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Site Report: USFS Mahoney Zinc Mine

Site Name: USFS Mahoney Zinc Mine
Address: 9 Miles NE of Ketchikan, Revillagigedo Island, Ketchikan, AK 99901
File Number: 1516.38.019
Hazard ID: 3730
Status: Active
Staff: Brittani Mack, 9072628205 brittani.mack@alaska.gov
Latitude: 55.428056
Longitude: -131.510833
Horizontal Datum:

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

Former mining operation produced an estimated 600+ cubic yards of contaminated soils and sediments in 3 contiguous zones from the mill site to the intertidal zone. Highly elevated concentrations of lead, zinc and cadmium detected. TCLP analysis of soils found lead at three times its toxicity characteristic limit, however, in analysis of various surface water bodies and seeps, no elevated levels of metals was found. Abandoned equipment and contemporary waste piles are scattered throughout adjacent wooded areas. EPA ID AKN001002544; EPA site name USDA FS Tongass NF: Mahoney Mine.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
7/25/2001 Site Added to Database Highly elevated concentrations of lead, zinc and cadmium detected. Bruce Wanstall
7/25/2001 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Preliminary ranking. Bruce Wanstall
6/27/2002 Cleanup Level(s) Approved Cleanup levels approved with comments on EE/CA. Anne Marie Palmieri
6/27/2002 Site Characterization Report Approved Comments on EE/CA provided this date. Anne Marie Palmieri
1/14/2003 Update or Other Action EE/CA approved this date. Anne Marie Palmieri
4/4/2003 Update or Other Action DEC concurs on ARARs for the removal Anne Marie Palmieri
7/7/2003 Cleanup Plan Approved Cleanup plan approved this date. Anne Marie Palmieri
7/28/2003 Update or Other Action Final workplan submitted. Anne Marie Palmieri
8/4/2003 Update or Other Action Fieldwork begins. Anne Marie Palmieri
4/26/2004 Interim Removal Action Approved Final report approved. Due to a miscalculation in the volume of tailings on-site, not all of the contamination was removed. A subsequent removal will occur in the future. Anne Marie Palmieri
12/20/2004 Update or Other Action Site listed on EPA Haz Waste Compliance Docket this date, Bill Janes
4/30/2007 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Intitial Ranking Complete for Source Area: 74705 (Autogenerated Action)
5/1/2007 Update or Other Action DEC reviews draft EE/CA and proposed cleanup levels. Requests that the USFS use the previously-approved cleanup levels from 2003 rather than the less stringent ones proposed here. Anne Marie Palmieri
9/2/2007 Update or Other Action DEC provides comments on workplan. Anne Marie Palmieri
7/8/2008 Update or Other Action USFS issues Removal Action Memo. Anne Marie Palmieri
7/10/2008 Cleanup Plan Approved A second cleanup plan was approved this date. Fieldwork to remove ~600 cy of tailings contaminated with lead, mercury, zinc, and cadmium is scheduled to begin on July 13th. Tailings will be sent off-site for disposal. Anne Marie Palmieri
12/16/2009 Interim Removal Action Approved The Interim Removal Action Report was approved this date. A total of ~1010 cubic yards of contaminated soil and sediment was removed from the site and sent to an approved disposal facility -- 980 cy metals and 30 cy petroleum. Confirmation sampling results showed that there are still elevated concentrations of lead, cadmium and zinc in the soil (uplands) and sediments (inter-tidal area) and lead, copper, and zinc in the surface water stream which flows into Mahoney Lake Creek and George Inlet. Additional characterization and/or cleanup is needed. The USFS plans to do a risk assessment in 2010. Anne Marie Palmieri
6/9/2011 Site Visit A site visit was conducted with the USFS and representatives of consulting firms who may bid on the contract to conduct a risk assessment at the site. CS risk assessor Marty Brewer also went on the site visit. Anne Marie Palmieri
8/10/2011 Meeting or Teleconference Held Scoping meeting held for risk assessment with USFS, URS, and DEC. Anne Marie Palmieri
11/25/2013 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Staff reviewed the draft risk assessment and sent comments to the USFS. Anne Marie Palmieri
10/13/2014 Document, Report, or Work plan Review - other Staff reviewed the revised draft risk assessment and provided a few minor comments to the USFS. Anne Marie Palmieri
1/23/2015 Risk Assessment Report Approved The risk assessment report was approved this date. Unacceptable risk was found to be present across some exposure pathways for the future resident, future mine worker, and current and future recreationalist scenarios as well as for some ecological receptors. Anne Marie Palmieri
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 conducted removals of tailings at this site in 2003 and 2008, however additional elevated concentrations of metals in the soil, sediment, and surface water remained. A risk assessment report was conducted and approved by DEC in January 2015. Unacceptable risk levels were found to be present for the future resident, future mine worker, and current and future recreationalist scenarios as well as some ecological receptors. In a letter dated January 28, 2015, DEC requested that the USFS use the risk assessment to determine appropriate cleanup levels and identify remaining contamination which would need to be addressed. No acknowledgement of that letter or response has been received to date. DEC hereby requests that by October 10, 2016 the USFS provide a timeline by which they will conduct these additional activities. 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

Name Level Description Media Comments

Control Type

Type Details

Requirements

Description Details

No associated sites were found.

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State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation

P.O. Box 111800
Juneau, AK 99811-1800
Phone: 907-465-5066
Fax: 907-465-5245
TDD: 800-770-8973
Physical Location: 410 Willoughby