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Ore Knob Mine Site Jefferson, North Carolina

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Ore Knob Mine Site Jefferson, North Carolina U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Ore Knob Mine Site Jefferson, North Carolina Fact Sheet # 1 March 2019 Introduction Public meeting This fact sheet provides a brief history of the Ore Knob Mine Superfund Site (Site) and an update about the proposed waterline. The EPA will host a public Tuesday meeting to discuss the waterline and next steps on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at 6:00 p.m., at the Peak Creek Community Center located at 7062 NC Hwy 88 April 16, 2019 East, Laurel Springs, North Carolina. 6:00 p.m. Current Status Peak Creek Community EPA no longer plans to construct the proposed waterline due to technical concerns. The length of the proposed waterline and the low number of users Center creates a high potential for disinfection by‐products within the distribution system, which can be harmful to human health. Disinfection byproducts form 7062 NC Hwy 88 East when chemical disinfectants react with naturally occuring compounds in the water. Disinfection byproducts could result in the Town of Jefferson being Laurel Springs, NC non‐compliant with State and Federal drinking water standards. EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed an engineering analysis for treatment of the disinfection byproducts, however, no viable solution was found. To ensure residents have access to safe drinking water, EPA will continue to provide whole house filtration systems to homes with contaminated groundwater wells over the long‐term. EPA samples the systems annually to make sure they are working properly. In addition, EPA continues to sample private wells and water sources in the area that are at risk for potential contamination to determine whether additional actions need to be taken. Previous Actions The EPA, in conjunction with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ), has taken several actions at the Site. 2008‐2011 An EPA time‐critical removal action (TCRA) stabilized the dam at the main tailings impoundment containing an estimated 720,000 cubic yards of tailings. The action routed surface water around the material via an engineered 100‐year flood channel and covered, vegetated and re‐contoured the tailings to reduce erosion. EPA provided bottled water to residents whose wells were impacted by contamination from former mining operations at the Site. EPA sampled 79 potable water sources, including 64 private wells and 15 springs, to determine the extent of contamination. EPA installed or upgraded 16 whole house treatment systems. _____1 _________ Previous Actions (continued) 2015 EPA requested and received funding to conduct a NTCRA to construct water lines in the area impacted by the Site and connect them to the town of Jefferson’s Municipal Water Service. 2016 The town of Jefferson’s Board of Aldermen approved the waterline extension. 2017 EPA notified 52 property owners, all of which either have contaminated wells and/or are in the zone of concern, requesting in writing whether they wanted to be connected to the waterline, if constructed. A total of 26 responded favorably. Brief Site Description and History The Ore Knob Mine Site is in Ashe County, North Carolina, approximately 12 miles south of the Virginia state line, 45 miles southeast of Bristol, Tennessee and 8 miles east of the town of Jefferson, North Carolina. The Site consists of three principal areas that were directly affected by mining: the 19th century operations area, the 1950s mine and mill site, and a tailings impoundment. The Site was host to intermittent mining of copper ore from the 1850s through 1962, with most mining occurring during two main periods of activity: 1873 to 1883, and 1957 to 1962. Wastes from Site operations are known to have contaminated surface water and sediment with acid and heavy metals. In addition, mining‐related activities have affected downstream surface waters, sediment and floodplain soils. Acid mine drainage from the three principal areas described above has degraded downstream receiving waters, including the entire 1.5‐mile length of Ore Knob Branch, the entire 2.25‐mile length of Little Peak Creek, and about 2.9 miles of Peak Creek from its confluence with Ore Knob Branch to its confluence with South Fork New River. -------------------2 •------------------ CONTACTS FOR MORE INFORMATION EPA Remedial Project Manager Loften Carr (404) 562‐8804 [email protected] www.epa.gov/superfund/ore‐knob‐ EPA Community Involvement Coordinator mine Kerisa Coleman (404) 562‐8831 [email protected] Information Repository Ashe County Library 148 Library Drive West Jefferson, NC 28694 .
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