·.:.# 

# GreaterYellowstone Coalition

162**~orth** Woodruff. Idaho Falls, IJdho S140I • (20S) 522·7927 • idaho@grcatcrydlowstone_,Jrs,**19~3** - 2008**(~~'/.·/lIrftH{** ..:,- )1.:,,-,



### ..**-~-** Novt:mher 

### J, 2009 

### Lisa Jackson. Administrator Environmental Protection Agency 

### Ariel Rios Ouilding 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, "l.W. Washington. DC 20460


### RE: Petition to

### add Phosphate Mines to the list 

### offacilities 

### subjecttothe

### Toxic Release Inventory program ofthe Emergency Planningand Community Right to Know Act
Dear AdministratorJackson:
Under 

### § 553(e) ofthe Administrative Procedure Act. the**Gr\!!at~r** YcllmvswneCoalition ("'Oye") requests that the Environmental Protection Agency promulgate a rule adding phosphate mines to the list ofhii.:ilities subject to the Toxic Release Inventory program. 

# aye is a 501 (c)(3) 

### non-protit organization**dedical~d** 

### to protecting 

### the wildlands, wildlife. 

### and other 

### outstanding natural resources ofthe Greater Yello\o,slune Ecosystem. This ecosystemencompasses eighteen million acrcs,.induding Yellowstone and (irand Teton National Parks, six national forests, three 

### national \vildlife refuges. and approximately three 

### milJion am:s ofprivate lands GYC has offices in Idaho, Wyoming. and Montana and more than 20.000 mt:mbers and supporteri> natiomvidc.
On January 27,2006. GYC submitted a similar petition to the EPA, requesting the inclusion of phosphate mining in the TRI program. EPA respuIH.led in a letter dated February 24. 2006. stating that the agency would, "subjectto available resources," review the petition and assess whether to include**pho~phate** mining in the TRI program. Three years have passed since this correspondence 

### with no further word from the EPA. 

### In the meantime, phosphate mining (;ontinues outside the purview uf

### lIle TRl program and the selenium contaminationproblem

### ill southeast Idaho worsens. Phosphate mining has been responsible for the release oflarge 

### quanliticl:i ofselenium (Se) in Idaho annually. These releases 

### ifSe have had a deleterious effect on the environlllent rt!sulling in selenosis deaths oflivestock and high hioaccumulatioIlS in 

### 1ish and other '.vildlife, prompting the Idaho Department ofHealth and 

### Wdlare to issue a fish consumption advisory and conduct several health consults based on selenium releases to the ellvironml!nL**Bo;t~n1.lr1** (Jfficl1" !'.l_'l_**B~A** rHo l • L-kl':l11.l'i \t'}lHana**~{)?71** • ,,40{/,**c,{~{)~l )~}**  ..**Ll~** ,-H)(1.} -;Ji -,-'\;.;)<) CoJv Of/l(e' 128; Shw,illl

# "or. S,.·. n;.CAl); \i\\<>""ngl$24H. J!J7) 527,6133.**tJ:x,.'(17\32~·61';v J~,kMm**  OllIe", • RO :.h" Ji:l';7

..i>,h;'''l. WV»!1llllg t il)l}! i ,,17) Ti·HiOil4 • fu ,)(J7' "J4·('()['1• < 

## I

-­ .1



### While 

### the issue

# orselenium contamination has been ongoing locally for overdecades. 

### many people 

### who live. 

### work, and recreate in the region 

### remain unaware of

### the danger those releases posc. Therefore the inclusion ofpho<;phatc mining in SIC code 1475 is needed and fulfills the intent of

### EPCRA in Toxic Release Reporting.


### The Greater Yellowstone Coalition is confident thatatteryour re\cicw you too will agree that Phosphate ROl:k Mining 

### operations should be required to repan releases ofseknium 

### to the 

### environment. Gye 

### requests that the EPA considerthe attached petition in a timely manner. 

### Sitlcerely,

# ~f IdahoDirector /-)**"I,~",~/ ,~**  ___ !.'**~-** r--_.1**~~ ~-'~-.:..---**  ,- 

# ­ Katie Strong Idaho Conservation and Legal Associatee

Petition to add Phosphate RockMining to the list uffacilities required to reportreleases of 

### chemicals under StandardIndustrial Classification Code 

### 1475, orNorth American 

### lmlustrial Classification 

### System 212392
Submitted 

### by 

### the GreaterYellowstone Coalition
I. Introduction Phosphate mining causesthe rdease oflarge quantities of

### seleniwl1 illldahu

### annually. These releases calise substantial environmental harm. Tn 1:1('t, the selenium concentrations found in the native rock in this region exceed the threshold to be considered a hazardous waste by asmuch a<; 

### 12 times. l 

### These high concentrations ofseleniwn 

### are rdeased

### by phosphate mining, which "remows phosphate-rich beds and exposes carbon-rich waste rock to subaerial 

### weathering.,,2 When the selenium I.:ontained in the native rock is exposed to the atmosphere and surface and groundwater. 

### it changes from u 

### rdatively insoluble form tothe soluble form of

### selenite or selenate. 3 Surface 

### and groundwater 

### readily transport these forms ofseleniumto surrounding streams. contaminating the stream and surrounding environment with toxic concentrations of selenium.4 

### \Vhik phosphate mining-and the 

### attendant selenium contamination ofgrouml and surface water-has occurred from more 

### lhan 30 phosphate mines 

### in southeast Idaho for decades. many**p~oplc** who live, work.. and recreate in the region remain 

### unaware ofthe danger these releases pose. Inclusion ofphosphate mining in the TRl program would help alleviate the current lack of 

### information on 

### selenium contamination in southeast Idaho and assist federal and state agencies in making de..:isions regarding regulations and the permitted scope ofphosphate mining on federal**lands.~** Congress enacted the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act ("EPCRA")to 

### ensure the public is infonned about hazardous 

### chcmi.:als that may affect

### then in their environment and to 

### allow the public to make more informed**d~cisions.6** 

### EPCRA'sreporting requirements encourage polluting industries to become better neighbors thruugh 

### chemical use reductions and mitigation measures. The Administrator may**su~ject** a new industry group to the TRl reportll1g requirements

### if"such action is warranted 00 the basis oftoxicity oftbe toxic

I Presser. T.S

.. Piper. D.Z

.. Bird. K.1., Skmupa. 5.1. Hamilton, S.J., Deh'Viler. SJ

.. Huebner. M.A. The Phosphoria Formation: A Model for Forcnsting Glohal Selenium Sources to the EnvilOlIIllt:Ut., Life (veil' oflhePhosplwrta Formatio/1. From Deposlfll)//to the Pm1-Minblg Em·/rilmnelll. Pg. 308. Edited by James R. Ilein. 2004. 2 [d

.. cHing U.S. Department ofInterior and U.S. Dcp;utment ofAgricullure, 1977. Final t!nvironmental impact statement: development ofphosphate resources in southeastem Idaho, Vol. I. U.S. Govemment Printing Office. Washington, D,C, 429 

### flr lId at 309.**~** (d.**~** S<!l! 42 USc. § lI023(h) (purpMC ofthe TIU is '"to inform persons about releasI!8 oftoxic chemicalsto the environment: to assist governmental agencies, researchers, and othl!r p\:fwns in the conduct ofresearch and data gathering: to aid in the development ofapproprifltc regulations. guidelines, and**~taJl{.Jan.b;** and tbr other similar purpo!>cs."); see also 40 C.F.R. § 372.1 {"TIle information collected is intended to inform the general public and the communities surrounding covered facilitic'i about releases oftoxic chemic;ats. to**l\s~ist** res1;!afch, toaid in the development ofregulations, guidelines, and standards, and for other purposes."). 6!d

### chemicaL proximity to other**t~lcilitics** 

### that release toxic chemicals or 10 

### population cenkr:i. the history ofreleases ofsuch chemical at sllch facility, orother such lactors as '" appropriate,"? Including the phosphate milling

### industry in the TRl 

### program is 

### 'warranted because of(1 ) the 

### toxicity ofselenium; (2) the close proximilY ofphosphate mines to one another in southeast**ldaho~**

# en a 

### well-established history ofreleases: the value ofthe information to the pUblic; and (4) lIle 

### growing threatposed by 

### continuing and accelemting levels ofselenium contamination. 

### II. Toxicity ofSelenium Selenium is an essential micronutrient but becomes toxic with elevaled exposure. For examph:. biochemical pathways are unable to distinguish selenium from**~ulfur.** 

### This has the effect of creating wngenital defects, 

### noted in the embryos oftlshsanu waterfowl eggs 

### in the area of phosphate mines that exhibit seienlml1 concentrations eight times the allowable amount for viabilit.y.g As bas bt:cn well documented, selenium bioaccumulates l!1 

### the fuod 

### chain, leading 

### to reproductive impairment in tlsh and aquatic birds.1O Lemly notes ••...a transition irem no effect to complete reproductive failure can occur over a range ofonly a few _gil. (parts per billiun) waterhorne selenium (Fjgure 1). Thus. even slighl 

### increases can light the bioaccumulation fuse orthe :;elenium time bomb and push 

### it over the toxic threshold."l1 Selenium contamination affects both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. 

