Posted
Category
Site Description
7/26/2021
01 Background
Manila Lode is a former mine/mill facility outside the town of Montezuma, Colorado that operated from the 1870s into the 1910s during the Colorado Silver Boom. The remnants of this operation still
impact the area today. Two large contiguous waste rock and mine tailing piles exist and present heavy
metal contamination threats to hikers/recreationists, the Upper Snake River and a residence
adjacent to the Site. Soil samples collected by Trout Unlimited in 2018 reported the presence
of aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, copper, iron, lead, manganese and zinc. Lead concentrations in
the pile range from 2,000 to 20,000 mg/kg. Trout Unlimited sampling results from 2019 found that much of the heavy metal contamination form the piles was reaching the Upper Snake River
adjacent to the site.
Site Objectives
7/26/2021
01 Background
In July, 2021, EPA initiated a Removal Action with the following objectives:
Safety of the public and response personnel is top priority.
Maintain site security to prevent public exposure.
Minimize or, if possible, eliminate threats to human health and/or the environment posed
by metal laden rock and contaminated storm water.
Temporarily reroute storm water drainage around the waste pile to allow for waste piles
to be reworked and a permanent drainage path to be constructed without the inflow of
water.
Rework and regrade the waste piles to eliminate void spaces within the piles and to
eliminate the steep slopes currently present. This will minimize water infiltration through
the piles as well as mitigate erosion.
Construct a permanent lined drainage channel to take water from the Toledo Tunnel
across the waste site to the wetland area without allowing direct contact with waste
materials.
Install an evapo-transpiration cover over the waste piles and establish proper vegetation
to promote stabilization and mitigate direct contact with the metal laden rock.
Provide institutional controls, such as deed restriction or an environmental covenant.
Provide timely and accurate communication of response information to the public, on-site
media, and affected stakeholders.
Operational Period Objectives
7/17/2021
02 Jul 19-25
Continue harvesting and stockpiling rock for waste pile stabilization.
Complete the rough grade and stabilization of the upper portions of the waste piles.
Continue the temporary diversion around the Site of the discharge from the Toledo Tunnel.
Operational Period Activities
7/17/2021
02 Jul 19-25
The EPA Team (ERRS
crew, START Contractor, and EPA personnel) worked Monday through Saturday (July 19 to July 24). Operations were hampered by afternoon thunderstorms and lightning, which caused early departures from the Site Tuesday through Saturday. Personnel and Heavy equipment used on-site this period included:
2 Excavators
1 Bulldozer
1 Front End Loader
Vibratory Roller/ Compactor
1 500- Gallon Water Tank/ Pump Unit
EPA Mobile Command Truck
5 ERRS Crew
2 EPA
1 START (July 23 only)
The rough grading of the upper portion of the waste pile was completed on Saturday, July 24, 2021. This section is ready for rocking, drainage ditch installation, topsoil, and vegetation.
The crew continued to collect and segregate large rocks/boulders (>1' diameter) for use in drainage ditches and pile stabilization. A portion of this rock was put in place along the toe of the upper waste pile.
Planned Activities
7/17/2021
02 Jul 19-25
For the next Operational Period (July 26 to August 1) the following are the planned activities:
Complete
the Installation of rock stabilization structures along the toe of all steeper
slopes of the upper waste pile.
Cut,
line, and rock the permanent Toledo Tunnel discharge channel over the upper
waste pile.
Begin
stabilization work on the lower portions of the wastes piles.
Collect
and segregate large boulders/rocks from waste piles for use in pile
stabilization.
Operational Period Objectives
7/26/2021
03 Jul 26-Aug 01
For the Operational Period of July 26 to August 1, 2021, the OSC established the following objectives:
Complete the installation of rock stabilization structures along the toe of all steeper slopes
of the upper waste pile.
Cut, line, and rock the permanent Toledo Tunnel discharge channel over the upper waste
pile.
Begin stabilization work on the lower portions of the waste piles.
Collect and segregate large boulders/rocks from waste piles for use in pile stabilization.
Award subcontracts for the purchase of common fill; compost; topsoil; road base; and rip-rap.
Operational Period Activities
7/26/2021
03 Jul 26-Aug 01
During the Current Operational Period the EPA Site Team worked Monday thru Saturday. Operations were hampered by a series of heavy afternoon thunderstorms and lightning. During this period the Team:
Installed rock stabilization structures along the south flank and toe of the waste pile, and along the base of the upper portion of the pile.
