Public Notice: EPA Begins Five-Year Review of Summitville Mine Superfund Site in Rio Grande County, Colorado
Summary
The EPA, in cooperation with the state of Colorado, is conducting the sixth five-year review of the Summitville Mine Superfund site in Rio Grande County, Colorado. The purpose of the five-year review is to make sure that the selected cleanup actions are effectively protecting human health and the environment.
The 1,400-acre Summitville Mine site is a former gold mine. Mining processes, waste disposal practices, and the discharge of large amounts of copper and other metals to Wightman Fork and the Alamosa River contaminated soil, surface water and groundwater with heavy metals.
Site Work Completed:
- Cyanide formerly contained within the heap leach pad has been treated and detoxified.
- Mine waste piles have been contoured, capped and revegetated.
- Mine adits and entrances to underground have been plugged and sealed.
- Mining impacted water is captured in the Summitville Dam Impoundment and cleaned in the water treatment plant prior to leaving the site.
Construction activities are complete, and the site is now in the operation and maintenance phase.
We want to hear from you! Community members are encouraged to share information that may be helpful in the five-year review process. Community members who have questions or who would like to be interviewed are asked to contact EPA by December 31, 2024.