### A. Aquatic Ecosystems 

### Sampling ofwater, macrophytes, macroinvertebrates. and 115h over the past twelve years indicatt!S widespread and severe selenium contamination throughout aquatic ecosystems ofthe phosphate-mining region ofsoutheast 

### Idaho. The large umount ofselenium released into the environment by phosphate mining operations poses signiticant risks to the I3lackfoot River in Idaho and the upper Salt River in Wyoming. Between 1997 and 2003, thirty-one separate streams and rivers were sampled for selenium in the Blackfoot and Salt River dminagcs in the phosphate-mining field. Samples included water. sediment. aqualic 

### plants, invertebrates. and (ish. 

### All except three streams exhibited a high 

### percentage ofsamples exceeding the "levels of concern" published by**th~** 

### U.S. Department ofInterior in 1998. 12 

### The 2002 and 2008 §303(d) liSIS 

### ofinlpaired streams prepared by 

### the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality demonstrate the increasing problem ofselenium contamination in

41 U.S.C § IIO:!l(b)(I}(B). &Cumbie, P.M. and Van Hom. S.L. 1978. Selenium accumulatlon associated with tish mortality am! reproductive tailure.

Q Presser. T.S., Piper. D.Z., Bird. K.1., Skorupa, S.1

.. Ilamilton, SJ., Detwiler, S.l, Huebner, M.A. The Phosphoria Formation: A Model for Forcasring Clobal Selenium Sources to the Em·ironment. Life C)cell! ojlhc PllOsplwrfa Formation: From Dt!pllfitirJn to tht! fast-AlinillgEnvironment. Pg 31:!. Edited by James R. Hein. 2004. Iv A. Dennis Lcmly. Selenium Impacts on Fish: I\n Insidious Time Bomb. United Staleli Forest Service. Blacksburg. V/\. Human and Ecological Ri5k**A"~;!ssment:** Vol. 5, No.6, pp. 1139-1151 (l999). II [J.
12 U.S. Department ofthe Interior. J998. Guidelines tor interpretation ofthe biological effects ofselected consritUent" in biOla.. water. and sediment. National Irrigation Water Quality Program Information Report No.3. U.S. Department ofInterior. Washington. D.C. Levels ofconcern are defined as follows:

.....rarely produce discernahle adverse effects but are elevated above typical back!,'fOlmd concentrations" WiltlreaS com;enlrations above these levels ·'

...appear to produce adverse Ct1I!ctS on some fish and wildlife" j­**,~** 

# i

### southeast Idaho. in 2002, nine stream segments. 

### totaling 61.75 ruiit:s, were 

### listed as il11pairc:d due to selenium contamination Crable 1 ).13 

### Tale 

### 11 1 

### _,CCDlum I d 

### , St**I~** 

# . 200' S I mpalre
. reams.**.--~-"** (I)

### # 

### Name

.**Dcs~ription** 

### -''liles 

# "'--,

, 

### lD17040105SK009 02 Sage Creek 

### source to mouth 

### 24 

### , i i 

### lD17040207SKOIO 04 Blackfoot River 

### umtluence of 13.82**Lan~sand** 

### Diamond Creek:; tu 1D 17040207SKO 13 02a Chicken Creek 

### 2.86 

### ill 17040207SKO 13 03**~-** 

### Drv Valley Creek source to mouth 4.98 ! 

### ID 17040207SKO 14 02 Mavbe Creek source to mouth 

### 5.23 ID 17040207SKO 15 03 Lower Spring 

### 1.5



### - Creek

......... 

### I 10]7040207SK015_02b Lower Mill 1.03 , 

### Canyon 

## I ID 17040207SKO15 02a Upper Mill Canyon 2.44 

## I


# , IDI 7040207SKOI 5 02 Spring 

### Creek 5.89

; ! 

### Total 61.75



### By 2009, the number

### ufselenium·impaired streamsjumped tu twenty-two stream segments for a total of 163.21 miles. This number includes the entire upper Blackfoot River and morc than ninety miles ofits tributaries. In other terms, phosphate mining has contaminated nearly**40~** 

### of the perenfllal stream miles of the Upper Blackfoot 

### River watershed with 

### selenium (Table 2).1'>

II) 

### TahIe 

### 2 2008 S I mpalfC reams. 

### ,eeDlum I . d St 

### III> # 

### Name I)cscription 

### Miles I 

### /lDI6010201BR022_02b 

### Upper 9oergetown 

### lu:mJwalt:rs tu left hand fork 10.R7 

## I CreekI , 

### TDI7040105SK009 02 Sage Creek 

### source to mouth 12.41 

### ID17040105SK009 02d Pole Canyon Creek 

### 3.6 : 

### TD17040105SK009 02e South Fork SageCreek ' 

### 7.93 rD17040105SK009 03 Sage Creek 

### source it) 

### mouth 

### 3.22 -". 

### Tn 17040209SKO 1 0 02a State Land Creek 

### 9.07 TD17040207SKOIO 04 Blackfoot 

### River 

### confluence ofLanes and I ]3.82 i 

### Diamond Creeks 

### tu
-_._- •

13 Principles and Policies for Ihe 2002 Inregra!<.'d (303(d)!305(b» Report. Idaho DepartJnent ofEnvironmental Quality. September 3D, 2005. 141d 15 Idaho Departmenr ofEnvironmental Quality Working Principles and Policic,; for the**_~1l08** Integrated (303[d]/305[h]l Report. Boise. ID. May 22.2009. If'ld. 17**Thi~** steam segment was not assessed in 2002.



### 3-- ID17040207SKOlO 05 

### Blackloot River conlluem:c ofI,anes and 20.67 

# 1 Diamond Creeks to I

­

lD17040207SK012 02b Goodheart Creek 7.54 

## i ID17040207SKO13 02u Drv Valley Creek 6.43

lDl7040207SKOI

### 3



### - 02b Chicken Creek tributary to 

### Dry Valley 2.86 Creek I 1D17040207SKO 13 03 

### Drv ValJey Creek source 

### to mouth 4.98 ID17040207SK014 02**Maybe_~reek** source to mouth 

### 5.23 ID17040207SKOIS 02 

### Spring**Cre~~** 5.89 1 fDl7040207SKO 15 02a ,**Upper~iilJ** Canyon 2.44
, ID17040207SK015 

### Olb Lower Mill Cunvon**1.~3_** ID17040207SK015 03 i Lower Spring Creek 

### I 

### 1.)

-­**-~-"~** ID 17040207SK022_02 I Sheep Creek headwaters and un-named 

### 13.49 tributaries IlDL7040207SK022 03 Lower Sheep Creek 

### 1.32 1
i 

### ID 17040207SK022 03a Middle Sheep Creek 3.53

ID17040207SK023 02 Angus Creek Un-named tributaries 11.34**~-,~~---** 

### JD17040207SK023 02a 

### Rasmussen Creek 6.26 ID17040207SK023 02b Upper Angus Creek 7.78 Total



### - 163.21
Tbis dramatic increase-morc than double the length ofimpaired**Slr~am s~gments**  IiSled in 2002-indicatcs the pace and extent ofthe selenium contamination problem in southeast Idaho: in a mere 7 years. an aJdilional 101.46 miles ofstream became impaired due 10 selenium contamination caused 

### by phosphate mining.
TRI 

### reporling would arm the public with more accurate data lor weighing the value ofphosphtltc mining to the local community when compared to the rapid and extensive wntamination ofthe region's rivex:; and streams. The importance ofthis information is highlighted 

### by the dramatic effects toxic levels ofselenium have on fish and aquutic ecosystems. i. 

### Effects on Fish
The impact ofselenium on fish and other aquatic species, including amphibia.ru,. shure birds. and waterfowl. is wdl documented. A numher ofsnldics indicate that selenium toxicity in fish is most often manitested

### by n:prouLlctive failufC. One 

### prominent case study examined Bele\vs Lake. a water 

### bodv inNorth 

### Carolina contaminaLt:d bv selenium laden ashwastewater

### from a coal-fired 

### power plant.IS The lake originally

### contained twenty species offish. Only two 

### remained afterthe nine-year contamination period**(1976~85).** Reproductive failure resulting from toxic levels of

### selenium caused thisextirpation ofeighteen species.**Becau~c** ofthe bioaccumulative nature ofselenium. contaminated lake sediments atthe bottomofthe fuod chain continued to cause developmental abnonnalities in the re-';locked young tish as lateas 1996."i This ecological disaster

### resulted from waterborne selenium i.:onccntrations of 150-200 Se pgiL.

IS Lernl)' (1999). 1/ 1d.