Completed cutting and rocking all drainage ditches and structures on the upper portion of the pile.
Began cutting and placing a synthetic liner for the permanent Toledo Tunnel discharge channel over the upper portion of the Site. However, the channel remains to be rocked.
Continued harvesting large rock from the Site for use as stabilizing rip-rap.
Began taking delivery of the needed construction materials (e.g., common fill, rip-rap, road base, erosion mat, compost, etc.)
Began placing fill and rip-rap on the upper portion of the waste pile.
Began grading the top portion of the lower waste pile.
Planned Activities
7/26/2021
03 Jul 26-Aug 01
For the next Operational Period, August 2 thru August 8, 2021, the EPA Site Team Plans to:
Complete construction of the lined drainage channel on the upper pile.
Begin construction of the lined drainage channel over the lower pile.
Continue construction of Site drainage features, including run-on/run-off controls.
Finish grading the pile.
Continue cover installation of soil cap.
Purchase vegetation seed mix.
Operational Period Objectives
8/16/2021
04 Aug 02-15
For the Operational Period of August
2 to August 15, 2021, the OSC established the following objectives:
Continue stabilization work on the lower portions of the waste piles.
Place erosion control mats on the slopes to prevent erosion.
Construct drainage channels on top and middle sections of pile to prevent erosion from excess water flow.
Collect and segregate large boulders/rocks from waste piles for use in pile stabilization.
Use topsoil to fill gaps between rocks that is used to stabilize the steeper slopes.
Spread seeding on topsoil for new vegetation growth.
Operational Period Activities
8/16/2021
04 Aug 02-15
During the Current Operational
Period, operations were hampered by a series of heavy afternoon thunderstorms
and lightning. During this period the Team:
Added rocks to the drainage channel on the middle section.
Began construction of drainage channel for upper and lower portions of waste pile.
Continued harvesting large rock from the site for use as stabilizing rip-rap.
Began adding rip-rap and topsoil to middle section of the pile.
Added Erosion control matting on the top and lower sections of the pile.
Began grading the top portion of the lower waste pile.
Added road base along the Pedestrian trail and outlined the trail boundary with rock.
Seeding was spread on topsoil that was placed between the gaps where rock was placed to stabilize the steep slopes.
Planned Activities
8/16/2021
04 Aug 02-15
For the next Operational Period,
August 16 through August 22, 2021, the EPA Site Team Plans to:
Add rocks to the drainage channel located within the middle section of the pile.
Continue construction of the lined drainage channel from the middle to the bottom section.
Continue construction of Site drainage features, including run-on/run-off controls.
Begin adding erosion control matting material on the middle section of the pile.
Operational Period Objectives
8/19/2021
05 Aug 16-22
For the Operational Period of August 16 to August 22, 2021, the OSC established the following objectives:
Continue adding rocks to the drainage channel located within the middle section of the pile.
Continue construction of the lined drainage channel from the middle to the bottom section.
Continue construction of Site drainage features, including run-on/run-off controls.
Add erosion control matting to middle section of the pile
Operational Period Activities
8/20/2021
05 Aug 16-22
During the subject Operational Period, operations were hampered by a series of heavy afternoon thunderstorms and lightning. During this period the Site Team:
Completed regrading the top portion of the lower waste pile and continued placement of erosion control matting matting material.
Completed rock channeling for the permanent Toledo Tunnel discharge channel over the upper portion of the Site.
Completed placement of culvert, continued regrading and placement of erosion control matting material in middle section of pile.
Continued construction of drainage channel for lower portion of waste pile.
Planned Activities
8/20/2021
05 Aug 16-22
For the next Operational Period, August 23 through August 29, 2021, the EPA Site Team Plans to:
Continue placement of erosion control matting and topsoil on upper and middle levels.
Continue construction of the lined drainage channel from the middle to the bottom section, including channel excavation and rock armoring.
Continue construction of Site drainage features, including run-on/run-off controls.
Operational Period Objectives
8/26/2021
06 Aug 23-29
For the Operational Period of August 23 to August 29, 2021, the
OSC established the following objectives:
Continue erosion control
matting of upper and middle sections.
Continue construction of
the lined drainage channel from the middle to the bottom section.
Continue construction of
Site drainage features, including run-on/run-off controls.
Operational Period Activities
8/26/2021
06 Aug 23-29
During this period the Site Team:
Completed placement of erosion control
matting and topsoil on upper and middle levels.
