OSWER/OSRTI

Washington, DC 20460

NATIONAL PRIORITIES LIST (NPL) 

[The description of the site (release) is based on information available at the time the site was evaluated with the HRS. The description may 

change as additional information is gathered on the sources and extent of contamination.]

For more information about the hazardous substances identified in this narrative summary, including general information regarding the effects of exposure to 

these substances on human health, please see the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) ToxFAQs. ATSDR ToxFAQs can be found on 

the Internet at http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaq.html or by telephone at 1-888-42-ATSDR or 1-888-422-8737.

***Proposed Site*** March 2012 

BAUTSCH-GRAY MINE Galena, Illinois

Jo Daviess County

 Site Location:

The Bautsch-Gray Mine site consists of the remnants of an abandoned lead-zinc mine and milling operation located 

approximately four miles south of Galena in Rice Township, Jo Daviess County, Illinois. The site contains a 40-acre

mine tailings pile, a 4.8-acre surface impoundment and 4.9 acres of contaminated soil. The site is in a rural area and is 

located approximately 1.5 miles east of the Mississippi River. 

 Site History:

The Bautsch and Gray Mines were two separate underground mines. The Mineral Point Zinc Company began 

operating at the Gray Mine in 1927 and continued until the 1940s. In 1946, Tri-State Zinc began operating at the 

Bautsch Mine. From 1969 until 1979, Eagle Picher operated from both mines. Currently, the property encompassed by 

the Bautsch-Gray Mine site is owned by three separate entities. No mining activities have occurred on the property 

since 1979. 

 Site Contamination/Contaminants:

A mill formerly located on the Bautsch-Gray Mine site processed rock from the Bautsch and Gray Mines. After rock 

was mined, it was transported to the mill which was located near the present day location of the tailings pile. The mill 

was used to crush and grind rock and separate usable lead and zinc ore. The leftover rock, referred to as mine tailings, 

began to accumulate on the site in the late 1940s. Mine tailings areas are devoid of vegetation and/or have distressed 

vegetation. A large berm, composed of mine tailings, parallels Blackjack Road. Sampling of the areas contaminated by 

mine tailings found elevated levels of lead, zinc, arsenic and cadmium. 

 Potential Impacts on Surrounding Community/Environment: 

The erosion of the tailings pile has resulted in the migration of contaminated mine tailings toward Blackjack Road. A 

surface impoundment, two residential properties, roadside ditches, a wetland and Smallpox Creek have been impacted 

by the migration of mine tailings. Smallpox Creek flows for approximately 2.7 miles before reaching the Mississippi 

River. Smallpox Creek is a perennial water body that is used for trapping, fishing and canoeing. The Mississippi River 

is a fishery and contains two protected aquatic species near the confluence with Smallpox Creek. The most shallow 

bedrock aquifer, which provides drinking water to most of the area residents, has been contaminated. One nearby 

residential drinking water well was found to exceed the Safe Drinking Water Act maximum contaminant level (MCL) 

for lead. 

 Response Activities (to date):

The EPA has entered into an administrative order on consent with several PRPs to conduct a time-critical removal 

action to install and maintain a water treatment system on the residence with elevated lead levels in their well. 

Removal actions were also taken to regrade the tailings pile and address residential soils.

 Need for NPL Listing:

The State of Illinois referred the site to the EPA. Other federal and state cleanup programs were evaluated, but are not 

viable at this time. The EPA received a letter of support for placing this site on the NPL from the state on March 22, 

2011.