On April 29th both the “Nation Park Service” and “Alaska Department of Conservation” personnel requested EPA assistance in dealing with unreported discharges associated with a placer mine operator located approximately 17 miles east of McCarthy, AK near the Nizina River. One incident that occurred over the winter involved the overturning of a 1500 gallon skid tank discharging approximately 1000 gallons of diesel fuel on an unimproved trail upslope from the river. The other involved discharges of hydraulic fluid from staged excavation equipment along the shoreline of the Nizina River. Given the threat of impact to the river from the former incident, and evidence of impact from the staging of equipment, a field assessment was warranted.