### 4

# tar less than the conct:nlrations ofsclcnium in some streaIllS in the vicinity of

### the phosphate mines of

### southeast Idaho. 

### For example, in 

### 2006 water samples

### taken from Pole Canyon 

### Creek, a tributary ofthe Salt River. 

### whil."h drains partofthe Smoky Canyon phosphate mine had 

### selcniunl concentrations of

### 992 Ilg!L. In 2008. 

### selenium concentrations in Pole Canyon 

### Creek exploded. 

### reaching a high of6,230 IlgfL. Selenium 

### concentrations in**Ma~bc** Canyon Creek, a Blackloot 

### RiYer tributary 

### that drains the 

### SOllth Maybe Canyon Mine. have been 

### m,-'Hsurcd as high as 1,140 Ilg/L Se.211 East Mill

### Cr~t!k. which drains the North Maybe 

### Canyon ivfinc, had waterborne selenium concentrations of417Jlg/L Sc in the spring of200521• 

### 515IJ.g/L in 

### May 200622
, and 

### 570 j.lg/L in May 2007.23 The ecological impacts ofthcsc extreme concentrations

### h~vt! been well documented. Most notably. the seleniumcontamination has extirpatedall fish, including the once robust Yellowstone cutthroat trout 

### populution,24 from 

### Mill Creek below the N0l1h Maybe Canyon 

### Mine. Trout have also been extirpated 

### from Maybt: 

### Canyon Creek and Kendall Canyon 

# ., .**Creck.~·** Seleniwn reaches streams in the Blackfout and Salt River watersheds via surface und groundwater flows. For

### example. meteoric \vater (rain and snowmelt) tlush through numerous 

### mine wastes dumps and '·rcclaimed" mining pits at 

### J.R. SimplotCompany's Smoky Canyon Mine, leaching**~e1enium** from the waste rock into the local aquiter. The water discharged into 

### the area's springs ami streams from these aquifers contains selenium 

### COf1l."enlrations well above the 

### surface water standard. Hoopes Springs, which is more than 2.3 miles from one oftlle sourcesofselenium impacting it. now has selenium concentrations at historic highs of35.5 Ilg/L.26 South Sage Springs, which is even fwther away trom the sources of

### selenium. now has concentrations 

### mnging upward of23.8 

### j.lSlL.27 

### TIle issue ofseh:nium contamination ofsurface waters from 

### the Smoky 

### Canyon Mine's waste dumps is not an 

### isolated incident 

### in southeast Idaho butoccurs at 

### till ofthe seventeen phosphate millcs--which are also CERCLA sites-and likely occurs at 

### some ofthe other nine historic phosphate mines.
Fish populations have been 

### hard hit 

### by this contamination. 

### In 2007, during a coordinated 

### collection and analysis offish from streams in 

### southeast Idaho. the Idaho Department ofFish and Gam,= (IDFG) sampled fifteen stream sites, a consultant for the J.R. Simplot Company sampled 

# I

2l' Hill, SllcryJ. Aquatic SY5tCnlS Biologist.**Po~a:ello.** ldaho. An Analysis ofSelenIUm Cum:cntrations in Wat.;:r ,UlJ Biolugical Tissu;: Samples Collected in the Upper Blacktoor River and Salt River Watersheds trom 1997 to 2003., 2005. 21 Weber, Frank. Research Triangle institute. Research Triangle Park, NC Technical R.eport. RTI Project 

# I

No.;08973.002.1)09. May 19.2005. 22 Weber, Frank. Research Triangle Institute. Rloisc£lrei1 Triangle Park, Nl'. Technical Report. RTI Project No: 0208973.002.009.6/19/06. 13 W;:ber, Frank. Research Triangle Institute. Research Triangle Park. Nl' Technkal Report. RTI**Pr~lect** No.: 0208973.002.009. 6/11/01.**2~** Letter dated August 5. 1980 from Russ 111urow. Idaho Department offish and Game, Soda Sprill!!,s, ID, wDcan Grover. Soda Springs Ranger District. Caribou National rorest. "In 1971). we elecrrotished sectiollS ofKendall. Mill, and Spring Creeks

... In Mill Creek. we surveyed two sections and densities equaled 37 cutthroat and 24 .:utthroat trout fry per 100 meters with(in) the U.S. Forest Service LloumLlry

.. 25 2002 CutthroatTrollt Fish Distribution Survey Report. Kendall Creek USDA Forest SerVice, Caribou-Tmghcc National FureSL "No fish \\cr(.' captured." 2!. Nl:wJields,**~O~QlJnterim** EtTectiyeness Monitonng Report POl0 Canyon Removal Action SmokY Canyon Mille CktQber 24. 2008, Table 6.2008 Surface Water Monitoring Results !7 ld at Table 5, 2008 Sampling Results for Springs.


### 5five 

### streams, and GYC 

### sampled nine sites. 2S A total of3391Ioutand 93 sculpin were

### collect~d and analyzed for selenium. The results ofthe 2007 

### sampling shm.\' that trout taken from streams impacted by phosphate mining averaged 11.4 flg/g dry weight selenium. while sculpin colk-eted from impacted 

### streams averagi.!d 14.5 !tg/gdry weight selenium.29 That concentration far exceeds the propo:;cd EPA standard maximum of7.91**~g!g** Sc whole 

### body dry weight criterion

. l'f' I 

### e.- 10 

### to protect 

### aquatlc
In 2005, 2006, and 2008. GYC also sampled trout, sculpin. dace, and shiners from n total of twenty--onc streams, including**1ll0~t** ufthe streams sampled in 2007. 31 1he results

..

### vere similar 

### to those in the 2007 study reported 

### by IDFG. However, several ofthe impacted streams had markedly higher 

### average sdeniLUu concentrations in 2008. Forexnmple, Yellowstone cutthroat 

### trout collt':l:lcd from the Angus Creek site in 2007 had an average oftl.09 flg.ig dry weight selenium. In 2008, the average concentration

### jLUllped to 12.79**~lglg.** 

### These concentrations bode 

### ill for 

### tlsh populations in southeast Idaho. In a 2007 pUblication, Van Kirk and Hill reviewed Yellowstone cutthroat trout populations and how selenium concentrations'in streams in the Salt River and l3Iackfoot 

### River in southeast Idaho mighr effect those populations. 32 Based on the analysis and other research 011 

### the effectsof

### sdeniurn on salmonids. the 

### authors conclude: (I) when survival ofindividuals is density-depemknt. population-level response to toxicant exposure may be lowerthan predicted based on individual-level response. (2) cutthroat trout populations 

### will be protected at selenium concenlralionsnot exceeding 7.0**~lg!g.** and (3)**envir~mmental** stochasticity can significantly aHt-ct the response of populations size to 

### individual.level toxicity. 3J Furthermore, Van Kirk and Hill hypothesi/.e that when selenium concentrations in fish exceed lO.O**~lglg** whole body dry weight 

### population level effects can be expcctcd.34 Making a grim repan even worse, the 

### Van Kirk and Hill model underestimated effects ofselenium on cunhroat trout populations becaU5t: 

### it inclUl.h.:d effects only on pre-winterju"enile growth and survival and not effects observed in numerous other IiII: slages ofwarmwater fish that could also occur in 

### trout. The authors acknowledge that population-level effe.:ts ofsdenium toxicity on cutthroat

cS Prank. Research Triangle Institute. Research Triangle Park, NC Technical Report. I{II Project NU.:(}20K973.002.D09. January 15.2008.
1') lDFG report for 08 selenium protocol meetillg.. ]{; hup:/iw\\'w.epa.gov;·seleniumcrircrin/quesrions.hrm
11 Weber, Frank. Research Triangle IllstiLule, Research Triangle Park, NC Techmcal Ke.port. RTf Project No.:08973.002.009. September 10.

## :m05. Weber. Frank. Research Triangle Institute.**/{c~search** Triangle Park, NC. Technical Report RTI ProjectNo.:02Q8973.002.009. September 25, 20Gb; Weber: Steven McGeehan linivcrsity 

## orhlaho Analytical Sciences Laboratorv Moscow. J() November 13. 2008

. .12 Vml Kirk, 

## R.W" Hill, SL. DemograPhic model predicts trout popUlation

### rcspon~e tn selenIUm

### bas~ on individual-level toxicity. Ecol. Model. (2007). doi: 10.10 16/j.ecolrnndcL20f17 !14 001 .lJ hI.
14 

### rd.

6trout could be .substantially grt!ater than they have predicted 

### ifthe \\inlt!T stress syndrome observed by 

### Lcmly (l993b) also is experienced by salmonids. 1S
Most recenLly, research 

### in southeast Idaho OJl 

### captured wild, pre-spawn brown trout in the Smoky Canyon Mine area, where 

### phosphate-mining activities 

### have polluted surface waters 

### wit.h selenium, 

### produccu ularming resulK36 The researchers documenled the reproductive success and viability 

### ofyoung in the captured trout and their eggs. The findings indicate !,;l1rvival ofthe eggs and young ofbrowntrout substantially decreased-and the frequency and severityoffish 

