August 14, 2014

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CERCLA Activities in the Granite Creek Watershed

Past Mining Activity

Portions of the watershed were severely altered by lode and placer mining activities from the late 1800s 

up to 1950s. Mining effects on watershed function are variable, highly complex, and fully described 

elsewhere in numerous reports and scholarly articles. Since the 1970s restoration efforts were made to 

reclaim abandoned mines with known toxic discharge focused on diverting discharge into off-channel 

settling ponds and old dredge tailings. 

It is estimated that over 100 historic and/or abandon mines exist in the Granite Creek Watershed. Given 

this watershed’s historical and extensive mining activities, inventories were started to assess the status 

and condition of abandoned mines and to plan for reclamation actions (Table 1). Part of this process is

the use of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) 

which was passed in December of 1980 (amended in 1986). This law created a tax on the chemical and 

petroleum industries and provided broad Federal authority to respond directly to releases or threatened 

releases of hazardous substances that may endanger public health or the environment. This act provides 

the funding for clean-up and remediation of these sites. In order to provide consistency, the CERCLA act 

provided a standard frame work and recording process for the evaluation of areas in order to determine if 

there was a need for reclamation and what that reclamation would consist of. 

The following is a short summary of the definitions and acronyms associated with the evaluation process. 

o APA – Abbreviated Preliminary Assessment – An assessment, conducted by the Forest Service, 

of potential human and ecological risks based on a few surface samples, general site 

characterizations, and proximity to human and ecological receptors. These evaluations rely 

on published Oregon State surface water and industrial soil standards for contaminants, and 

evaluate the potential for these contaminants to be bio-available to humans and the 

environment. APAs may indicate the need to proceed to the next step in site evaluations 

under the CERCLA act. 

o SI – Site Investigation – This is a more detailed site evaluation, and involves a detailed sampling 

program to ascertain the contaminant of concern, the potential pathways, and the potential 

risks (human health and/or ecological). SI’s may indicate the need to proceed to the next 

step in site evaluations under CERCLA.

o EE/CA – Engineering Evaluation/Cost Assessment – This is the final evaluation in the 

CERCLA process. It incorporates the findings in the APAs and SIs, establishes pathways 

and risks (human and/or ecological), presents a proposal and alternatives to address these 

risks, and makes a recommendation to the Regional Forester on the “Preferred Alternative”. 

Removal actions require a request for State involvement, but actions proceed with or without 

the State opting to be involved. 
August 14, 2014

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Table 1: Forest Service identified existing and/or abandoned mines within the Granite Watershed 

and associated environmental hazards. Reports include engineering evaluation and cost analysis 

(EE/CA) and site investigation (SI). Reports are found in the project file.

SWS Mining Area Reports Potential Hazards Recommended Action Comments

Beaver Creek (170702020203)

Pyx SI Elevated metal concentrations in waste rock pile and 

tailings impoundment.

No proposal in 

EIS

Rabbit SI Elevated metal concentrations in waste rock pile and 

soil at mill. Completion of EE/CA recommended. 

No proposal in 

EIS

Clear Creek (170702020204)

Blackjack EE/CA Ongoing remediation at site. Long term monitoring 

and maintenance plan in place. Cascade Earth Systems 

completed a Mine Seep Discharge and Settling Pond 

Assessment on Blackjack mine located on Clear 

Creek. Assessment determined Clear Creek surface 

water conditions are influenced by upgradient 

abandoned mine sites. The pipe system and settling 

ponds at Black Jack are functioning appropriately. 

Metal concentrations at the confluence of Clear Creek 

were below federal and state standards.

No proposal in 

EIS. Site is 

withdrawn from 

mineral entry.

Blue Bird EE/CA Ongoing remediation at site. Long term monitoring 

and maintenance plan in place. The EE/CA completed 

by Cascade Earth Systems found that arsenic 

concentrations on lower Clear Creek are slightly 

above Oregon DEQ criteria for toxic pollutants. Other 

dissolved metal concentrations in surface water were 

below the minimum detection level (MDL) of 50μg/L. 

