All News Releases By Date

 

Flagstaff and Davenport smelter sites proposed for Superfund status

Release Date: 12/1/2000
Contact Information:
David Williams (303) 312-6757,

Release Date: 12/1/2000
Contact Information:
Tom Daniels (801) 536-5090

Denver -- Today the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will propose adding the former Flagstaff and Davenport smelter sites, located at the mouth of Little Cottonwood Creek in Salt Lake County, to EPA’s National Priorities List (NPL) of Superfund sites. This announcement begins a sixty-day period in which citizens may send EPA their comments on the proposed listing.

The National Priorities List is a published list of U.S. hazardous waste sites eligible for extensive, long-term cleanup under the Superfund program. Listing on the NPL makes the site eligible to receive federal funds for cleanup while EPA seeks to recover costs from the responsible parties that can be identified.. Placing the site on the NPL also allows EPA to use Superfund money for cleanup when there are no responsible parties who can pay for the work.

The Flagstaff and Davenport smelters operated for a short period of time in the late 1800s. Smelting operations of that period were very inefficient. Particles of lead and arsenic were emitted from the smoke stack and deposited in soils surrounding the smelters. Slag was also left behind in the process.

EPA and the Utah Department of Environmental Quality conducted soils analysis of the area to determine levels of lead and arsenic in the soil. They found that they were elevated enough to warrant further action.

Listing of a site on the NPL guarantees the public an opportunity to participate in cleanup decisions. Information that EPA used to document the proposed listing of the site is available at either of the following locations:

U. S. EPA Records Center Sandy Public Library
999 18th Street, Ste.303 10100 Petunia Way
Denver, Co 80202 Sandy City, Utah

People interested in commenting on the proposed NPL listing should send the original comments and three copies to:

Docket Coordinator,
Headquarters U.S. EPA; CERCLA Docket Office (5201G)
401 M Street SW
Washington, DC 20460
703/603-9232