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Saints John Mine

 
Site Contact:
Martin McComb
On-Scene Coordinator

(mccomb.martin@epa.gov)

Site Location:
Montezuma, CO 80435
 response.epa.gov/SaintsJohnMine

 

Aerial Imagery of Site Prior to Winter Pause in Work (09/26/2024)

The Site is an abandoned mine in the headwaters of the Snake River watershed in Montezuma, CO. Mine waste containing heavy metals is exposed at the surface and eroding downstream during stormwater and snowmelt runoff events.

There is a perennial discharge from the adit that flows largely uncontrolled across the waste pile. Visible evidence indicates higher adit flows on an annual basis and a much larger discharge recently occurred when an ice dam developed and then melted inside the mine. Significant erosion of the waste pile occurs especially when the adit discharge floods towards the center of the waste pile.

EPA initiated a CERCLA Time Critical Removal Action on September 11, 2024 to control the adit discharge and install stormwater and erosion controls across the pile. EPA paused operations for the winter on September 29, 2024 and will return to the Site in Summer 2025 as conditions warrant. EPA will complete the Removal Action by September 11, 2025.

 


Pre-Removal adit portal. Existing monitoring weir outside portal. Pre-Removal flow of adit discharge. Historic debris outside the portal. Pre-Removal flow of adit discharge. Pre-Removal flow of adit discharge. Pre-Removal flow of adit discharge. Pre-Removal flow of adit discharge. Pre-Removal flow of adit discharge. Pre-Removal flow of adit discharge. Pre-Removal flow of adit discharge. Nearby reclamation project was performed on 2012-13. DRMS repository adjacent to the Site. Stabilizing the access road on the waste pile. Collecting rock for future use. Stockpiling rock for future use. Ditch excavated to construct rocked water crossing on access road for stormwater runoff. Rocked water crossing on access road constructed for stormwater runoff looking east. Rocked water crossing on access road constructed for stormwater runoff looking west. Regrading waste pile (right dozer) and beginning construction of stormwater channel (left excavator) to support construction of erosion controls. Constructing berm along west perimeter of Site to control stormwater and snowmelt runoff. Regrading waste pile to support erosion control. Regrading the waste pile to support erosion control. Rocked pool to slow water velocity and open stormwater channel above rocked road crossing. Waddles placed in open stormwater channel to control sediment before the channel can be lined and rocked on 2025. Open channel constructed to funnel stormwater to rocked road crossing. Beginning construction of stormwater channel to support erosion control. Beginning to construct berm to control adit drainage. Berm outside the adit to control discharge is being constructed against historic pump. Rock collected from around the Site is being stockpiled for use. First snow of the season rolling in. Access road before excavation of rocked stormwater crossing looking west. OSC conjectures that this was location of channel used to carry water off the facility when the mine was active. This is the location where stormwater at the abandoned facility must drain. North side of access road before excavation of rocked stormwater crossing. South side of access road before excavation of rocked stormwater crossing. Note exposed wooden drainage channel. Disintegrated wooden drainage channel exposed at the surface before being removed to facilitate construction of stormwater drainage channel across the access road. Disintegrated wooden drainage channel exposed with shovel before being removed to facilitate construction of stormwater drainage channel across the access road. Wooden drainage channel exposed with shovel before being removed to facilitate construction of stormwater drainage channel across the access road. Remnants of historic tramway wheel / station. Left in place. Machinery uncovered next to tramway wheel. Object moved next to tramway wheel which was left in place. Machinery moved next to tramway wheel which was left in place. Machinery moved next to tramway wheel which was left in place. Portion of waste pile left in place and armored to protect remnants of historic tramway wheel / station that was not disturbed. Potential wood structure uncovered while regrading waste pile. Left in place and reburied. Bucket uncovered during regrading of waste pile and set aside with other mining debris. Mining debris uncovered during regrading of waste pile that was moved to debris pile outside adit. Mining debris uncovered during regrading of waste pile that was moved to debris pile outside adit. Mining debris uncovered during regrading of waste pile that was moved to debris pile outside adit. Tools uncovered while regrading the waste pile west of the ore bin. Items were added to the mining debris located outside the adit. Mining debris outside adit. Large pump left in place. All debris between photographer and pump moved to other side of pump to make room for berm to divert adit discharge away from the middle of the waste pile. Mine rail left in place. Sections of rail were covered with mine waste for protection during required transit of response machinery. Mine rail left in place. Sections of rail were covered with mine waste for protection during required transit of response machinery. Sections of rail were covered with mine waste for protection during required transit of response machinery. Sections of rail were covered with mine waste for protection during required transit of response machinery. Mining debris collected during regrading of the waste pile was consolidated into the existing pile of debris outside the adit. Mining debris collected during regrading of the waste pile was consolidated into the existing pile of debris outside the adit. Tape measurer uncovered during regrading of the waste pile west of the ore bin. Glove uncovered during regrading of the waste pile west of the ore bin. Glove, hat and boots uncovered while regrading the waste pile west of the ore bin. Mining debris on surface that was moved to debris pile outside adit prior to regrading waste pile to make room for new adit drainage. Sink on surface that was moved to debris pile outside adit prior to regrading waste pile to make room for new adit drainage. Mining debris on surface that was moved to debris pile outside adit prior to regrading waste pile to make room for new adit drainage. Mining debris on surface that was moved to debris pile outside adit prior to regrading waste pile to make room for new adit drainage. Mining debris on surface that was moved to debris pile outside adit prior to regrading waste pile to make room for new adit drainage. Mining debris on surface that was moved to debris pile outside adit prior to regrading waste pile to make room for new adit drainage. Rail on surface that was moved to debris pile outside adit prior to regrading waste pile to make room for new adit drainage. Surface debris on the east side of the waste pile to be left in place as the waste pile is regraded to make room for a new channel for the adit discharge. Structure of the ore bin will be left standing. Surface debris on the east side of the waste pile to be left in place as the waste pile is regraded to make room for a new channel for the adit discharge. Structure of the ore bin will be left standing. Looking north up the east side of the historic ore bin as the east side of the waste pile is being regraded to make room for a new channel for the adit discharge. Armored berm placed outside adit to push high discharge flows to east perimeter and away from center of waste pile. Team member is 6 feet tall. Armored berm placed outside adit to push high discharge flows to east perimeter and away from center of waste pile. Team member is 6 feet tall. Stockpiling rock for future use in drainage controls. Top of the ore bin. Rails to nowhere at the top of the waste pile. Berm to divert high adit discharge away from the center of the waste pile was constructed against pump located directly outside the adit. Looking up the west side of the regraded waste pile at two broad water bars / sloped benches constructed to capture runoff and debris flows from the mountain above. Looking across the lower broad water bar / sloped bench on the west side of the regraded waste pile constructed to capture