Sediment concentrations of arsenic are above the EPA 

Threshold Effect Levels. Sediment concentrations of 

copper, cadmium, manganese, nickel and zinc are also 

in excess of state and/or federal comparison criteria. 

The Clear Cr. WRAPs addresses essential project 

work for ongoing water quality monitoring.

No proposal in 

EIS. Site is 

withdrawn from 

mineral entry.

Upper Granite (170702020201)

Ajax & 

Magnolia

EE/CA Elevated metal concentrations in mine waste and soil. 

Provide on-site excavation / containment and treat adit

discharge. The 2004 Engineering Evaluation/Cost 

Analysis of Ajax and Magnolia Mines found that there 

were ecological accidences of arsenic, copper, 

cadmium, manganese, mercury, nickel, selenium, zinc, 

barium, iron in soil and water samples only in adit 

discharge and rock pilings. The report conclusions 

from field water quality parameters found that there 

was low elevated risk to ecological receptors exposed 

to surface water in Lucas Gulch. 

No proposal in 

EIS

Buffalo SI None expected based on current remediation at site. 

Long term monitoring and maintenance plan in place.

No proposal in 

EIS
August 14, 2014

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SWS Mining Area Reports Potential Hazards Recommended Action Comments

Cap Martin EE/CA Metal concentrations near cleanup level in mine 

waste; no metals leaching from tailings into creek. No 

further action needed.

No proposal in 

EIS

Central EE/CA Metal concentration near clean-up level in waste rock, 

tailings and soil. Provide on-site containment.

The lower central 

adit is adit A in the 

proposed Eddy 

Shipman Plan. 

The other adits in 

this plan are 

upstream of this 

Plan.

Golden 

Fraction

EE/CA Elevated metal concentration in waste rock. Provide 

on-site containment

No proposal in 

EIS

Granite Creek EE/CA Below cleanup level to elevated metal concentrations 

in waste rock pile and soil. Provide on-site 

containment.

No proposal in

EIS

Monumental EE/CA Elevated metal concentration in waste rock and 

tailings and at mill. Provide on-site containment, 

excavation / containment in onsite repository, and 

water treatment.

No proposal in 

EIS

New York 

Independence 

& East Eddy

SI Elevated metals in waste rock, tailings and soil. The East Eddy 

adits are part of 

the Eddy Shipman 

Plan. 

Sheridan EE/CA No elevated metals in waste rock. Remote site and 

limited access. No further action needed.

No proposal in 

EIS

Tillicum EE/CA Metal concentrations near cleanup level in waste rock. 

Remote site and limited access. No further action 

needed.

No proposal in 

EIS

For more information on these sites visit the Forest Service National web page at the following locations:

http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/umatilla/landmanagement/planning/?cid=stelprdb5208004 for the Umatilla 

NF and, 

http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/wallowa-whitman/landmanagement/projects/?cid=stelprdb5287229 for the 

Wallowa Whitman NF. 

NOTE: Not all sites listed on these web pages are within the Granite watershed, so please refer to the 

above list when reviewing the information. 

The Oregon State Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) maintains an Environmental Cleanup Site 

Information (ECSI) database (Table 2) to track sites in Oregon with known or potential contamination 

from hazardous substances, and to document sites where DEQ has determined that no further action is 

required. Complete information can be found at http://www.deq.state.or.us/lq/ecsi/ecsi.htm. 
August 14, 2014

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Table 2: Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) mine sites identified for 

investigation with associated environmental hazards.

SWS Mine Name State 

ID

Potential Hazards Recommended Action Comments

Beaver Creek (170702020203)

Pyx Mine

3421

The state expressed concern over metals contamination of 

soil, sediment and surface water. Site Investigation (SI) 

done 1996 and site placed on Confirmed release list in 

2004.

No proposal in 

EIS.

Rabbit Mine

3422

The state expressed concern over metals contamination of 

soil, sediment and surface water. Site Investigation (SI) 

done 1996 and site placed on Confirmed release list in 

2004.

No proposal in 

EIS

Clear Creek (170702020204)

Ben Harrison Mine 

& Mill 3382

The state has voiced concerns over elevated arsenic and 

other metals in the waste rock and wetland sediment. 

