The Harmony Mine is a former copper mine and milling facility, which operated between 1916 and 1931. The Site has been inactive since 1931. The property consists of approximately 330 acres of private patented land surrounded by the Salmon-Challis National Forest (SCNF), and includes a tailings pile of approximately 10,000 cubic yards, which lies approximately 1/3 on the private land and 2/3 within the SCNF. The Site is at approximately 7,000 feet elevation. The South Fork of Withington Creek originates upstream of the tailings pile and flows through the existing tailings pile. Withington Creek flows into the Lemhi River approximately 8 miles downstream of the Site.
In August 2003, the Withington Creek forest fire destroyed the vegetative cover in the upper Withington Creek drainage at and above the Site. There has been one significant rain event in the drainage since the fire, which has already caused erosion and washouts in various locations around the mine Site. It is likely that any subsequent high intensity storm event or high volume runoff this coming Spring would have resulted in massive failure of the remaining tailings pile.
EPA and the USDA Forest Service undertook joint CERCLA Removal action to remove the existing tailings pile to a secure repository approximately 1 mile below the mine site on land admistered by the Forest Service. Approval was provided by the USFS for siting of the repository on USFS administered land. On September 19, 2003, EPA contractor personnel, under direction of the EPA OSC, began mobilizing to the Site to begin this work. Site work was completed and all personnel demobilized on October 22, 2003.
All equipment and personnel demobilized from Site by 10/22/03. One ERRS contractor (local hire) returned on 11/5/2003 to complete seeding of disturbed areas.
START contractor to complete draft Removal Report. EPA OSC to complete memo to file describing cleanup cost share between EPA and Forest Service.
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