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State of Colorado Record of Decision for The p 1182806-R8 SDMS 0 STATE OF COLORADO D Record of Decision ^ for the Idarado Mining and Milling Complex D March 17, 1987 n SUPERFUKJ J fl.!nCOPD CaitS RECORD OF DECISION REMEDIAL ALTERNATIVE SELECTION SITE: Idarado Mine facility; San Miguel, Ouray and San Juan Counties, Colorado. DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED: I have considered all significant matters raised in the documents listed in the index to the Public Record in making my decision of the most cost-effective remedial alternatives for the Idarado Mine facility in San Miguel, Ouray and San Juan Counties, Colorado. In addition, I have considered relevant and appropriate portions of depositions taken and documents produced in the case of State of Colorado v. Idarado Mining Co., et al. v. Baumgartner Oil Co., et al.. Civil Action 83-C-2385. I have discussed the foregoing documents with the technical staffs of: the Department of Health, Department of Natural Resources, and the State's consultants, and have considered their recommendations. DESCRIPTION OF SELECTED REMEDY; Remedial Actions Telluride Valley TAILINGS. Tailings and waste materials will be con­ solidated onto tailings piles #5 and 6 and tailings will be consolidated into a disposal area near Society Turn. Runon diversion structures, flood control features and erosion resistant multilayer caps will be constructed on tailings piles #5 and 6 and at the Soc­ iety Tum disposal area. WASTE PILES. Runon will be diverted around the meldrum and mill level waste piles. SOILS. Soils in the Town of Telluride and adjacent areas with lead levels in excess of 500 ppm will be removed, covered, mixed, sodded or treated in coop­ eration with the Town of Telluride. Public health monitoring programs will be conducted in the Town of Telluride. D MILL SITE WASTE. Confirmation studies will be conducted to determine that polychlorinated biphynels (PCB's) and other organic wastes have been cleaned up according to RCRA and TSCA regulatrons. Mill site soils with lead levels in excess of 1000 ppm will be removed, treated, or covered. MINE PORTAL DISCHARGES. A passive geochemical water treatment system will be constructed to treat up to 8900 gallons per minute of mine drainage from the meldrinn and mill level tunnels. An active treatment system or an equally effective system will be implemented if the D passive system is ineffective in achieving cleanup stand- [—I ards for the San Miguel River. Mine water above the 1200 M mine level will be diverted to the Treasury Tunnel in the Red Mountain Creek Valley. SAN MIGUEL RIVER. Habitat enhancement measures will be -1 undertaken along the San Miguel River in the Telluride valley. Restocking of fish in San Miguel River will be C undertaken. [—] High Country TAILINGS AND WASTE PILES. Surface runon will be diverted „ around waste piles and waste material will be removed from stream courses or stream courses will be rechanneled. MINE PORTALS. Selected portals will be plugged. J MINE INFLOW CONTROL. Water will be diverted away from collapse features and other areas that allow inflow to [—] the mine. L.. ^ Red Mountain Valley -^ TAILINGS PILES. Tailings will be consolidated into one site (Tailings pile #A) in the Red Mountain Creek Valley. n Runon Diversion structures, flood control features and U erosion resistant multilayer caps will be constructed on tailings pile #4 n [j WASTE PILES. Surface runon will be diverted around waste piles. Waste material will be removed from stream courses n or stream course will be rechanneled. MILL SITE WASTE. Confirmation studies will be conducted to determine that PCB's and other organic wastes have C been cleaned up according to RCRA and TSCA regulations. U Mill site soils with lead levels in excess of 1000 ppm will be removed, covered or treated. -2- MINE PORTAL DISCHARGES. Mine water above the 1200 level will be discharged to Red Mountain Creek to partially neutralize the pH of the creek. Lime­ stone will be added to Red Mountain Creek to neutra­ lize the pH. A reservoir will be constructed to accumulate metals precipitated by adding the Treasury Tunnel water and limestone to Red Mountain Creek. D Monitoring and Oversight The surface water, groundwater, soils and aquatic life at the site will be monitored on a regular basis. The State shall designate a site coordinator to oversee all actions required by the record of decision. • DECLARATIONS: Consistent with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (CERCLA) and the National Contingency Plan (40 C.F.R. Part 300), I have determined that the remedy selected (as described above and as detailed in the remedial action plan, section 3.0), is a cost-effective remedy that effectively mitigates and minimizes D threats to and provides adequate protection of public health and welfare and the environment, and I have preferred remedial actions in which treatment permanently and significantly reduces Q the volume, toxicity