### ueJormities increased-when selenium concentrations mached 20 to 25 milligrams/kilogram dry weight 

### ("'lUg/kg 

### d'vv") in 

### fish eggs. 37 Overall survival

# orthe eggs 

### and young fish consistently dropped to 30 percent or less at egg 

### selenium concentration:; above 

### about 25 

### rug/kg dw.1l! The researchers calculated an "EC-20" 

### selenium value for survival ofeggs anu newly hatched tish, 

### meaning a 

### concentraLion of**~elenium** in fish eggs at which 20 percent ofthe test fish would not 

### sUlYivc.\II They determined that**valu~** tu be 21.63 mg/kg dw in brown trout-Ill rhe researchers also 

### calculated an EC-20 value for fish deformIties caused 

### by selenium. ret1ecting a selenium concentration thm would l'ause a reduction of20 percent in the sum fraction ofnormal fish observeu cumparedto toml tish observed in their studies.41 They determined this value tu be 

### 21.7 mg/kg dw. 42 The researchers calculated that 

### their EC-20 vahte for fish survival at an egg selenium concentration 

### of21.63 

### mg/kg dw in 

### brown trout corresponded to a whok-budy selenium concentration in maternal 

### tish

# or 13.35 

### mg/kg dw·. In other words, ifa maternal 

### brown troUl has a whole-body selenium concentration of 

### 13.35 mg/kg dw, then 20 percentofher eggs 

### will be 

### too damaged by selenium poisoning for the eggs oryoung fish to survive43 

### The Brown Trout study included 

### \,',:ild tish captured in selenium-contaminated streams in southeast Idaho. The study 

### validaLcs the 

### extenqive re<;earch**publish~d** by Lemly, Hamilton. and othersover

### the last several decades in respect tu 

### Lht;! deleterious

### eftects selenium has on tish. Just as significanLly, the 

### study validates the Van Kirk model. 

### it Effeets on other Aquatic Species and Species I)cpcndent on Aquatic 

### Habitats
Effects ofselenium contamination are unfortunately 

### nol limited to tish. Recent studies document the dnullatic impact on birds, invertebrates. 

### and amphibians. For example. in 

### 1999, Dr. Joseph 

### Skorupa--one ofthe premierscientists and researchers in the tield of selenium's ellt:cls on avian specie;,s-conducted a site visit to the Idaho phosphate mining region. He later 

### rep0l1ed:

)\ fd. 0(; N.:wfields. 2009. Brown Trout Laboratory Reproduction Studies Condllcted in Surport ofDevelopmentofa Site-Spe:.:ific Selenium Criterion (hereinafter Brown Troul study). Included in AppendiX C orthese comments. 37 Brown Trollt Study at 26-27. '8 It!. at 26. J', Id at 31-32. 4C Id 411d. 42/d. 43 Ie! at 33.



### 7... the 

### hollt:sl sampling sites discovered during this 

### briersurvey 

### ofthe 

### Idaho phosphoria region were huller than the hottest sampling sites 

### discovered during approximately a decade ofsampling across ten states for the NIWQP 

### LNalional Irrigation Watcr

### Quality Programj.


### IIowevcr. the potential for 

### damage to avian 

### pupululiuns depends not 

### only on 

### hov. contaminated 

### (hot) a site 

### is, but also on how attractive 

### it is tu breeding 

### warer birds. What made Kesterson Reservoir 

### such a large scale catastrophy (sp) was that 

### it was highly 

### contammatcd AND 

### it anracted thousands ofbrceding water birds 

### each spring. This brief

### survey diJ nOl discover 

### any sites 

### that were suspected 0 

### f exposing inordinately high 

### numbers of

### breeding water birds. Although this survey was not designed to census bird numbers. 

### tht! authors 

### gailleu a qualitative inlpression that none of

### the sites surveyed 

### supported more than a few hundred breeding water birds. and most ofthe sites surveyed probably 

### supported substantiaHy tt:wcr breeding \-vater birds.+I 

### Dr. Skorupafurther 

### noted "\ve managed to discover aquatic invertebrates with the highest level ofselenium

# OS,S,.r.pm) evl'freported from 

### much more inlt:nsive 

### and extensive 

### sampling across lhe western U.S

... GYC collected macrophyte 

### and macroinvcrtebrutc samples 

### n"om 22 streams 

### in the phosphate­ mining 

### region ofsoutheast Idaho irom**2005-2008:~fl** This data 

### mirrors or exceeds 

### selenium values from samples 

### da1a collected 

### by other res..:archers between 1997 

### and 2003 (as summarized in Hill,

### 2005).4~ Clearly, a catastrophe similar 

### to-but mort: toxic-to what happened at Belews Lake is 

### occurring in

### southeast Idaho and the upper Salt River drainage in Wyoming.
Tht: high

### conccnlrations ofselenium ha"calso impacted

### amphibians in southeast idaho. 

### Skorupa et al. (2002) 

### collected three recently dead or

### dying tiger 

### salamander larvae 

### on June 21. 1999, from a pit 

### lake at Gay Mine. There. tht: rest:archt:rs obst!n:ed at least 152 carcasses 

### along the shoreline on the shallow end ofthe 

### pitlakt:. Skorupa had the tails (skin, muscle. and bones) ofthe salamanders analvzed for 

### gelenium concentrations and found thev contained 40, 68. and 52**~** 

# -**~/g** 

### dry weight scienitun.4X 

### These high selenium concentrations indicate that the salamanders 

### died from selenium poisoning.
A year later, Jeremy Shive conducted a survey ofthe Smoky Canyon Mine 

### in Caribou County,

II Skorupa. J.P.• S. Detwikr. and R. Urassfleld

.. 200:. Reconnaissanc(: Survey ufSdenium Water .md r\vian Eggs at Selected Sites Withinthe Phosphate Mining Region Near Soda Springs, ld<lho. May June 1999.**1~** Joe Skorupa. LJSFWS. In e-nldillO Sheryl Hill. 9 June 2003.
46 Weber. Frank,**R~sca~h** Triangle Institute. Research Triangl\: P<lrk.,**~c.** Tedmical Repon. RTI Project No.08lJ73.00200<). September 19,2005. Wern:r. Frank. Research Tri;lllgle Institute, Research Triangle Park. NC Technii.Cal Repon. RTI ProjectNo.:0208973.002.009. St:plember 25.2006; Weber. Frank. Research Triangle Institute. Research Triangle Park. NC. Techllil.:al Report RTI Project No.:02089i3.002.00Q. 10/30/07: Steven McGeehan Lnl\Crsity ofldnho Analyti;::,d Scienccs Laboratory. M·Js<o:uw. ID August 20.2008. ·17 f-lill. Sheryl. Aqlt3tic Systems Diologist. Pocatello, Idaho. All Analysis ufSdellium Concentrations in Water and Biological TIssue Samples**C~llected** ill the tipper Blackfoot River dud Salt River Watersheds from 1997 to 2003. 2005.
IS Unpuhlished data. Ur. Jo

.... Skorupa, U.S. Fi.sh & Wildlife Service, Washington D.C.• personal communication.


### 8

### 1997-were attlicled following exposureto relatively low concentrations ofselenium over an extended period. Six ofthe 

### eight were**cllthanized.~6** 

### In 1997, more than 

### 120 sheep died at the Conda mine from eating selenium-wmaminated vegetation.57 

### In 

### Septemberof 1999. approximately 60 sheepdied from selenium contaminated forage or water nearthe Stauffer

### min~.5g In June 

### 2001. approximatcJy 160 

### shet:p died 

### from selenium-contaminated 

### waler 

### dowll!:>tn:am from the Conda mine.>} Yd another 

### 327**sh~ep** 

### died in May 

### 2003 after grazing on 

### a reclaimed overburden dump site near the 

### Condamine.flo Must 

### recently, on August 11.2000, at least 

### 18 head ofcattle clied from forage contaminated 

### by selenium growing on theJR. Simplot owned Lanes Creek phosphate mine./,I 

### All ofthe reclaimed waste piles hal.! conct:ntrations of selenium 

### in dlC 

### vegetation that far exceeded the 5mg/kg grazing recommendations.C>2
Thresholds for acute and chronic poisoning ofgrazing animals occurs**'~at** 

### numerous disturbed 

### [reclaimedl sites" in the vicinity ofthe phosphate mines.

### oJ A 2004 study found elevated concentrations 

### ofsdenium in vegetation at 

### each sampled location, with mt;an 

### tissue samples tor 

### legumes of

### 80mg/kg and 

### grassi,;!s of 18 mgikg.M 

### The 

### study also found "hot spots." with 

### concentrations as high as 200 mg/kg. 

### This level ofcontaminationthreatens grazing caUle. slu:ep, and 

### wild1ife witll acute poisoning injust

### one day 

### ofgrazing,6.'l Some ofthese greater 

### risk areas have**be~n** 

### closed to grazing.

### 66 but high levels of

### selenium pervade local forage and wakr and are respollsibk fur elevated selenium concentrations in local cattle. In facL. even 150 

