Edmund G. Brown Jr. 

Governor 

Matthew Rodriquez 

Secretary for Environmental Protection 

Sent Via Electronic Mail and U.S. Mail 

February 11 , 2016 

Mr. Jared Blumenfeld 

Regional Administrator 

United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9 

75 Hawthorne Street 

San Francisco, California 94105-3901 

Blumenfeld.jared@Epa.gov 

Dear Mr. Blumenfeld: 

Governor Brown's Office asked me to respond to your letter of November 2, 2015, concerning 

the State of California's position on the proposed listing of the Argonaut Mine on the Superfund 

National Priorities List (NPL). Protecting public health and environmental quality from 

dangerous contamination is a State priority and we agree with the U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) that the environmental and human health threats at this mine site 

must be remediated. As described in this reply letter, the State concurs with U.S. EPA's 

proposal to list the site on the NPL. 

We would appreciate it if U.S. EPA would work cooperatively with the State to identify and 

select a remedy for the site that would minimize long-term operations and maintenance costs. 

The potential funding demands for operations and maintenance at this site, in addition to other 

NPL and orphan sites in the State, is a significant concern because cumulatively they will 

exceed state resources. We are working to develop reliable, continuous funding sources to 

cover such costs; however, until a solution is developed we will be looking for ways to maximize 

the use of our available funds, including considering potential adjustments to some of our 

existing operations and maintenance activities. Reducing the potential operations and 

maintenance costs at this site would also be of assistance. 

Finally, U.S. EPA has requested, and the State is providing, assistance at Argonaut Mine to 

design and construct a repair of the concrete dam that retains the mine tailings on-site. The 

State has currently funded an interim remedy for storm water management and design of the 

repair of the dam. We are making every effort to ensure that this work is in compliance with the 

National Contingency Plan and we request that U.S. EPA provide credit for our expenses 

toward future state-match obligations. We understand that before U.S. EPA can make a 

decision on whether to grant this credit, the State will be required to provide supporting 

documentation. 

Air Resotu·ces Board • Departm ent of Pesticide Regulation • Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery • Department of Toxic Substances Control 


Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment • State Water Resources Control Board • Regional Water Quality Control Boards 


1001 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 • P.O. Box 2815, Sacramento, CA 95812 • (916) 323-2514 • www.calepa.ca.gov 

Mr. Jared Blumenfeld 

Page 2 

We look forward to working with the U.S. EPA on these important issues, as both of our 

agencies move forward to safeguard public health and the environment at this and other NPL 

sites. 

Sincerely, 

Matthew Rodriquez 

Secretary for Environmental Protection 

cc: 	 Mr. Cliff Rechtschaffen 

Senior Advisor 

Office of Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. 

Ms. Barbara Lee, Director 

Department of Toxic Substances Control 

Mr. Thomas Howard 

Executive Director 

State Water Resources Control Board 

Ms. Pamela Creedon 

Executive Officer 

Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board 

Mr. Mike Daley 


City Manager 


City of Jackson 


Mr. Adam Dalton, Chairperson 

Jackson Racheria Band of Miwuk Indians