Site Investigation (SI) done and site placed on Confirmed 

Release List in 2005.

Private land

No proposal in 

EIS

Bi-Metallic Mine 3405 Suspect site requires further investigation.

Site Screening recommended. 

No proposal in 

EIS

Lower Clear Creek 

Mines

Mines contained in 

the report:

Scandia Tunnel

Alamo

Quebec

Strasburg

Tone Springs

Belcher

IXL

2147

The state has voiced concerns over the potential for 

heavy metals in the Clear creek area due to the past 

mining history. A preliminary assessment was done to 

provide a base line and develop background level for the 

subwatershed in 2005. The Oregon State DEQ has 

requested funding for Phase II. 

No proposal in 

EIS.

Pride of Oregon 

Mine 3420

The state expressed concern over metals contamination of 

soil, sediment and surface water. Site Investigation (SI) 

done 1996 and site placed on Confirmed release list in 

2004.

No proposal in 

EIS
August 14, 2014

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SWS Mine Name State 

ID

Potential Hazards Recommended Action Comments

Red Boy Mine

2467

The state expressed concern over the amount and 

placement of the mine tailings along Congo Gulch. In 

2013 the piping system to move the water from the adit to 

the settling ponds was upgraded and replaced.

The EE/CA completed by Cascade Earth Systems found 

that arsenic concentrations on lower Clear Creek are 

slightly above Oregon DEQ criteria for toxic pollutants. 

Other dissolved metal concentrations in surface water 

were below the minimum detection level (MDL) of 

50μg/L. Sediment concentrations of arsenic are above 

the EPA Threshold Effect Levels. Sediment 

concentrations of copper, cadmium, manganese, nickel 

and zinc are also in excess of state and/or federal 

comparison criteria. The Clear Cr. WRAPs addresses 

essential project work for ongoing water quality 

monitoring.

Additional evaluations are needed and the site was placed 

on Confirmed release list in 2003.

Private land

No proposal in 

EIS

Lower Granite (170702020206)

Middle Reach of 

East 10 Cent Creek 2149

The EPA did a Site evaluation in 1997 and no further 

remedial action is planned under a federal program. The 

state lists it as a suspected site needing further 

investigation.

Same area as 

East 10 Cent 

proposal

Upper Granite (170702020201)

Buffalo

3417

The state has voiced concerns over water quality from 

existing portals and tailings impoundments. Possible soil 

contamination at or below current tailings impoundments.

Site Evaluation done.

Private land

No proposal in 

EIS

Cougar Mine

808

The state has voiced concerns over water quality from 

existing portals and tailings impoundments. Possible soil 

contamination at or below current tailings impoundments.

Priavte land

No proposal in 

EIS

Independence Mine

2581

The state has voiced concerns over water quality from 

existing portals and tailings impoundments. Possible soil 

contamination at or below current tailings impoundments.

Site Evaluation was done 1996 and the site was placed on 

the confirmed release list in 2004.

No proposal in 

EIS
August 14, 2014

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SWS Mine Name State 

ID

Potential Hazards Recommended Action Comments

Upper Granite 

Creek

Mines contained in 

the report:

Central

Tillicum

Sheridan

Monumental

Worchester

Cap Martin

Golden Fraction

Unknown adits

2150

EPA screening and a site evaluation were done in 1997.

In 2011 a contractor conducted an EE/CA for the Forest 

Service on the mines in this site, Table 1.

Worchester is 

on private 

land.

New York Mine

3418

The state expressed concern over metals contamination of 

soil, sediment and surface water. Site Investigation (SI) 

done 1996 and site placed on Confirmed release list in 

2004.

No proposal in 

EIS

Magnolia Mine

3439

The state expressed concern over metals contamination of 

soil, sediment and surface water. Site Investigation (SI) 

done 1996 and site placed on Confirmed release list in 

2004.

No proposal in 

EIS

Source: Oregon DEQ ECSI data base June 03 2013 [http://www.deq.state.or.us/lq/ecsi/ecsi.htm