### days afrer removed from the 

### range. livestock exhibited 

### selenium levels 

### of 1.3mg!kg. Consumption ofexcessive amounts 

### ofselenium 

### by humans causes various adverse health effects. depending upon exposure. Acute symptoms ofselenosis-caused 

### by ingestionofvcry large quantities 

### over a short period 

### oftime-include nausea, vomiting. Jiarrhea. and cardiovascular 

### problems.li? Chronic 

### symptoms--caused by ing.t:stion of**sl~1allcr** 

### quantities over 

### longer periods-ll1cluue hair!nailloss and neurological problems,',8 The Agency [or Toxic Subslam;cs and Disease Registry has eSlablished the chronic intake level at .005 mg/kg/day ofseleruuJIl. 6') 

### Fora 165 lb. person 

### this would be .375 mg a day. Little more than an 8-ounec steak per day 

### from thc above "depured" 

### beef--animalsremoved from the range and moved to 

### feedlots-would 

### be at the chronic exposure level. While more than eightounCes of

### beera 

### day exceeds an 

### average

\1\ Montgomery Watson. 1 <)')8. FaJl 1997 interim slIrlace**\~aler** !iurvey report. Southeasl [Jaho Phosphate Resource Area Selenium Project. Prepared for thi.' Idaho Mming Association Selenium Commitlt.:c ,; BLM video from 1097. "Idaho State Journal. 12 Nov

.. 1999 Pocatello. Idaho

"i Idaho State Journal. 6 Jun., 2001. Pocatello, [daho
6<:' Caribou County Sun. 19 Jun., 2003. Soda Spnng,>. Idaho tl Bruce Olenick. Regional**Admjni~TaTor,** Idaho Lkpt ofEnvironmental Quality. August 13, 2U09. £-2 Idaho Depunml!nt ofEnvironmental Quality. C3 Mackowiak, CL. Amacher, 

### Mr

.. Hall. J.O., and Herring. J.R. Uptake ofSelenium and other comaminal1\ elements into plants and implications for Grazing Ammab in Southea!il Idaho

.. L[l'e Cycle afthe Phosphoria FormatIOn From lJepo.ririon to (he Post-MiJ1ing EmirolllJII!llI. Pg. 546. Edited by James R. Hein. ':100,1. MId

.. at 527 oS Id.. at 548. "'" Idaho Department ofEnvironmcntal Quali[y Area Wide lIuman IJealth .1Ild Ecological RI!>k**AS~I:~slllt:nL** and Related Memorandum. Rick Clegg. 2002. 0;Agenc> for Toxic Substlll1cc!l and Disease Registry htlp:!i·.\\.\w.atsdr.cdc.gov'hJ:,profiiesltp<)]-1.pdl' pg. j5 Mid 691d. at A-3

10**~-**

### level ofconsumption for most people, 

### it docs indicate that chronil.: t;'xposure levels are possible 

### lora large population, especially local ranchers given the level ofcontamination 

### and various mediums 

### ofexposure. 

### The toxicity 

### of

### sdcnium. and the implication 

### for human health risk, affects both domestic livestockand upland wildlili;:,
With concentrations this high. livestock slaughtered directly aftercomino in 

### from pasture presents a human health risk?' Given rhe toxicity of

### selenCum to 

### domestic livestock, including phosphate 

### mining in the TRl program would 

### increase local awareness 

### ofthe risk posed 

## oy phosphate mining to grazing livestock in these areas 

### ii. Upland Wildlife and Human Health Advisories Consumption oflo!.:al wildlife also poses a potential hazard to human health. In 2000, the Idaho Dept. ofFish and Game took 

### muscle and liver samples ofharvested elk at game check stations. The elk taken \-vithin two miles oftht: mine 

### si[es exhibited muscle tissue sdeniulU concenLrations as high as .92 mg/kg and liver tissue at 13 mg/kg. Consumptionofsuch "contaminatedelk liver CQuld [result] in adverse health effects likt: nausea.,,11 On October 17, 2006. the Idaho Department of

### Health and Welfare (IDIIW) cautioned hunters to 

### limit consumption ofelk in the phosphate-mining region ofsoutheast Idaho due to elevateu selenium concentrations. 72 

### IDIIW stated:
For hunters andlor 

### family members with a body weight

### or80 kg or 176 Ih, estimated exposures to selenium from daily consumption ofelk**lU~cIe** (one 8­ ounce meal per day) orconsumption oftip to two 10-ounce 

### l'neals ofelk liver within a two week period 

### is unlikely to result in any adverse health dIeets. However, consumption oflarger al110lUlts

# ordk liver may result in exposure to selenium atlevels that 

### exceed health-based guidelines. 73
In addition to the elk consumption advisory, the Idaho Department ofHealth and WeUare issued a fish consumption advisory 

### for East Mill Creek because ofselenium contamination, The Department advises against children under the age ofseven eating more than tour 4 ounce meals per month ofYeUO\vstone cutthroat and brook lrout from East Mill Creek This advisory has heen in place sinee 

### 2002.74
The (dabo Department ofHealth and Welfare has not revisited this issue even though selenium**cODt~lmination** has spread to other streams since the data fur the health assessments were

:0 Idaho Depilillmml ur**H~allh** and Welfare, Health Consultation. Evaluation of':.e In Beef, Elk, Sheep, and Fish. 27 June,2001. 71 [d. 72ldahu**D~partfllent** ofHealth and Welfare. NEWS**RELEASE.Hunrer~** Reminded to Limit Consumption ofElk LiverofAnimal!. Harvested**~ear** Phosphate Mines. October 17,2006_ 73 Idahu Department ofHe(llrh and Welfare, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and Bureau of Community and Environmental Health, Division ofHealth, Evaluntion ofSelenium in Elk In the Southe<lSt Idaho l'hosphate Resoul'ce An:a BANNOCK, BEAR LAKE,**Bl~GHA\1,** AND CARIBOU COUNIIES IDAHO EPA Facility ID: IDNOOI002245 July 2006. N Streams ofthe Cpper Blackfoot Watershed Temporary Selenium Fish Advisory (2002). rdaho J-j,-;h Consumption Advisory Program, Idaho D,:partmem ofllealth and Welfare.



### I 1collected. Streams deemed "un-impacted" in200t for fish are nuw· on the Idaho Dept. of**Environn~~ntal** Quality's 303 (d) list

# orimpaired streams due to selenium contamination 

### (See Table 

### 2).') Moreover. another**"uu-impa~lcd"** 

### fish sampled location in

### 2001. Kendall Creek. 

### was electro-fished u year later 

### by the Forest Servlcl:. Tht: Forest Service did not find any lish even though the 

### stream had historically contained healthy populationsoftrout. 76 UnfOltunateiy. Kendall Creek isjust ont: morenowharren site due to possible selenium mine pollution. 

### ffthe Idaho Department ofHealth and Welfare resumed 

### data collection. 

### it would likely issue consumption advisories for other streams 

### in the Blackt'oot 

### and 

### Salt Rivt:r watersheds. However, the agency is unlikely to resume data colh:ction given currenteconomic pressun: un state. Without information conceming selenium releases. those '\\ilO are aware ofthedangerous 

### seleniwl1 issue art! concerned that people who consume: !ish 

### in the area 

### will become ill and that more fish populations 

### will disappear.
While not addressed 

### by any official health advisory, 

### The impacts ofselenium to upland

### \vildlife are 

### not limited to elk. Lowerelevation wetlamJs that receive the drainage from disturbed mine locations produce vegetation having more than 53 

### Illglkg Se.

### 17 This undoubtedly adversely affects wetland foragers such as moose and waterfowl, especiallyconsidering that symJ'toms of selenium toxicosis occurs in livestock consuming vegetation containing :::.3-5pg/g Se.7 Unlike removal ofdomestic livestock, 

### restricting \\ildlife from**thl:~\,;'** 

### highly contaminated 

### areas is not feasible. Therefore. infot1uation regarding selenium releases into this cl:osyslcm would henetir those consuming wild game. Given the toxicity ofselenium 10 the environment-and the attendant health risk posed to humans-including phosphate mining in the TRl progranl would advance the purposes of

### EPCRl\ and protect human 

### health in southeast Idaho. 

### Ill. The Phosphate Mines ofsoutheast Idnho arc in Close 

### .·roximit)l to One 

### Another 

### Nearly halfofthe U.S. phosphale reserves lie in a central area \vhere the stales ofMontana. Wyoming. Utah, and Idahoconjoin. Within these phosphate rock bearing formations CPhosphoria"), seleniumoccurs naturally. The Meade Peak Memherofthe Phosphoria 

### lurmation contains the highest concentrations. 79 Selenium. a listed 

### § 313 toxic chemical,so is present in relatively insoluble forms \vithin the formation itselfbut transforms into**~oluble** 

### foml-selenitc and/or**~elenate-when** 

### exposed to \vcathering and oxidation. 

### The process of open pit phosphate ruining 

### produo.:es both ofthese mobile fonns ofselenium. Open pit mining also leads to the mined materialsexpanding 

### by U!:l much as 30%; such waste rock is typically disposed ofin external piles or waste dumps.III Water runoffand infiltration then carries

--------_

..