runoff and debris flows from the mountain above. Looking across the upper broad water bar / sloped bench on the west side of the regraded waste pile constructed to capture runoff and debris flows from the mountain above. Looking up the west side of the regraded waste pile from the upper broad water bar / sloped bench constructed to capture runoff and debris flows from the mountain above. Looking across two broad water bars / sloped benches on the west side of the regraded waste pile constructed to capture runoff and debris flows from the mountain above. Looking east across the existing run-on control ditch which was reconstructed across the top of the waste pile. The berm constructed to divert adit flow is the bare spot between the trees. Looking west across the existing run-on control ditch which was reconstructed across the top of the waste pile. The top of the regraded waste pile west of the historic ore bin. Regrading the waste pile east of the historic ore bin to make room for a new channel for the adit discharge which will be constructed in 2025. Berm constructed between the adit and the historic pump to divert the discharge to the east away from the center of the waste pile. The grey material will be removed when the new channel is built in 2025. Regrading the waste pile east of the historic ore bin to make room for a new channel for the adit discharge which will be constructed in 2025. Regrading the waste pile east of the historic ore bin to make room for a new channel for the adit discharge which will be constructed in 2025. Regrading the waste pile east of the historic ore bin to make room for a new channel for the adit discharge which will be constructed in 2025. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: waddle around east base of waste pile and rocks blocking vehicle access to future path of adit drainage. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: waddle around east base of waste pile and waddle across future path of adit drainage. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: waddle around east base of regraded waste pile. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: waddle around east base of waste pile and across future path of adit drainage. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: waddle across future path of adit drainage. Rocked berm to divert adit discharge to the east and away from the center of the waste pile was installed between the adit and historic pump. Brey material will be removed in 2025 when the discharge is moved to a new channel. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: regraded future path of adit drainage. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: waddle across future path of adit drainage. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: waddles across regraded west slopes of waste pile. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: top of regraded west slopes of waste pile. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: waddles across future path of adit drainage Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: waddles across future path of adit drainage viewed from top of east side of regraded waste pile. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: waddles installed on lower west slopes of regraded waste pile. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: waddle across future path of adit drainage. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: west slopes of regraded waste pile. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: waddles installed on west slopes of regraded waste pile. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: slope breaks on west slopes of regraded waste pile. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: slope breaks on west slopes of regraded waste pile. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: slope breaks on west slopes of regraded waste pile. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: slope breaks on west slopes of regraded waste pile. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: rocked drainage ditch at base of regraded waste pile's west slope. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: slope beyond berm at base of regraded waste pile's west slope. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: slope breaks on west slopes of regraded waste pile. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: west slope of regraded waste pile. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: west slope of regraded waste pile. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: rough stormwater runoff control ditch at bottom of waste pile. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: rocked drainage ditch at base of regraded waste pile's west slope. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: waddle around base of regraded waste pile's west slope. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: ore bin. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: west slope of regraded waste pile. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: west slope of regraded waste pile. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: rock placed to block vehicular access to west slopes of regraded waste pile. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: remnants of historic structure. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: remnants of historic structure. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: remnants of historic structure. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: remnants of historic structure. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: improved access road. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: remnants of historic structure. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: improved access road. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: improved access road. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: remnants of historic structure. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: improved access road. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: improved access road. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: remnants of structure used to store explosives. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: remnants of structure used to store explosives. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: remnants of structure used to store explosives. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: remnants of structure used to store explosives. Rocked channel above road crossing constructed for stormwater runoff. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: remnants of structure used to store explosives. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: remnants of structure used to store explosives. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: remnants of structure used to store explosives. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: remnants of structure used to store explosives. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: remnants of structure used to store explosives. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: remnants of structure used to store explosives. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: remnants of historic items near roughed in stormwater control ditch. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: remnants of historic structure. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: remnants of historic structure. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: improved access road. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: remnants of historic structure. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: improved access road. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: improved access road. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: improved access road. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: improved access road. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: remnants of historic structure. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: remnants of historic structure. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: improved access road. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: remnants of historic structure. Site conditions when crew demobilized for winter: remnants of historic structure.
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