hazardous
                                                                                                        established by the City and County                    substances, pollutants, or contaminants
                                                OU3 Selected Remedy                                     ordinances were response actions that                 remain at the Site above levels that
                                                   The EPA issued the Stockpiled Fine                   were incorporated into the OU3 remedy                 allow for unlimited use and unrestricted
                                                Slag—Arkansas Valley Smelter Slag Pile                  by the ESD. Lake County, on March 3,                  exposure.
                                                ROD for OU3 on May 6, 1998 (1998 OU3                    2009, and the City of Leadville, on May
                                                ROD). Based on consideration of                         7, 2013, implemented ICs in the form of               Community Involvement
                                                CERCLA requirements, detailed                           local ordinances, amending the Land                     Public participation activities have
                                                analyses of alternatives, and public                    Development Codes and adopting                        been satisfied as required in CERCLA
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                                                comments, the EPA determined that a                     regulations that protect both engineered              Section 113(k), 42 U.S.C. 9613(k) and
                                                No Action alternative was the                           and non-engineered remedies at OU3. A                 CERCLA Section 117, 42 U.S.C. 9617.
                                                appropriate remedy. The No Action                       best management practice handout is                   During the development and
                                                alternative leaves the stockpiled fine                  provided to all applicants applying for               implementation of the remedies for
                                                slag in its existing condition with no                  a building permit within OU3. In                      these operable units, comment periods
                                                control or cleanup planned. The No                      addition, any disruptions of engineered               were offered for proposed plans, five-
                                                Action alternative includes a provision,                or non-engineered remedies, and/or                    year reviews, and other public meetings.


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                                                                  Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 26 / Tuesday, February 9, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                         6775

