Community Involvment Plan
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CARSON RIVER MERCURY SUPERFUND SITE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PLAN JUNE 2016 INTRODUCTION In 2013, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducted interviews with many stakeholders and community members. The information received from those interviews has contributed greatly to the creation of this Community Involvement Plan (CIP). The interviewees shared their knowledge, concerns, and input on a variety of topics related to the Carson River Mercury Superfund Site (CRMS). This CIP synthesizes their responses* and creates a comprehensive plan, describing the pathways through which positive communication between EPA and the CRMS communities can continue successfully. The original study area for the CRMS is located within the Carson River, Washoe Lake, and Steamboat Creek watersheds. During the height of the Comstock Lode mining era (see History of Contamination, pg 15), the mills discharged an estimated 14,000,000 pounds of mercury into the drainages associated with these watersheds. Over time, the mercury has been transported and dispersed by the river, creek, and connected Carson River Mercury Superfund Site Map drainages. The original EPA CRMS study area spans Washoe, Carson City, Storey, Lyon and Churchill Counties (see CRMS map: EPA Stillwater Marsh and areas of sediment deposi- *Please note that interviewee responses are vary- Original Study Area). In 2010, an effort was tion (e.g. the 100 year flood plain). These areas ing and subjective; when documented in this CIP made to reduce the CRMS footprint into smaller have been consolidated into Operable Units One they are intended to represent an individual point investigative areas where the contamination is and Two (see map: Operable Unit One, Operable of view, not a fact. Therefore, the reader should suspected to be most prevalent: historic mill sites, Unit Two). The investigation into the extent not infer that certain conditions exist without tailings piles and impoundments, current and of mercury contamination in these two areas is first discussing the information further with one historic river channels and canals, Washoe Lake, ongoing. of the Site Team Contacts listed on page 13. Lahontan Reservoir, Carson Lake, Carson Sink, COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PLAN ORGANIZATION 2 THE This section provides a brief community profile and identifies issues COMMUNITY and concerns raised during the community interviews. 8 THE Presented in this section is EPA’s action plan for addressing the COMMUNITY issues and concerns identified in the interviews. The CIP relies on I NVOLVEMENT tools and techniques that EPA has developed over the years at Ac TION PLAN hundreds of Superfund Sites. 14 AppENDICES The appendices provide a synopsis of the site’s history, information about the EPA Superfund program, and a glossary of terms. Also included is the questionnaire that was used to interview community members for the creation of this plan. THE COMMUNITY THE COMMUNITY According to the United States Census Bureau Community Understanding of the Site & STAKEHOLDERS 2013 estimates, the populations of the Nevada counties comprising the CRMS are as fol- Community members are, for the most part, Spanning five counties and two tribal land areas lows: Washoe County, 433,731; Carson City aware that the river is contaminated from histori- in western Nevada, the Carson River Mercury County, 54,080; Storey County, 3,942; Lyon cal practices. The specific details of the cleanup, Site offers a unique community profile. This County, 51,557; and Churchill County, 24,063. however, are less well known. When interviewed, creates a diverse group of stakeholders, including The vast majority of the population of Washoe many residents were unfamiliar with the potential local governments, tribes, schools, industry, County is located in the Reno-Sparks metro- exposure pathways, the role of EPA in the developers, naturalists and those looking for politan area, which is outside the boundaries cleanup, and the active fish advisory. A goal of this recreation throughout the area. of the CRMS. In fact, the majority of residents plan is to clarify communication of these details from each of the five listed counties do not to residents. reside within the CRMS boundaries. Carson River Mercury Superfund Site 2 Carson River Mercury Superfund Site CRMS Stakeholders • Governor’s Office Churchill County • Homeowners associations • Churchill County Commissioners The Nevada Division of Environmental • School Districts Protection (NDEP) is EPA’s official State • Northern Nevada Chambers of Commerce Washoe County: counterpart agency. EPA provides NDEP with • University of Nevada Reno • Washoe County Commissioners a State Cooperative Agreement to assist with • Truckee Carson Irrigation District • Washoe Water Planning Commission the