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)

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, 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