                                                The documents that the EPA relied on                    action will be effective April 11, 2016               proposed rule, modifies the application
                                                for the partial deletion of OU1 and OU3                 unless EPA receives adverse comments                  of the regulations to passenger cars and
                                                from the California Gulch Superfund                     by March 10, 2016. If adverse comments                cabooses in a railroad’s fleet that are
                                                Site are in the docket and are available                are received within the 30-day public                 used only for private transportation
                                                to the public in the information                        comment period, EPA will publish a                    purposes and to older locomotives used
                                                repositories. A notice of availability of               timely withdrawal of this direct final                in incidental freight service.
                                                the Notice of Intent for Partial Deletion               notice of partial deletion before the                 DATES: This final rule is effective April
                                                has been published in the Leadville                     effective date of the partial deletion and            11, 2016. Petitions for reconsideration
                                                Herald Democrat to satisfy public                       it will not take effect. EPA will prepare             must be received on or before April 11,
                                                participation procedures required by 40                 a response to comments and continue                   2016. Comments in response to
                                                CFR 300.425 (e) (4).                                    with the deletion process on the basis of             petitions for reconsideration must be
                                                   The State, the Lake County                           the notice of intent to partially delete              received on or before May 24, 2016.
                                                Commissioners, the City of Leadville are                and the comments already received.                    ADDRESSES: Petitions for reconsideration
                                                supportive of the partial deletion of                   There will be no additional opportunity               and comments on petitions for
                                                OU1 and OU3. The State signed a letter                  to comment.                                           reconsideration: Petitions for
                                                of concurrence on October 7, 2015.
                                                                                                        List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 300                   reconsideration or comments on
                                                Determination That the Criteria for                                                                           petitions for reconsideration related to
                                                                                                          Environmental protection, Air
                                                Deletion Have Been Met                                                                                        Docket No. FRA–2012–0103, Notice No.
                                                                                                        pollution control, Chemicals, Hazardous
                                                  EPA has consulted with the State,                                                                           2, may be submitted by any of the
                                                                                                        waste, Hazardous substances,
                                                Lake County Commissioners, and the                                                                            following methods:
                                                                                                        Intergovernmental relations, Penalties,
                                                City of Leadville on the proposed partial                                                                        • Web site: The Federal eRulemaking
                                                                                                        Reporting and recordkeeping
                                                deletion of OU1 and OU3 of the                                                                                Portal, http://www.regulations.gov.
                                                                                                        requirements, Superfund, Water
                                                California Gulch Site from the NPL prior                                                                      Follow the Web site’s online
                                                                                                        pollution control, Water supply.
                                                to developing this Notice of Partial                                                                          instructions for submitting comments,
                                                                                                          Dated: January 15, 2016.                            to include petitions for reconsideration.
                                                Deletion. Through the five-year reviews,
                                                EPA has also determined that the
                                                                                                        Shaun L. McGrath,                                        • Fax: 202–493–2251.
                                                                                                        Regional Administrator, Region 8.                        • Mail: Docket Management Facility,
                                                response actions taken are protective of
                                                                                                        [FR Doc. 2016–02601 Filed 2–8–16; 8:45 am]            U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200
                                                public health or the environment and,
                                                                                                                                                              New Jersey Avenue SE., Room W12–
                                                therefore, taking of additional remedial                BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
                                                                                                                                                              140, Washington, DC 20590.
                                                measures is not appropriate.
                                                  The implemented remedies achieve                                                                               • Hand Delivery: Docket Management
                                                the degree of cleanup or protection                     DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION                          Facility, U.S. Department of
                                                specified in: for OU1, the 1988 OU1                                                                           Transportation, 1200 New Jersey
                                                ROD, 1989 OU1 AROD, the 1991 OU1                        Federal Railroad Administration                       Avenue SE., Room W12–140 on the
                                                ESD and 2013 OU1 ESD; and for OU3,                                                                            Ground level of the West Building,
                                                the 1998 OU3 ROD and the 2014 OU3                       49 CFR Part 223                                       between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday
                                                ESD.                                                                                                          through Friday, except Federal holidays.
                                                                                                        [Docket No. FRA–2012–0103, Notice No. 2]                 Instructions: All submissions must
                                                  All selected removal and remedial
                                                action objectives and associated cleanup                RIN 2130–AC43                                         include the agency name and docket
                                                goals for OU1 and OU3 are consistent                                                                          number or Regulatory Identification
                                                                                                        Safety Glazing Standards                              Number (RIN) for this rulemaking
                                                with agency policy and guidance. This
                                                partial deletion meets the completion                   AGENCY:  Federal Railroad                             (2130–AC43). Note that all petitions and
                                                requirements as specified in OSWER                      Administration (FRA), Department of                   comments received will be posted
                                                Directive 9320.2–22, Close Out                          Transportation (DOT).                                 without change to http://
                                                Procedures for National Priority List                                                                         www.regulations.gov, including any
                                                                                                        ACTION: Final rule.
                                                Sites. All response activities at OU1 and                                                                     personal information provided. Please
                                                OU3 of the Site are complete and the                    SUMMARY:    In this final rule, FRA is                see the Privacy Act heading in the
                                                                                                        revising and clarifying existing                      SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of
                                                two operable units pose no
                                                unacceptable risk to human health or                    regulations related to the use of glazing             this document for Privacy Act
                                                the environment. Therefore, EPA and                     materials in the windows of                           information related to any submitted
                                                CDPHE have determined that no further                   locomotives, passenger cars, and                      comments, petitions, or materials.
                                                response is necessary at OU1 and OU3                    cabooses. This final rule reduces                        Docket: For access to the docket to
                                                of the Site.                                            paperwork and other economic burdens                  read background documents, any
                                                                                                        on the rail industry by removing a                    petition for reconsideration submitted,
                                                V. Partial Deletion Action                              stenciling requirement for locomotives,               or comments received, go to http://
                                                  The EPA, with concurrence of the                      passenger cars, and cabooses that are                 www.regulations.gov at any time or visit
                                                State through the CDPHE has                             required to be equipped with glazing.                 the Docket Management Facility, U.S.
                                                determined that all appropriate                         This final rule also clarifies the                    Department of Transportation, 1200
                                                response actions under CERCLA, other                    application of the regulations to older               New Jersey Avenue SE., Room W12–140
                                                than operation, maintenance,                            equipment and to the end locations of                 on the Ground level of the West
                                                monitoring and five-year reviews, have                  all equipment to provide more certainty               Building, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES




                                                been completed. Therefore, EPA is                       to the rail industry and more narrowly                Monday through Friday, except Federal
                                                deleting all of OU1, Yak Tunnel/Water                   address FRA’s safety concerns. In                     holidays.
                                                Treatment Plant; and OU3, D&RGW Slag                    addition, this final rule clarifies the               FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                Easement/Railroad Yard, of the Site.                    definition of passenger car, updates the              Steve Zuiderveen, Railroad Safety
                                                  Because EPA considers this action to                  rule by removing certain compliance                   Specialist, Motive Power & Equipment
                                                be non-controversial and routine, EPA is                dates that are no longer necessary, and,              Division, Office of Safety Assurance and
                                                taking it without prior publication. This               in response to comments on the                        Compliance, Mail Stop 25, Federal


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Document Created: 2018-02-02 14:30:20
Document Modified: 2018-02-02 14:30:20
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionRules and Regulations
ActionDirect final rule.
DatesThis direct final partial deletion is effective April 11, 2016 unless EPA receives adverse comments by March 10, 2016. 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.
ContactLinda Kiefer, Remedial Project Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8, Mailcode EPR- SR, 1595 Wynkoop Street, Denver, CO 80202-1129, (303) 312-6689, email: [email protected]
FR Citation81 FR 6768 
CFR AssociatedEnvironmental Protection; Air Pollution Control; Chemicals; Hazardous Waste; Hazardous Substances; Intergovernmental Relations; Penalties; Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements; Superfund; Water Pollution Control and Water Supply

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