investigation activities. This is a fund-lead • Indian Health Service • Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California Superfund Site, meaning a potentially responsible • Ducks Unlimited • Washoe Water Planning Commission party has not been identified for the contamina- • Carson Water Subconservancy District • South Truckee Meadows/ Washoe Valley tion. Therefore, the two agencies share the • U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Community Advisory Board cost of implementing the remedy. NDEP has • Carson River Wranglers • Regional Transportation Commission contributed extensively to the Historic Site Assessment, conducted soil sampling work to Carson City: define the extent of contamination, participated • Carson City Board of Supervisors Tribal Stakeholders in numerous community involvement activities • Open Space Advisory Committee and reviewed EPA’s draft documents for technical • Trout Unlimited Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe: The Fallon and policy purposes. • Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Northern Paiute-Shoshone Tribe (FPST) of the Fallon Nevada Reservation and Colony is a Federally- Due to the large scope of the Site, it is necessary • United Latino Community recognized Indian tribe. There are two tribes for EPA to coordinate with several different that occupy the FPST Reservation, the Paiute groups on a local, state, and national level. These Storey County: and Shoshone Tribes. groups range from community organized to • Storey County Commissioners federally funded, all playing an important role in • Healthy Communities Coalition of Lyon and Also known as the Toi Ticutta (cattail eaters), the Carson River area. Below find a list of many, Storey Counties FPST is located in the Lahontan Basin near but not all, of the groups EPA and NDEP work • Community Chest the tribe’s sacred Fox Mountain. The FPST with in the CRMS. Reservation is located in Churchill County in Lyon County: West Central Nevada and has a population of Coordination with state and • Lyon County Commissioners approximately 1,300 people. local groups: • Lyon County Manager • Dayton Regional Advisory Council The name of the Tribal governing body is the Across CRMS: • Silver City Community Advisory Board Fallon Business Council (FBC). The Chief • U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) • Healthy Communities Coalition of Lyon and Executive of the FBC is the Chairman. The Tribal • U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Storey Counties Council is composed of 7 members including the • Nevada Department of Wildlife Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and 3 Council Members.1 1www.fpst.org Community Involvement Plan 3 Carson River Mercury Superfund Site concerned about the fish advisory, while other’s concerns focus on soil contamination or the impact contamination has on cultural heritage. This CIP summarizes the wide range of concerns and potential risk scenarios faced by communities across the CRMS. Their individual experiences combine to form this overarching narrative. Environment and Health Due to the health problems associated with mercury exposure, people have concerns regard- Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California: COMMUNITY CONCERNS ing the health and well-being of community This tribe consists of several communities south members. A fact sheet from the Agency for Toxic and east of Lake Tahoe united under a tribal EPA interviewed a wide sampling of residents Substance and Disease Registry provides answers council. The tribe owns over 64,300 acres in dif- and stakeholders of the CRMS. A central purpose to frequently asked questions about mercury ferent parcels. The tribe’s headquarters are located of these interviews was to hear the community’s and human health. The fact sheet reviews the in Gardnerville, Nevada and governed by a thoughts and concerns regarding the Site. While basics of mercury and human health, including democratically elected 12-member tribal council a wide range of concerns were expressed in the how mercury enters the environment, mercury’s and chairman. The council meets on a regular interviews, they can be generally divided into potential health effects and tips for reducing basis. The Washoe Tribe has harvested pine nuts three main categories: Environment and Health, exposure to mercury. Find the full document for thousands of years from the mountain ranges Economy and Agriculture, and Recreation and here: www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts46.pdf near CRMS. These pine nuts are harvested from Tradition. In response to these concerns, EPA pinyon pines and are popular in both Nevada and developed this Community Involvement Plan to Several people raised concerns for the health of California. The Washoe Tribe has jurisdictional better inform and disseminate information across their children. People would like