Added rocks to the drainage channel located within the middle section of the pile.
Completed construction of the lined drainage
channel from the middle to the bottom section, including channel
excavation and rock armoring.
Opened and restored water flow to the Toledo
Tunnel drainage channel.
Continued construction of Site drainage
features, including run-on/run-off controls.
Planned Activities
8/26/2021
06 Aug 23-29
For the next Operational Period, August 30 through September 5,
2021, the EPA Site Team Plans to:
Add road base to driveway and continue ditch
construction along driveway.
Placement of rock, topsoil, and erosion
control matting on lower level and slope down to road.
Continue construction of Site drainage
features, including run-on/run-off controls.
Operational Period Objectives
9/2/2021
07 Aug 30 - Sept 5
For
the Operational Period of August 30 through September 5, 2021, the OSC
established the following objectives:
Add road base
to driveway and complete ditch construction along driveway.
Placement of
rock, topsoil, and erosion control matting on lower level and slope down
to road.
Continue
construction of Site drainage features, including run-on/run-off
controls.
Conduct
Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) drone survey of Site.
Demobilize
crew for labor day weekend.
Operational Period Activities
9/2/2021
07 Aug 30 - Sept 5
During
this period the Site Team:
Completed ditch
construction and added rock along driveway.
Added and
compacted road base on Site driveway.
Completed
placement of rock, topsoil, and erosion control matting on lower level.
Continued
construction of Site drainage features, including run-on/run-off controls.
Conducted UAS
drone survey of Site on September 2.
Planned Activities
9/2/2021
07 Aug 30 - Sept 5
For the
next Operational Period, September 6 through September 12, 2021, the EPA Site
Team Plans to:
Complete
construction of Site drainage features.
Complete
placement of rock, topsoil, and erosion control matting on slope down to
road.
Complete Site
restoration activities including vegetative cover.
Demobilize crew and equipment from the Site by September 11.
Operational Period Objectives
9/14/2021
08 Sept 6- Sept 12
For the Operational Period of September
6 to September 12, 2021, the OSC established the following objectives:
Complete placement of rock, topsoil, and erosion control matting on lower level and slope down to road.
Completed Site restoration activities including vegetative cover.
Demobilize crew and equipment from the Site by September 10.
Operational Period Activities
9/14/2021
08 Sept 6- Sept 12
During the Current Operational
Period, the Team:
Completed construction of Site drainage features.
Completed placement of rock, topsoil, and erosion control matting on slope down to road.
Demobilized crew on September 10.
Planned Activities
9/14/2021
08 Sept 6- Sept 12
For the next Operational Period, September
12 through September 21, 2021, the EPA Site Team Plans to:
Complete the demobilization of heavy machinery from the site.
Operational Period Objectives
8/26/2022
09 Aug 22 - 29 2022
EPA is mobilizing to the Manila Lode Site to adjust some of the drainage features installed last year, and perform some routine maintenance at the Site. For the Operational Period of August 22 to August 29, 2022, the
OSC established the following objectives:
Complete the mobilization of equipment and personnel
Construct a drainage channel along the base of the middle mound
Re-dig and re-rock the drainage channel along the base of the upper mound
Re-seed the less
vegetated areas of the repository for erosion control
Construct a small drainage channel across the road on the middle mound
Construct 3 rock
aprons around the sides of the lower mound in high flow areas
Begin grading the road and top of the lower mound to guide surface flow towards the new and existing drainage channels
Remove eroded soil from the culvert and ditch along Montezuma Road
Repair erosion
damage and add road base in eroded areas
Operation Period Activities
8/26/2022
09 Aug 22 - 29 2022
During the current operational period of August 22 through August 29, 2022, the team has:
Completed the mobilization of equipment and personnel
Constructed the drainage channel along the base of the middle mound
Re-dug and re-rocked the drainage channel along the base of the upper mound
Re-seeded the less vegetated areas of the repository for erosion control
Constructed the small drainage channel across the road on the middle mound
Constructed 3 rock aprons around the sides of the lower mound in high flow areas
Graded the road and top of the lower mound to guide surface flow towards the new and existing drainage channels
Removed eroded soil from the culvert and ditch along Montezuma Road
Repaired erosion damage and added road base in select areas
Planned Activities
8/26/2022
09 Aug 22 - 29 2022
All of this operational period objectives were completed including the demobilization of personnel and equipment. Notices for further planned activities and future maintenance will be provided as necessary