The NDEP and Multistate Trust Invite Community to June 28 Public Meeting To Discuss Investigations, Cleanup Options and Future Uses of the Caselton Mine Area and Mill Site
PIOCHE, NV, June 15, 2023 – Local residents and other individuals interested in the Caselton Mine Area and Mill Site (Site) are encouraged to attend a community meeting Wednesday, June 28 to hear representatives of the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) and Multistate Environmental Response Trust (Multistate Trust) explain the progress of Site investigations, cleanup strategies, and efforts to evaluate safe, beneficial potential reuses.
“The NDEP and the Multistate Trust continue to work to investigate and address mine- and mill-related contamination on portions of the Site,” Multistate Trust Program Director Tasha Lewis said. “We value collaboration and communication with the community, and we appreciate members of the public taking time to come out to hear our updates and share comments, concerns and questions.”
The NDEP and Multistate Trust are hosting this meeting in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and The Nature Conservancy (TNC).
· Community Meeting: 6 p.m. – 7 p.m.
· Question-and-Answer Session: 7 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Location: Thompson’s Opera House, 644 Main Street, Pioche
Food: To be provided 5:30 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Topics will include (see details below):
Tank Road Tailings characterization results
Brownfields Programs characterization and cleanup approach
Exploring a “Mining the Sun” opportunity
BLM’s Caselton Mine & Mill and Impacted Watershed Restoration project
Community survey results and future opportunities for input
For more information:
Caselton Mine Area and Mill Site overview fact sheet, June 2023
NDEP website for the Site https://ndep.nv.gov/land/abandoned-mine-lands/caselton-mine
Multistate Trust website https://multistatetrust.org/
Multistate Trust planned website for Site https://caselton.greenfieldenvironmental.com
Site Background
The ±3,200-acre Caselton Mine Area and Mill Site’s history of silver, gold, lead, zinc and copper production dates back to the 1860s. In 1976, the Site was acquired by Kerr-McGee Corp. Starting in the mid-2000s, Tronox Inc. and its affiliates (Tronox) owned or were liable for the Caselton Site and many other sites contaminated by Kerr-McGee and its affiliates.
Operations at the Site ended in 1957, yet aging structures and legacy mining and milling waste products remain at the Site. The main contaminants of concern are metals, including lead and arsenic.
The Multistate Trust
The Multistate Trust is a private, independent trust created as part of the Tronox bankruptcy settlement in 2011 to own, investigate and clean up the Caselton Site and other contaminated Kerr-McGee/Tronox sites, and facilitate safe, beneficial site reuse. Greenfield Environmental Multistate Trust LLC is Trustee of the Multistate Trust.
Since the Site was transferred in 2011 to the Multistate Trust, the Multistate Trust has worked with the NDEP to investigate and address contamination at the Site and to determine if remaining mining and milling materials and waste pose environmental and human health risks, and whether remedial measures can be implemented with the Site’s limited funding.
Environmental Investigations
To facilitate investigations, the Multistate Trust and the NDEP divided the Site into five geographic areas or Operable Units (OUs). The OU boundaries are based on past mining activities, land use, and potential receptors such as residents, recreators, industrial workers, and ecological receptors. See the Caselton Site map.
Tank Road Tailings characterization results – Mining or milling byproducts (called tailings) were investigated on a private parcel (Tank Road Parcel) (OU1) near residential areas, and lead and arsenic were found at concentrations above established risk-based cleanup levels. The Multistate Trust is prioritizing, evaluating and addressing the Tank Road Tailings, subject to funding availability, due to their proximity to residential areas.
Brownfields Programs characterization and cleanup approach – EPA is conducting environmental site assessments at and near the Caselton Mill Site (OU4) through its Targeted Brownfields Assessment Program.
BLM’s Caselton Mine & Mill and Impacted Watershed Restoration project – BLM received Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds for its Caselton Mine & Mill and Impacted Watershed Restoration project. BLM will use the funds to complete a comprehensive remedial investigation and feasibility study to evaluate watershed impacts from OU4 and OU5 contamination.
Reuse Planning
The Multistate Trust, the NDEP and other organizations are supporting Lincoln County with evaluating possible future uses for the Caselton Mill Site and surrounding area. Potential reuses include renewable energy generation, historic preservation, and tourism.
Exploring a “Mining the Sun” opportunity – Renewable energy generation and suitability are being assessed through EPA’s RE-Powering America’s Land Initiative and The Nature Conservancy’s Mining the Sun Initiative.
Caselton Mine Area and Mill Site map – This map shows the five areas or Operable Units (OUs) that the Multistate Trust and the NDEP divided the Site into, based on past mining activities, land use, and potential receptors (including human or ecological receptors).
Caselton Mill Site and adjacent tailings photo – This photo features a view of the Caselton Mill Site and adjacent tailings that make up OU4. Remedial investigations showed the former mill site, tailings, and disposal pond sediments contained contaminants from past mining and milling operations.
Media Contact: Christine Amrhine, Greenfield Environmental Multistate Trust, (540) 846-3163, ca@g-etg.com