### _--­ 'Sid
76 USDA Forest St:rvic<:, Caribou-Targhee 'lational Forest, 2(){)2 Cutthroat Trout Fish Distribution Survey Report, Kendall Creek. 26 June, 2OQ2, 77 Mackowiak, CL, Amacher, M.e, Hall, 1.0

.. and !·Ierring. J,R. Uptake of "H!lenium and other contaminant elements into plants and implications for Grazing Animals in Southeast Idaho. LiJe C:l'de o/fhe J'ho.>piluriu Fumwliuf/. Frum Dep()sili/J/l11! 1112 PosT-Minil1!!: EIIVirol1fflftni. Pg. 527. Fdlted by James R. Heill. 2004. 7&!d at 501.**T~** McKelvey, V.E.. Strobel!, 10., and Siaughlcr. AL 1986. The Vanudifcmus loneoflilt' Phosphoria Formatil1!l ill wesltlrn Wyoming and soulh\!USlem Idaho. US Geol. Surv

.. Prof. Paper, 146" &J 40 C.ER. § 372.65. &1 Verbal COllUTIunicatioIl Bill Stout, BlIreau ofLand Management 25 Oct. 2005. Poc.1telio, Idaho

12selenium from these weathering mine wastes into the environment.lIl**C~nramination** is particularly severe in southeast Idaho, where seeps discharging selenium from mine waste piles occurwidely throughout the region's phosphate production area. SJ At least 28 active tmd inactive phusphate mines exist in southeast Idahu. Two ofthe area's watersheds, the Blackfoot and Salt River, (.;urrently haye the highest density ofphos ph ute mining use in Idaho, with eleven mines located within twenty-one miles ofone another anda total surface disturbance area of almost twenty square 

### mile::".8-1 Seventeen 

### ofthese

### mine sites. including rtvo ofthe active mines (Smoky Canyon and Dry Valley). are so contaminated by selenium that thev are under CERCLA deanup orders. The third

## activ~ mine. Monsanto's South Rasmussen Ridg; Mine. has been in**a11l1o~1** constuntyiolation ofwater quality regulations since 2002,just twoyears after the mine was

### perll1itted.R~ Just as alamling is that one ofthe mining comp.'lnics responsible for selenium contamination, Nu-West Industries, Inc., recently sued the fcdtmil government. asking that the American taxpayer pay for all costs associated with cleanup at ttlUr

# orits mine siteg that art;.' under CERCLA cleanup orciers. ll6 Continued mining in the region in such a concentrated manner ensures the sdcnium problem will contimll: as a human and ecological hazard in southeast Idaho. Increased public awareness, through TRI reporting. is warranted. 

### TV. Phosphate Mining 

### Facilities hal'eo a Well-Established "History ofReleases"
A "history ofreleases" 

### by phosphate mining facilities is well established. ror example. the Smokey Canyon mine final Euvironmentallmpact Statement C"EIS") of 1982 outlines an annual 

### water quality testing procedure that includes 

### selenium as om: of

### the test criteria. The water quality-monitoring program, testing ten locations on five local creeks. was designed to alert the agencies involved 

### ofany developing waterquality problems ofrhis

### mine./!7 Analysis ofsurface mine waste exceeded J:::PA waterquality standards in 1980 [n 

### othr;:T words. problems wiLh selenium contamination were known at kasllwcnty-tive years ago. Pole Canyon--the dumpsitc for the initial phases ofmining aL Lhe Smoky Canyon Mine-was filled with approximately 30 million cubic yards mine overburden between 1985-\990. As early as 1987, \-vater quality samples taken from Pole Canyon Creek below the dmnp were in excess 01 Idaho standards for surface water.811 

### By 1993, seJenium concentrations at Pole Canyon Creek were measured at 170**~lg/L.** morethan three times the drinking water standard, 34 times more than the Idaho standard for surface wakr. and remarkably higherthan that same stream's control

8: Desborough, G, E. De Win, 1.**Jon~s,** A. Meier. and G. MeckeL 1999. I'reliminary Mineralogical and**Chemi~al** Studies Related to the Potential Mobility ofSelenium and Associated Elements in Phosphoria Fonnatill/l Strala, Southeastern Idaho. USGS Open File Repon 99-J20 SJ Smokey Canyon Mine. Panels B& C Final Supplemental Fnvlronmentallmpact StOlte-memo April. 2U02. 84 Presser, TS

.. Piper, D.Z., Bird KJ., Skorupa.J.P

..llamiiton. S.J., Detwiler, ':i J, and Huebner, M.A. Selenium LoaJing Through the Blackfoot River Watershed: Linking Sources to Ecosystems. Life Cp;/e olthf: rlwsplwriu Formatiun. From Deposition TO Pos/'ii-liningEnvironmenl pg. 439. Edited by James R. Hein, 2004. 1!5 EPA No(i-.;e ofViolations, January <1. 1005, february 1,2006, ':'cpternher f., 2007 It is our understanding that another EPA NOV was issued in early 200&. B/, Nu-Wesl Mining, Inc. and NtI-West Industries, Inc V. United States ofAmerica. Complaint (,'Campi.").
H7 Smokey**Canyo~ Pho~phate**  Mine final ElI.ironmtlntnl Impact Stnrcmcnt. March 1982. pgs. 2-22.2-23 l.R. Simplot Co., Caribou County, Idaho. 88 Smoky Canyun Mine, Panels rand G Expansion Final Environmental Imp<lct Statement, Octobc:r 26. 2007. pg. 5­ 34 (';Beginning in 1987, fOl:Jower Pole Canyon Creek belqw the overburden fill, eyeD' sample CQHeded at thai**:.il~** has contal!ll:d scknium concemratiQllsJUeater tban 0.005 Ille/!.").::;amplc of.001 mg/L taken upstream ufthe mine at the same time. The 1993 sampling data showed decreases in macroinvertebrate populations. 89
Annual reports 

### trOln 1994 and beyond continued to showan 

### increasing Seproblem spreading

### to other streams tested underthe monitoringprogram. Watersamples taken 

### ti'om Pole Canyon Crcek in 

## t999 

### hau sdenium concentrations that averaged 2,350llglL. TI1C" Pole Canyon' overburden dump material subsequently polluted both Pole Canyon Creek as ..veIl as underlying grounciwater in the Wells formatjun aqui

### rer V\>ith high conccnlmtions ofselenium. 

### After ten 

### years. this groundwater pollution also reached Hoopes Springs. located more than 2.3 miles 

### away from the dump. The waters ofHoopes Springs and Pole Canyon Creek both carrit:d the contamination downstream into 

### Sage Creek, pui:ioning 

### this stream as well. Despite the data, no action was taken until 2002 after the media picked up on the extent ofthe selenium contamination problem at Smokey Canyon. The J.R. Simplot Company and the EPA 

### signed an Administrative Order on COllsent 

### under (,EReLA to begin an investigation. An Engineering F.valuationiCost Analysis ("EE/CA"), based on u Sitc Investigation Report:mWa!i compkled in June 2006 TheEPA approved only one

# ortive recommendations in the EE/CA in the 

### fall of2006.91
That same month. Simplot initialed the**'~Pole** Canyon Removal Action." This remediation effort focused on diverting Pole Canyon Creek into a pipe and routing it around the contaminated waste dump. The US Forest Service and Simplol**~taled** in a memo: "implementation ofthe proposed action would have an immediate effect to reduce Lhe release ofcontaminants from waste rock stored in Pole Canyon ODA." The tirst attempt to divert the stream was completed in the fall of2006. Hm.vl:ver, the new pipe failed in February 0[2007 spilling the l.:reek back into the 'vvaste dump. A new

### diver::iwn pipe was completed in the fall of2007. as well as an infiltration basin at the upper end ofthe Pole Canyon wuste dump.
In reality, and cnntrary to all assurancesfrom Simplot and the agencies. a**200~** report documents 

### that the remediation 

### work at 

### the Pole Canyon \vaste dlUnp has 

### nullt:d to the desired results. The 2008 Monitoring Report f()J' the Pole Canyon Removal Action. prepared 

### by Simplol in October 2008. contains sampling data taken through August 2008. The repoti's data show that instead of**im,.nediate~y** 

### lowering selenium contamination aI Pole Canyon Creek and Hoopes Springs as the agencies and Simplot claimed, pollution levels**hav~** dramatically 

### increased.
The**200~** report. including water samples data taken nine months after the installation ofthe Pole Canyon**Cr~ek** divt:rsion pipe and infiltration basin, shows selenium concentrations 

### in Pole Canyon Creek where it discharges from the w'aste disposal area. at 5.010**~g/L** in May. Tllis is an increase of4.018 mg/L from 

### May 2006 when st:lenium concentrations Wi;;fC at 992 j.l.g/L. The 

### May 2008 concentration of5,01 0**~g/L** is greater than 1000times the State standard for selenium in surfact:! waters. The repon also records selenium concentrations in walerl:ulkctcd at Hoopes

99 Mariah Associates Inc. Lnramil" Wyoming. Aquulic Monitoring Program tor Smokey Canyon Mine. 1994 results. On fill: at BurC!au ofLand Management office. Pocatello. Idnho.

