The Altoona Mine is an abandoned mercury mine located approximately 11 miles (as the crow flies) west of the town of Castella in Trinity County, California. The approximate geographic coordinates of the mine are 41 E 8'12.7" north latitude, 122 E 32'51" west longitude. The mine is located on private land within the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. The Shasta-Trinity National Forest is administered by the United States Forest Service (USFS).
The Altoona Mine site is comprised of an abandoned and backfilled vertical mine, with an adjacent ore processing area, former retort areas, and waste rock and tailings piles. There are collapsed remains of wooden structures at the ore processing area, and other collapsed wooden structures are scattered about the periphery of the mine site.
The mine was comprised of six levels of horizontal shafts which branch out from the main vertical shaft, and two levels of horizontal shafts which branch out from the second vertical shaft. The eight horizontal shafts comprise a total of over 10,000 linear feet.
The mine is located on an escarpment which faces southeast. The ore processing area is located immediately southwest of the surmised location of the main adit, and tailings piles are located southeast (downhill) of the processing area. The base of the tailings piles is approximately 80 feet below the elevation of the processing area.
Water from the mine flows from under the tailings piles, down Soda Creek to the east fork of the Trinity River, which is approximately one mile to the southeast of the mine. As no flowing water was found immediately upgradient of the mine, the water source of Soda Creek is assumed to be an underground source, which likely flows through mine passageways.
7/20/09 - EPA OSC and 7 ERRS mobilize to Dunsmuir, CA. Vehicles and gator are mobilized as well.
7/21/08 - EPA: 1, ERRS: 6. Mobilization of equipment to the Altoona Mine begins. One of the ERRS crews went to the doctor’s office in Redding due to an eye infection. A loader, D6 LGP, and a water truck were delivered to the site. The porta-poties were also delivered to the site. They were brought up on 133, and the trailer got a flat tire. The 345 excavator and 740 haul truck also arrived. The lowboy delivering the excavator was too long to fit on the road to the site, so the equipment was reconfigured in Castella and brought to the 15.5 mile marker. Once off-loaded, it was inspected which revealed some issues. After discussions with the vendor, the equipment was not-accepted and re-loaded and hauled out by the transportation company. Along the USFS 25, Shasta County was conducting some road paving. OSC Rogow stopped and coordinated with the county on EPA’s activities and was briefed on the county’s operations. OSC Rogow also stopped in and briefed the manager of Amaratti’s, the California State Parks at Castle Crags and Pine-Gri-La Resort of EPA’s upcoming operations. Work began on repair of the roads to and around the site, with the dozed, loader and water truck. The ERRS FCA went to town to get supplies for the operation.
7/22/09 – EPA: 1, ERRS: 7 The 330 excavator, 1 haul truck, a 60 kW generator, and a 20' storage container were mobilized to the site. The dozer, water truck and loader continued work on the roads at the site. Preparation work was conducted for delivery of the fuel tank, and office trailers. Two office trailers were brought to the site and were set up, and electrician was on site hooking up the power. Additional toilets were also brought to the Site. Work began on segregation of rock and stockpile material. One ERRS went to Mt. Shasta to drop off the trailer which had been used to haul the gator to the site. The OSC coordinated with USCG PST on picking up another ERRS 4 wheeler in Sacramento and on their mobilization plans. OSC Rogow also looked at lodging options for long term stay, since hotel bookings over the summer in Dunsmuir were problematic. EROS Glasband mobilized to Dunsmuir and arrived in the evening with the EPA satellite and other equipment.
7/23/09 – EPA: 2; ERRS: 8 EROS Glasband was on site to set up satellite and VOIP communications systems. Upon arrival on site, the generator could not be started up and I-5 was on site and arranged for repair. The satellite was placed on the connex, but not enough cable was available for connect the satellite into the connection box in the trailer. EROS Glasband went to Redding to get needed supplies to connect the satellite. One haul truck and a D6 dozer arrived in the morning. Work continued on the roads and segregation of rock for the creek work. Fuel tanks arrived in the afternoon and were placed along the Ready line. Fuel was also delivered. A new generator was brought in and hooked up to replace the non-operational one. EROS Glasband returned with supplies and hooked up satellite and VOIP phones. Signal was week, so he called the NOC and had them increase signal power to the system. 2 USCG PST personnel mobilized to Dunsmuir, with the polaris, and radios. They also went to the EQM Sacramento warehouse and picked up the ERRS 4-wheeler and other miscellaneous supplies. The 345 excavator arrived in the after work had been completed for the day.
7/24/09 – EPA: 1; USCG: 2; ERRS: 11 USCG personnel fueled equipment in town and then mobilized to site. USCG PM gave an orientation to the USCG GST personnel who will be on site for the next few weeks. The OSC and ERRS met regarding work to be performed in the creek. ERRS constructed a road down to the creek, to allow access for equipment. Work began in mucking out the sediment from the un-restored area of the creek. A small amount of this work was done on USFS lands, while the remaining segment was on private lands. Material was brought the readyline area. The dozer worked on the western side of the repository berm. Work continued at the new screen plant; to ready rock for the creek work and at the old screen plant to stockpile unscreened material for berm fill. ERRS also began work on reclamation of the camp site area, to bring that area back to grade. Road work and dust control continued. The OSC coordinated regarding the satellite and VOIP phones. The filter fabric for the creek was delivered to the site at the end of the day.
7/25/09 - EPA: 1; USCG: 1; ERRS: 11 ERRS continued work in the creek, removing sediments from the private section of the creek. Once sediment removal was completed to bedrock, reconstruction of the creek began, with installation of filter fabric and placement of rock in the box channel area at the intersection of USFS and private lands. Rock at the new screen plant was sorted and loaded for the creek. Reclamation work at the camp site area continued and topsoil was brought over to the area for cover when grading was completed. Work at the old screen plant continued with the stockpiling of unscreened material. Dust control continued to be performed.
7/26/09 – Day off.
1. Complete restoration of the creek.
2. Install drainage channels on repository and around the repository berm.
3. Complete repository berm.
4. Complete restoration of the mine waste area.
5. Repair damage from winter season.
6. Install permenant erosion control measures.
7. Install leachate collection tank.
8. Restore operating areas and private lands.
9. Winterize site and roads.
Complete creek restoration.
Continue construction of the repository berm.
Installation of drainages at the toe of the repository berm.
Action memo ceiling increase for additional funding.
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