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U.S. EPA asks public to comment on Iron Mountain Mine cleanup

Release Date: 8/13/2004
Contact Information: Lisa Fasano, (415) 947-4307

     SAN FRANCISCO   Yesterday the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency opened the public comment period on the proposed cleanup plan for the Spring Creek arm of the Keswick Reservoir at the Iron Mountain Mine Superfund site.
 
    The thirty-day comment period is open through September 13.

    "We invite the public's input as we move toward further cleanup action at the Iron Mountain Mine," said Rick Sugarek, the EPA's Iron Mountain project manager for the Pacific Southwest region.  "Cleanup at the site is proceeding well and we want to ensure the public is part of the process."

     The EPA evaluated five potential cleanup alternatives, that provide a range of cleanup options that vary in effectiveness, ease of implementation and cost.  The EPA believes that the proposed sediment cleanup plan would be protective of the Sacramento River ecosystem.  

    The EPA's preferred cleanup alternative involves dredging contaminated sediments  in two areas of the Spring Creek arm of the Keswick Reservoir that are prone to erosion and would partially remove sediments in a deep water area of the Spring Creek.  The remaining sediments in the deep water area would not be removed, but are less likely to erode except under circumstances that are extremely rare and highly unlikely.
   
    The proposed plan is available for review in Redding at the Shasta County Library, 1855 Shasta Street, and at the EPA's Superfund Record Center, 95 Hawthorne Street in San Francisco.

    The EPA will hold a public meeting to receive verbal and written comments on its proposed cleanup approach.  The meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 25, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Red Lion Hotel, 1830 Hilltop Drive in Redding.

     The Iron Mountain Mine Superfund site is located approximately 9 miles northwest of Redding, Calif.
       
For more information go to: https://yosemite.epa.gov/r9/sfund/overview.nsf!OpenDatabase&Start=30
and then click on the Iron Mountain Mine for complete site history, environmental progress and additional documents.