'1O Site Investigation Report. Newfields, July 2005, Chapt':f II, pgs. 11-15. 1.R. Silllplot Company. '11 Smoky Canyon MineCERCLA Action Memorandum. USFS. Octohe,r 20()6,



### 14 

# I=1 r

Spring has more than doubled between September200G amI Augusr 2008, from 17.4 jlg/L to 35.5 J.lglL. This ismore than seven times the standard.

. Water samples from Sage Creek were also parl ufthe 2008 report. Sage Creek receives water from both Pole Canyon Creek and Hoopes Springs. The 2008 report documents that in May of 2008 selenium concentratiuns had increased more than 27% to 9.7 J1g1L from September2006 when the Sage Creek concentration

### wa" 7.0**~tgJL.** Based onthe 200& data. tbe Forest Service has now ackno,",vledged the substantial uncertainty regarding both the sources ofthe existing mine's pollution and the resulting efficacy ofSimpJot's limited remediation actions at Pole Canyon and Pand E. 92 In particular. the forest Service concludes that "waste dump" seeps at the existing mine's 

### A. D. and 

### F. panels "may reflect a 

### Significant selenium load that is infiltrating dirc<.:tly into [the region's] groundwater now 

### system.,,<n Mining companil:;:; assert that "selective handling" ofthe waste rock. which contains the higb selenium concentralions, is "an adequate response"to the potential release ofsclenium to the environment. 94 However. column-leachingtests ofthis new process expect seepage to remain at levelsof81

### ~lg/L 95 a level sixteen times greatcr than EPA's established ::;tandards to protect drinking water and aquatic life of**5~lg/L.** l;'urther. ground water 

### modeling for expansion ofthe Smokey Canyun mine predicts selenium contaminated "plumes." exceeding Maximum Contaminant 

### Levds (MCLs) to extend offsite "at the end ofa 100 year period. ,.9(, 

### This "adequateresponse" isan illustration ufhow a "history ofreleases" is planned 10 continue into the distant future and impact generations oflocal citizens. Smok,q Canyon Mine's Pole Canyon dumpsite is only oneofeight dumps at that mine, and one ofmany similardumpsites in the phosphate-mining area. 

### Ch:arly. phosphate mining is releasing 

### large quantities ofsdenium on a continual basis into Pole Canyon Creek. The sdenium continues to accumulate 

### up the laod chain and 

### will pose increasing levels ofrisk as seltmium concentrations rise. Oversight through TRl reporting**~hollJd** be provided and would aid in preventing such futurc occurrences throughout southeast 

### Idaho by encouraging the 

### phosphate mining industry to 

### be a "better neighbor," This is especiaI1y true because 

### surface and ground water 

### quality sampling are still the criteria 

### by which selenium impacts are measured when state and 

### federal agencies 

### consider whether to lease additional phosphatedeposits.n

Y2 

### u.s Fore-st Service 

### ID.., Comments on Simplat's Pole Canyon Effe('u"eness Monitoring Plan Revision 01. Dec. ! 8. 2008 at 1. 93 {d. at 4. 9<1 Norrh Rasmussen Ridge Mint' Final Environmental Impact Statement. Pg 44. August 2003. 9!i Maxim Technologi.:s 111\;. Buzl!ITmn, Montana. Simplat Slookey Canyon Mme Expansion Environmental Impact Statement Column Test Report prepared for J.R. Simplot Company. 2002.
% Buck, Brian W., Winegar,**Bru~.** IlIlt!graliun ofSliTface Water Managemcnt with Mitigation ol'Oround Wal.l!f Impacts at a Propost'ti Phospharc ""lim: Overburden Facility http://www.jbN.nv.com!about;arllcll!:.iHuckandWinegarPaper4.pdf**~7** North Rasmussen Ridge \1ine final Environmcntallmpact Statement. Append!x 

## n. Allgust 2003


### 157 _E "'"



### V. Value ofthe Information to the

### l'ublic Requiring phosphate mines to reporL under the TRl program will increase available information and further**th~** 

### purpose of

### ElleRA. TRl rt:porting not only increases thecitizenry's knowledge oftoxins. but also raiseil awareness ofhealth and environmental risks. This 

### inio;matiol1**allo~s** the public to make 

### Illore informed decisions as to where 

### they desire to 

### work, live, 

### buy property, hwlt, and to raise crops or livestock 

### for human consumption. TheTRl provides informationthat can 

### be used by 

### government. local t:OJ1ununitics, and others as a "yardstick" to 

### measure progress 

### and st:l 

### goals for environmental ckanup.'1!1

­ 

### Many people-Iul:ally and nationwide-are parlicularly concemed abollt spccieh protected 

### by the Endangered Species Act ("ESA'"). The phosphate 

### mining region ofsoutheast Idaho is home to the Canada lynx. a listed 

### specieR_ Additionally, 

### at least fourteen species in the 

### region me Lonsidcrcd 

### "sensitive" 

### by state 

### .md Federal 

### agencies. indLlding Yellowstone cutthroat trout. Of**th~** tweI

### ve geographic arca.<; managed fur the Yellowstone cutthroat trout. the upper Blackloot 

### and Salt River drainages have suifered the highest 

### selenium concentr<;ltions?) 

### This habitat degradation is one ofthe reasons the Ydlowstone cutthroat trom hadbeen petitioned for inclusion on the threatened 

### list ofIhe 

### ESA. Ifphosphatc mines were sllbject 

### to the TRJ program. 

### concerned citizens 

### would have mnrc infonnation to use in gauging the 

### condition ofthese habitats over time


### Much of

### the impacted area is within the 

### Caribou-Targhee National Forest, where few 

### restnctions limitwhen: 

### people can recreate, hunt, fish, or

### drink the**wal~r.** As 

### more people 

### use the lands. and 

### move into the area communities. the greater the health risk posed. 

### Many counties in and bordering the 

### Greater Yellowillone Ecosystem have a growingpopulation rate ofapproximately 15%.106 

### Some areas have grown at**ph~Ilumenal** 

### rates. For example, 

### Teton County. Wyoming saw a 63% growth rate between 1990 and 2000. Ill! 

### Across the state line, Teton County. Idaho grew at over 74% over the same time period. IUl Most 

### ofthis growth isdue to people moving into the area. These new residents arc unlikely to 

### have any 

### knuwledge ofthe selenium contamination danger. Updated 

### infurmation about selenium releases, which could be provided 

### by TRI 

### reponing

... vould raise awareness and better protect the public.
Since the livestock deaths in '96 and '97, the phosphate mining companies have not made information concerning 

### the quantities ofselenium released to 

### the 

### environment more available. In fact, 

### it isjust to the cnntrary. Gyes 

### initial request for waste ruck

### production infomlation from the Bureau ofLand Management ("BLM"), the permitting agency 

### for phosphate 

### mines, was denied. The 

### 8LM ciledproprietary reasons 103 

### The GYC 

### tiled a Freedom oflnformation 

### Act (,'FOIA") 

### request "'lith the Department ofthe 

### Interior to obtain the amounts of\-vaste rock produced to 

### understand the amounts ofselenium being released annually. This too was denied 

### fur 'llleged proprietary !'casons. However. these requests 

### revealed that the Bureau of

### Land

'J8 61 Federal Register. 33588
,)<) Idaho Fish and**Gum~.2000.** Comments to the U.S. Fish nnd Wildlite Service r.:garding pelition to list Yellowstone cutthroallruut as threatened under the Endangered Specie, Act. Boise, Idaho. 100

### us. census figures!990-2000. huo;ifgukkfacls.censusiov. 1\1\ Id**l<l~** Ii/.
lu3 Department ofImcrillr, Bureau ofLand Management. Pocatello, Idaho. Electrouic communication. II Oct. 2005.

