Site Report: USFS Rush and Brown Mine
| Site Name: | USFS Rush and Brown Mine |
|---|---|
| Address: | 5 Miles SW of Thorne Bay; Prince of Wales Island, Thorne Bay, AK 99919 |
| File Number: | 1528.38.018 |
| Hazard ID: | 26260 |
| Status: | Active |
| Staff: | Brittani Mack, 9072628205 brittani.mack@alaska.gov |
| Latitude: | 55.625976 |
| Longitude: | -132.588170 |
| Horizontal Datum: | WGS84 |
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We make every effort to ensure the data presented here is accurate based on the best available information currently on file with DEC. It is therefore subject to change as new information becomes available. We recommend contacting the assigned project staff prior to making decisions based on this information.
Problems/Comments
The Rush and Brown Mine operated as a copper mine from 1906 - 1923. Ore was removed from an underground mine and transported to a dock at Kasaan Bay for shipping or to the Salt Chuck Mine for milling. A deep glory hole is still present and poses a safety hazard. Large tailings piles exist. Tailings and water samples were collected by Bureau of Mines in the late 1990s and by DEC in 2013. Copper and arsenic were confirmed above ADEC cleanup levels.
Action Information
| Action Date | Action | Description | DEC Staff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7/17/2014 | Potentially Responsible Party/State Interest Letter | PRP/State Interest Letter sent to US Forest Service. | Anne Marie Palmieri |
| 7/23/2014 | Site Added to Database | A new site has been added to the database | Mitzi Read |
| 7/23/2014 | Exposure Tracking Model Ranking | Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 79650 name: USFS Rush and Brown Mine | Mitzi Read |
| 9/2/2016 | Update or Other Action | On this date, DEC sent a letter to the USFS requesting action on a number of sites. For this site, DEC stated: The USFS, DEC, and Organized Village of Kasaan (OVK) conducted a joint site inspection at the site in August 2013. Analytical samples collected by DEC showed elevated concentrations of metals in soil and freshwater sediment. In the report documenting those findings, DEC stated that ‘future work should first include discussions between the DEC and USFS on this site’s priority and searching for a Potential Responsible Party (PRP)”. To date, the USFS has not responded to this recommendation by DEC. DEC hereby requests that by October 10, 2016 the USFS provide a timeline by which they will conduct a PRP search and milestones for additional characterization and cleanup. | Anne Marie Palmieri |
| 10/11/2017 | Meeting or Teleconference Held | DEC, EPA, and USFS met to discuss roles and responsibilities for each agency. Specific actions regarding this site were not discussed at this meeting. | Anne Marie Palmieri |
| 2/14/2018 | Meeting or Teleconference Held | DEC, EPA, and USFS met to discuss roles and responsibilities for each agency. Specific actions regarding this site were not discussed at this meeting. | Anne Marie Palmieri |
| 5/8/2019 | Meeting or Teleconference Held | DEC and the USFS met on this date to discuss many sites and how to move the sites forward in the cleanup process. A next meeting was scheduled for August. | Anne Marie Palmieri |
| 8/12/2019 | Meeting or Teleconference Held | CS Staff met with the USFS to discuss site issues on this date. | Anne Marie Palmieri |
| 10/8/2019 | Meeting or Teleconference Held | CS Staff met with the USFS to discuss general coordination issues on this date. | Anne Marie Palmieri |
| 2/12/2020 | Meeting or Teleconference Held | CS Staff met with the USFS to discuss general coordination and site issues on this date. | Anne Marie Palmieri |
Contaminant Information
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Requirements
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There are no documents for this site report.
No associated sites were found.