or mobility of the hazardous substances, pollutants, and contaminants over remedial actions not involving such treatment. Date /A<y^^ ic Thomas P. Looby Assistant Directo-tciT r y Office of Health Protection Colorado Department of Health Q n U n TABLE OF CONTENTS u n 1.0 SITE DESCRIPTION Paqe ~] 1.1 Site Background Information 1 J 1.2 History 2 1.3 Physiography and hydrogeology 5 r-i 1.4 Nature and Extent of Problem 6 2.0 REMEDIAL INVESTIGATION/FEASIBILITY STUDY PROCESS 12 3.0 REMEDIAL ACTION PLAN - IDARADO MINING AND MILLING 18 D COMPLEX n 3.1 Purpose and Scope 18 LI 3.2 Site Description 20 3.3 Telluride Valley Remedial Activities 21 J 3.3.1 Tailings Piles 21 3.3.1.1 Remedial Activities 21 r 3.3.1.2 Design Investigations 23 U 3.3.1.3 Remedial Design Criteria 24 n 3.3.2 Waste Piles 26 3.3.2.1 Remedial Activities 26 r-j 3.3.2.2 Design Investigations 27 3.3.2.3 Remedial Design Criteria 27 3.3.3 Soils 27 U 3.3.3.1 Remedial Activities 27 3.3.3.2 Design Investigations 29 C 3.3.3.3 Remedial Design Criteria 30 LJ 3.3.4 Telluride Valley Millsite Waste 31 3.3.4.1 Remedial Activities 31 3.3.4.2 Design Investigations 31 3.3.4.3 Remedial Design Criteria 32 3.3.5 Mine Portals 32 3.3.5.1 Remedial Activities 32 3.3.5.2 Design Investigations 34 3.3.5.3 Remedial Design Criteria 35 U n 3.3.6 San Miguel River Aquatic Life and Hydrologic System 35 3.3.6.1 Remedial Activities 35 3.3.6.2 Design Investigations 36 3.3.6.3 Remedial Design Criteria 37 3.4 High Country Remedial Activities 37 3.4.1 Tailings and Waste Piles 37 0 3.4.1.1 Remedial Activities 37 3.4.1.2 Design Investigations 38 3.4.1.3 Remedial Design Criteria 39 U 3.4.2 Mine Portals 40 "1 3.4.2.1 Remedial Activities 40 J 3.4.2.2 Design Investigations 40 3.4.2.3 Remedial Design Criteria 41 y 3.4.3 Mine Inflow Control 41 3.4.3.1 Remedial Activities 41 3.4.3.2 Design Investigations 42 U 3.4.3.3 Remedial Design Criteria 42 n 3.5 Red Mountain Remedial Activities 43 3.5.1 Tailings Piles 43 3.5.1.1 Remedial Activities 43 3.5.1.2 Design Investigations 44 3.5.1.3 Remedial Design Criteria 45 -J 3.5.2 Waste Piles 47 n 3.5.2.1 Remedial Activities 47 U 3.5.2.2 Design Investigations 47 3.5.2.2 Remedial Design Criteria 48 n Ij 3.5.3 3.5.3.Red Mountai1 Remedian Creel kActivitie Millsites Wastes 48 n 3.5.3.2 Design Investigations 48 U 3.5.3.3 Remedial Design Criteria 49 3.5.4 Mine Portals 50 -2- 3.5.4.1 Remedial Activities 50 3.5.4.2 Design Investigations 51 3.5.4.3 Remedial Design Criteria 51 3,5.5 Red Mountain Creek and the Uncompahgre River Aquatic Life and Hydrologic Systems 53 3.5.5.1 Remedial Activities 53 3.6 Remedial Action Schedule and Milestones 53 3.7 Performance Plan 54 D 3.7.1 Introduction 54 3.7.2 Scope of the Performance Plan 55 3.7.3 Contents of Performance Plan 55 3.7.3.1 Organizational Structure 56 3.7.3.2 Surveys, Inspection, Sampling and Testing 57 3.7.3.3 Changes and Corrective Actions 58 3.7.3.4 Documentation Requirements 58 3.7.4 Compliance Monitoring Activities 59 3.7.4.1 Surface Water Monitoring 59 D 3.7.4.2 Ground Water Monitoring 61 3.7.4.3 Aquatic Life Monitoring 65 3.7.4.4 Air Quality 66 3.7.4.5 Soil Testing Program 67 3.7.4.6 Revegetation 68 3.7.4.7 Construction Monitoring 68 3.7.4.8 Water Rights 69 3.8 Compliance Framework 69 U 3.9 Public Health Assessment Program 71 n u 3.9.1 Health Effects 71 4.0 IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE AND COMPLIANCE STANDARDS 72 4.1 Implementation Milestones 72 4.2 Compliance Standards 73 -3- 4.2.1 Soils 78 4.2.1.1 Populated Soils 78 4.2.1.2 Unpopulated Soils 79 4.2.1.3 Soils cleanup methodology 79 4.2.2 Surface Water 80 4.2.2.1 San Miguel River 80 4.2.2.2 Uncompahgre River and Red Mountain Creek 83 4.2.2.3 Point Source Discharges 85 D 4.2.2.4 Antidegredation and basic standards 86 4.2.3 Ground Water 88 4.2.4 Vegetation 90 5.0 SELECTION RATIONALE 92 u 5.1 Tailings 94 5.1.1 Selected Option 94 5.1.2 Rejected Options 94 n 5.1.3 Selection Rationale 95 u 5.2 Waste Rock 99 5.2.1 Selected Option 99 5.2.2 Rejected Options 99 5.2.3 Selection Rationale 99 5.3 Mine Water Drainage 101 5.3.1 Selected Option 101 D 5.3.2 Rejected Options 101 5.3.3 Selection Rationale 102 5.4 Hydrologic Systems 103 5.4.1 Selected Option 103 -4- 5.4.2 Rejected Options 103 5.4.3 Selection Rationale 104 5.5 Soils 105 5.5.1 Selected Option 105 5.5.2 Rejected Options 106 5.5.3 Selection Rationale 106 5.6 Millsite Cleanup 107 5.6.1 Selected Option 107 5.6.2 Rejected Options 108 5.6.3 Selection Rationale 108 5.7 Telluride Valley 108 5.8 High Country 109 5.9 Red Mountain Creek and Uncompahgre Valleys 109 5.10 Effectiveness of the Red Mountain District Remedial Actions 109 5.11 Effectiveness of the Telluride 0 District Remedial Actions 113 n 6.0 COMMUNITY RELATIONS ACTIVITIES 121 6.1 The Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study Process 121 6.1.1 General (Entire Site) 124 U 6.1.2 Telluride District 1476 6.1.3 Red Mountain District 153 6.2 The Record of Decision Process 158 n RECORD OF DECISION APPENDIX A AG Alpha No.
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