The site is located in a rural area off of Mines Road in the towns of Eden and Lowell, VT, within Orleans and Lamoille Counties. Between the early 1900’s and 1993 when production operations ceased, asbestos ore was mined out of three locations on Belvidere Mountain in areas identified as Eden Quarry, C-Area, and Lowell Quarry. The entire property is greater than 2,500 acres and it is believed that the tailings piles, open pits and quarries, and waste rock make up greater than half of that amount. The approximate latitude and longitude at the main entrance to the mine site is N44°45.9’, W72°31.2’.
The tailings pile associated with the Eden Quarry is being heavily eroded by the beginnings of Hutchins Brook which is carrying substantial quantities of mine tailings into the Lamoille watershed. A wetland, approximately 25-acres in size, located approximately one mile down-gradient of this waste pile has been heavily affected by the tailings. The wetland area appears to be reaching its storage capacity and is threatening to adversely affect adjacent water bodies.
The Lowell Quarry, now filled in with water, created the larger of the waste piles, which has been estimated between 30 and 60 million tons covering 80 acres. This pile has also been eroding and has impacted the southern end of Corez Pond, Burgess Brook and associated wetlands within the Mississquoi watershed.
There is a gate at the main entrance to the mine area, but access is generally unimpeded via any number of points throughout the woods. There is frequent recreational activity occurring in the vicinity, which includes hunting, fishing, rock-collecting, all-terrain vehicle riding, and hiking.
Please refer to POLREP 1 for additional information.
On October 15, 2007, EPA, it’s Emergency Rapid Response Services (ERRS) contractor (Shaw), and it’s Superfund Technical Assistance and Response Team (START) contractor (Weston Solutions) mobilized to the site.
After attending a state mandated site specific asbestos awareness class, site activities began with the construction of a non-contaminated support zone. Clean stone was spread out over geotechnical fabric to allow for ample parking and the placement of the work and decontamination trailers.
From October 19 through November 19, 2007, site actions consisted of constructing berms, mucking out fines from previously installed sedimentation basins, creating new deposition basins, rerouting flow, and regrading roads. The purpose of this work was to prevent additional asbestos contaminated surface flow from reaching the headwaters of the Burgess Branch and the Mississquoi watershed. Work at six of seven locations was completed during this time period. Additional work to protect Corez Pond, the seventh location, will continue in the spring.
EPA and VT DEC representatives will visit the site in the early spring of 2008 to view and assess the spring runoff pathways from the upper tailings pile (Eden Quarry). This information will be used to decide the best course of action to protect the Lamoille Watershed from additional asbestos laden runoff. Previous erosion from this pile and ensuing runoff has lead to heavy inundation of asbestos into wetlands within this watershed. Depending on where the actual work takes place, it will probably involve working with the State Historical Preservation Office and a historical preservationist to document site conditions and the locations of historic structures, foundations, and potential development that may have pre-dated the mining operation.
In addition, the previously worked areas will be examined to determine if reinforcement is necessary and the work to protect Corez Pond will be completed.
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