Major construction for Anaconda Mine cleanup near Yerington to start in August
Water tanks for the town of Yerington, with the abandoned Anaconda mine pit, source of an underground plume of poisonous water in the background, are seen April 27, 2018. (Photo: Scott Sady/AP, file)
The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection said the first major construction phase of the Anaconda Mine Site cleanup is slated to break ground in August, according to a news release. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency transferred oversight of the Anaconda Mine revitalization project to NDEP three years ago. Atlantic Richfield Co., is charged with completing the revitalization work at the site on schedule, according to the release. The full cleanup for the entire site near Yerington, which consists of three phases, is on track for completion by 2029. “We will continue applying the best available science to ensure that current and future activities are protective of public health and the natural environment” Greg Lovato, NDEP administrator, said in the release. “We look forward to continuing a phased cleanup approach to ensure a healthy, vibrant, sustainable future for Mason Valley residents.” The first phase of the cleanup plan includes the installation of five fluid management ponds (completed in 2020), recontouring and capping over 260 acres of mine landscape features to protect water quality, and constructing stormwater controls, the release said. Regular status updates and specific timelines will be announced in advance of the project breaking ground in August, according to the release. Additionally, NDEP will continue to require Atlantic Richfield to monitor all identified, as well as potential, mine-related groundwater contamination on an ongoing basis. Site activities completed in the last year include geotechnical investigations in support of mine reclamation, cultural investigations, construction of five new fluid management system ponds, and completion of a comprehensive groundwater study capturing 15 years of scientific data and data evaluation. The Superfund program, established in 1980, authorized a tax on oil and chemical industries to fund cleanups nationwide. In 1995, the tax expired and was never reauthorized by Congress. The expiration of this tax has increased the nation’s backlog of unfunded Superfund sites. The deferral and associated agreements between NDEP and Atlantic Richfield ensures funding will remain available for this cleanup, the release said. Spanning across more than 260 acres of land, the upcoming heavy construction phase will be funded with over $32 million from Atlantic Richfield and approximately $2.7 million from hazardous waste disposal fees. For information about the cleanup, visit ndep.nv.gov/land/abandoned-mine-lands/anaconda-home.
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