1.1.1 Incident Category
Time-Critical Removal Action at an Abandoned Lead/Zinc Mine.

1.1.2 Site Description

On September 4, 2015, EPA received a written request from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) requesting the conditions at the Wurtsboro Lead Mine Site (Site) be evaluated for a possible CERCLA emergency response action.  The Site (NYSDEC Site No. 353013) is a lead mine that was abandoned in 1962.  EPAs review of the Site Characterization Report (July 2013) prepared for the NYSDEC, concluded that a human exposure pathway exists at the Site from direct contact to lead present in mine wastes.  These wastes include mine tailings, millings, overburden rock and surface water discharges.

1.1.2.1 Location
The Site is located in the Wurtsboro Ridge State Forest in the Town of Mamakating, Sullivan County, New York and the Delaware and Hudson (D&H) Canal Linear Park.  The area of contamination associated with the mine operation encompasses approximately 20-acres of the 1,000-acre State Forest.

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
The principal threat to the public is direct contact with high levels of lead in the tailings piles, sediments and surface/ground water runoff.   The tailings piles have been tested and found to contain Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) concentrations of lead ranging from 5.3 to 268 parts per million (ppm).  A TCLP concentration of 5ppm meets the regulatory criteria as a hazardous waste.  Water samples collected at the lower mine discharge point have been found to contain lead concentrations which range from 410 to 710 parts per billion (ppb).  The NYSDEC ecological Quality Standard for lead in surface water is 4.1ppb.

1.1.3 Removal Preliminary Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

On September 22 and 23, 2015, EPA met with NYSDEC representatives at the Site to inspect the upper and lower former operation areas.

Based on the NYSDEC sampling events and results from their laboratory analysis, the mine tailings, millings, overburden rock and surface water are considered CERCLA designated hazardous substances as defined in section 101(14) of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. § 9601(14). The Site is defined as a facility under section 101(9) of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. § 9601(9).  Conditions at the Site meet the requirements of Section 300.415(b) of the National Contingency Plan (NCP) for the undertaking of a CERCLA removal action.

On September 23, 2015, verbal authorization was granted by the Region 2 Division Director to initiate a removal action at the Site.  On October 6, 2015, written confirmation of the verbal authorization was submitted to the Division Director.  The Removal Action activities proposed under this verbal authorization included:

            : Consolidating wastes;

            : Installing security fencing and signage;

            : Evaluation/Stabilization of entrance roads;

            : Pre-classification of wastes;

            : Preparation of work plans to remove lead-contaminated wastes; and

            : Pilot tests on passive treatment systems designed to reduce lead concentrations                                     in surface water discharges.

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

-Response actions which occurred prior to December 15, 2015 can be found in POLREP#1, dated January 6, 2016.

-Since December 15, 2015, response actions have included the following:

    -meeting with Federal and State agencies at the Site to discuss biota sampling, historical preservation investigations, anticipated mountaintop access routes, and future activities.

    -preparation of a draft work plan outlining the measures and procedures to mitigate the environmental conditions  identified at the Site. These conditions include: tailings piles, access roads, canal peninsula sediment, security/bat gates, mill area wastes and mine runoff.

    -On March 21-22, 2016, EPA and Weston Solutions completed delineation soil sampling along the perimeter of each of the upper mine tailings piles (Piles 1, 2 & 3).  The objective of this sampling was to determine the horizontal and vertical extent of lead contamination in each of these areas.  While completing the sampling, a additional area of mining operations and tailings pile was identified approximately 200-feet south of Pile 2.  This pile was given the designation as Pile 5 and sampled in the same manner as Piles 1, 2 & 3.   In total, this sampling event resulted in 83 samples being collected from 64 locations.  The results have been received and are currently being incorporated into Site sampling maps.

    -On May 16 - 18, 2016, EPA and Weston Solutions completed assessment sampling along the D&H Canal towpath and the former railroad bed located just east of the towpath.  The objective of this sampling was to determine whether contaminants associated with the mill area had impacted these known public use areas.  In total, this sampling event resulted in 252 samples being collected from 120 locations.  All samples are currently at the laboratory being analyzed.

    -On May 31, 2016, EPA and its ERRS contractor mobilized to the Site to oversee the installation of three (3) security/bat gates and to make repairs to the access roads following the winter months.  On June 2, 2016, all on-site activities were completed.

2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
-Pending

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
Anticipated activities at the Site include additional soil, sediment and surface water sampling.

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
Planned response activities include completing a LIDAR survey of the property and installation of security gates to prevent vehicular access to know areas of lead contamination.

Upon receipt of the analytical results obtained from samples currently being analyzed, additional response activities may be scheduled. 

2.2.1.2 Next Steps
Monitoring of Site conditions, including security fencing, signage and stockpiled materials.

2.2.2 Issues

Not Applicable

3.1 Unified Command

3.2 Cooperating Agencies
-New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC)

    -Division of Lands and Forests;

    -Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources;

    -Division of Environmental Remediation;

    -Division of Mineral Resources (Region 3)

 -Sullivan County