1677 WI 'k'

Management provides little oversight ofthe phosphate mines. [n the FOIA letterofdenlul, the Bureau ofLand Management stated: "all mining companies trcat all material mined, ami not shipped tor processing. as overburden and do not distinguish the ditTerence between rock types 

### in their reports.',I04 

### Without stringent oversight. 

### it seems unlikely 

### the selenium-laden \vastc rock isbring handled in accordance 

### with the "Best Management Practices" required by mining pelmits. The dit1iculty fur anyone to obtain infoTI11ation regarding selenium release information is itselfa compelling reason 

### tu require phosphate mines to report under the TRl program. as [his may be (he only way lorthe public to stay informed on the amounts

### and dangers ofselenium where they live.
The mining companies assert that the Best**Mauag~ment** Practice (BMP, of "selective handling" adequately 

### prevent selenium from entering the 

### envilOlUm:m. However, the companies admit:**:'wit~** :he**~.7Q.f0ing** selenium investigations

... all the BMPs needed**~vc** not.yet been "­ 

### ld\!ntl11ed. Moreover, 

### contalI1ment does 

### not negate the TRl reportmg reqUIrements. 

### Ihe EPA has concluded

### that urelease "does not necessarily connotedirect physicaJ contact hetween the toxic chemical and environmental medium,

.. [and] is not required before section 313 reporting requirements an: triggered.,,106 This quote goes

### to the heart ofEPCRA as 

### it recognizes the potential for future releust:s. TRI reporting would allow citizensand local governments to plan for 

### the possibility ofsuch m:currences. 

### VI. The Growing ThreatCaused by 

### Continuing and 

### Increasing Selenium Contamination
Inclusion in the 'flU program is especially warranted giventhe continuing and increasing levels ofselenium contamination in southeast Idaho from phosphate mining. Fish 

### sampling conducted 

### by GYC and the 

### Idaho Department ofEuvironmental Quality 

### illustrates this increase. in \iay 

### 2001, twenty-two fish samples were collected 

### trom nine streams in the phosphate mining area. 

### ranging from 3.5 to 15.2**~lg/g** 

### Se whole 

### fish tissue dry 

### weight.

### I07 Fouryears later in 2005, twenty-om: samples in seven streams and rivers in the samearea yielded fish that all had high concentrations ofselenium. ranging from 5.29 

### !J.g/g to 34.9

### ~tg/g 

### fish tissue. dry weight. 108 In the 2005 roood ofsampling, no fish could be found in Mill Creek eitherby GYC or the Idaho Department ofEnvironmental Quality,109 eventhough this was an historically important 

### yeT stream. 110 

### This correlates with 

### obsenrations that "fish populations can declinc ordisappear over

11)01 Demal ofFOlA fel..jUesl. 1278 (FOIA No.**lD-2006~03)** EFTS BLM-2006-00019. 5 Dl:c. 2005 IUS Norrh Rasmussen Ridge Draft Environmental Impact Statement. Pg 2-30. March 2003. WI> U.S. Distric( Court lorthe Disu-ict ofColorado. Civil Action No. t)j}; 2665. 200I U.S. Dist. Lexis 915: 51 ERe (UNA) 2104 1(}711amillo.l1, S. J., Buhl, K.J.. May. 2001. Selenium and other trace elements in Water, Sediment. Aquatic Plant". AquatIc Illveitibrates. and Fish from Streams ill Southeastern Idaho Near Phosphate Mining Operadon3. Pg. 24. Ill!! Weber, Frank. Research Triangle Institute. Research Triangle Park, NC. Technical Report. RTI Project**No.:O~973.002.009,** Sep. 19. 200S. Ll'! Verbal communication. 30**~ov** .. 2005. LylU1 VanEvery. Richard Clegg. Idallo Department ofEnvironmental Quality. 110 Letter dated August 5, 1980 from RussThurow. Idaho Department ofFish and Game, Soda Springs. !D. to Dean Grcwcr, &"lda Springs Rangel District. Caribou National Forest. "In 19711, we electrolished sections ofKendall, Mill. and Spring Creeks. W-.: observed densities af20juvenile cutthroat and 23 .;utthroat trout fry per 100 meters of Kendall Creek. In Mill Cn:ek, we surveyed two sections and**den~ities** equaled 37 l;uUhroal and 24 cutthroat trout fry per 100 meters with(in) the U.S. Forest Service Boundary."

17the course ofa 

### tcw years... unless one is cognizant ofthe subtle way in which selenium operates,,. consistent 

### \'vith the Belc'Ws 

### Lake case discussed 

### ahove. 111 III the absence or

### tish samples, otherparameters to gauge the health ofMill Creek are selenium concentrations in its \\'ater, macroinvertt!brates, and macrophytes. In J\'lay 2005 water from Mill Creek had a selenium concentration 01'417

### ~tg/L.1!2 the macroinvertcbrate

### sampl~ had a Se concentrationof 

### 43.6**~lg/g.** and the maCrOph)1e sample \\a5 recorded at 77.6 

### f-tg!g.JIJ In 2007, however, Gye captured 

### om: brook 

### trout in Mill 

### Creek. It had a whole budY. dry weight 

### selenium concentration 

### of37.2**~lg/g.l14** - ­ 

### Not only 

### is the selenium contamination problem growing,**it~.**

### escalating III

### an exponent{g! n1te hasedon allfhJ' dC/fa referencedin this petifion. Seleniumis transported 

### into the environment via waler run offand infiltration. Drought conditions throughout much ofthe western Lnilcd States has reduced traditional Jlows in the Blackfoot Rivl.!f vvatershed 

### by almost 50(%.11:' Asa result. selenium 

### loadin¥r6to the watershed.co.uld increase**~** to 7 

### timeR the**:ulTen~ am~unt**  with a return to normal flows flood events \vl1I1I1creasc the nsk and levels of selenIUm Ifl the streams throughout the phosphate-mining n:gion.
VII. Conclusion
The information currently available is insufficient to adequlltdy protecl the puhlic interest. The Idaho Department ofHe-alth and W

### dfare's review ofselenium contamination lor their most recent Health Assessment was basedon samples taken almost tive yt!afS ago."7 Tht: public should have up-to-date infomlation so that risks can be tracked from year-to-year. Furthermore, 

### in researching the ddta published regarding selenium. om: 

### quickly learns that knowledge conccminf!, the bioacctunulative nature ofselenium is necessary to fully understand the impacts ofthis listed 

### § 313 toxin. However, lhe 

### recently released Site Investigation Report (,'SIR") concllming Smokey Canyon Mine omitsan), discussion o1'bioaccumulation in all urits 819 pages.Jl8 

### TIllS is disconcerting since 

### that SlR**W~** supposedly designed to address the impacts ofselenium released

### by this mine's dump 

### sites and to form a basis for formulating ofCERCLA mitigation measures. This is also disconcerting because future CERCLA actions arc currently 

### being developed for other 

### mille OVillers and 

### will likely mimic the Smokey Canyon SIR. 

### Information concerning selenium 

### \NiH not only help citizens protect themselves but 

### will also empower them with a measure ofoversight. Additional oversight may prompt the mining

III Lelnly. Dennis. Selenium Impacts on Fish: An Insidiou;; Tinle 30mb. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment· Vol. 5, No. 6.pp. 1139-1151 (1999) IJ2 Weber. hank. Resear;:h Triangle Institute. Research Triangle Park, NC. Technical Report. RTI Project No :Ol-l973.002.009. May 19,2005. 113 Weber. fran"**Resea~ch** Triangle Institute, Research Tnanglc Park, NC. Technical Repon. RTI Project No :08973.002.009. Sepl<:mber 19.2005. IH Weber. Frank. Resean:h Triangle Institute. Research Triangle Park. NC. Tecbnical Report. RTl Project :-./o.:0201N71002.009. January 16.2008. Il5 Presser, I S., Hard),. M, Huebner. M.A., and LaM\lthe, I'J. Selenium Loading through the Blaekfo.lt River**Wa!ersh~d** I.inking Sources to**E~osystems.** /,t/e (reit' of'fhe Phwphoriu Fvrm(.1/irm: FrUin DepOSition (u the PO$/­ Mifling [tlm·onnum!. PgA53. EJiled by James R. Hein. 2004. I It. Id. at457. II: Idaho Department ofHealth and Welfare. 2005 Health Assessment ofSoutheasl idaho Phosphate Resource Are<l. I II Site Investigation Report. Newfields, July 2005. Smokey Can}on Mine. J.R. Simplot Company

18I**intere~ts** 

### to become mort diligent in complying withcurrent Clean Water Actprovisions and 

### pl'evt:nl future violations ofthdr

### National Pollution Elimination Discharge**P~rrnit** 

### System**MuJti~** 

### SectorGeneral Permitthat were noted at four separate locations

### by differing owners 

### in u 

### September2004 inspection. I !'} 

### The problems associalt:u \\ith 

### c;eJenillm contamination

### in southeast Idaho 

### ami the 

### Salt River drainage in 

### western Wyoming 

### have grown at an CllOffilOUS 

### rate in the past decadt: and, as illustrated above. are still growing. CiLizens need to haw access to as much infornlation related to selenium releases as possible. The Greater Yellowstone Coalition is hopeful that the EPA

### will give this petition request 

### serious and immediate 

### COllsideration resulting in the promulgation ofa rule to require phosphate rock mining 

### taciJitics to report releases oflisted 

### § 313 toxic chemicals. Please respond in a timely manner, as required 

### by § 555(c) ofthe Administrative ProcedureAct.

II') u.s. EPA Region 10. Norice ofViolation and Requesl for Information. Scpo IJ-J 5.2004. MSGP tracking nos IOR05A35I, IDR05A352. IDR05A382, mlW5A469


### 19

### Lisa**Jack~Qn,** 

### Administrator Envir(lW1lental 

### Protection Agency Ariel RiosBuilding 1200Pennsylvania Avenue,N.W. Washington, DC 20460 ",



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