State looking at the Grant Mine Pond
Cleanup Chronology Report for Grant Mine Site New Database Search
Site Name: Grant Mine Site
Institutional Controls Report
No ICs exist for this site.
Address: 1.2 Mi. St. Patricks Road
Ester Dome
Fairbanks, AK 99708
File Number: 100.38.182
Hazard ID: 731
Staff: Janice Wiegers - 9074512127
Status: Active
Landowner: U.S.D.I. BLM - Fairbanks
Latitude: 64.880147
Longitude: -147.960172
Section: 28
Meridian: Fairbanks
Range: 002
Township: 001
Problem / Comments
Cyanide contamination of groundwater from a silt lined tailings pond used to contain waste generated by an ore processing mill. Contamination first detected in 1988. Human health hazard and extent of contamination are currently unknown. The ore processing mill has been inactive since February 1989. CERCLIS # AKD983067513. One of three (water) wells on site (thought to be a conduit for contamination to aquifer) was sealed in 5/1989. One sample of 1.26 parts per million (ppm) cyanide from monitor well "A" on 5/3/1989. Drinking water standard for cyanide is 0.2 milligrams per liter (mg/l). Site has also been subject of Notice of Violations (NOVs) for wastewater (septic) disposal. National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit AK-004348-6. Silverado entered joint venture agreement with American Copper and Nickel Co. (ACNC) in 6/1990. Also permit 8130-DB001. Cross reference file numbers 175.62.001 and 175.62.104; FKA 100.23.031.
Glossary/Acronyms
Action Information
Action Date
Action
Description
DEC Staff
02/13/1981 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = PER - Permit Action at Site). Application for wastewater permit for discharge into Happy Creek. Waste disposal permit #8130-DB001 issued. No Longer Assigned,
01/09/1985 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = PER - Permit Action at Site). NPDES permit AK-004348-6 issued. No Longer Assigned,
03/20/1985 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = PER - Permit Action at Site). Application for solid waste disposal permit - were advised that disposal covered in NPDES permit. No Longer Assigned,
03/29/1985 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = PER - Permit Action at Site). Application for air quality control permit. No Longer Assigned,
01/15/1986 Notice of Violation NOV issued regarding failed septic systems and advising of potential hazardous waste disposal violations. No Longer Assigned,
10/31/1986 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = PER - Permit Action at Site). Expiration of waste disposal permit #8130-DB001. No Longer Assigned,
01/14/1988 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = FI - Field Inspection (General)). Sampled water at site from 1/14/88 to 12/17/89. Up to 1.26 ppm cyanide (5/3/89) and 0.96 ppm arsenic detected in these samples. Discharge water from operation to pit showed up to 180 ppm cyanide (2/17/88). No Longer Assigned,
03/06/1989 Notice of Violation Issued an NOV for cyanide leakage from tailings disposal pit. McCallister, Ron
03/08/1989 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = FI - Field Inspection (General)). ADEC sampled water at site every month/two months from 3/8/89 to 9/20/89. Up to 0.03 ppm cyanide detected in these samples. No Longer Assigned,
05/15/1989 Interim Removal Action Approved (Old R:Base Action Code = SC - Site Control (Emergency Response)). Well "R" (near disposal pit dike) was sealed this date because Tri-Con concluded it to be a conduit for contamination to the aquifer. No Longer Assigned,
06/07/1989 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = PER - Permit Action at Site). NPDES permit AK-004348-6 to expire 8/7/89. No Longer Assigned,
10/05/1989 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = FI - Field Inspection (General)). One monitoring well installed by Aurora Drilling. No Longer Assigned,
12/01/1989 Preliminary Assessment Approved Performed by Ecology and Environment, Inc. No Longer Assigned,
06/26/1990 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = FI - Field Inspection (General)). Water samples obtained from monitoring well, A well, and tailings pond. Results showed 0.06 ppm cyanide in pond, no detected cyanide in monitoring well and 0.13 ppm in A well. A well concentration down from 1.26 ppm (prior to sealing R well). No Longer Assigned,
07/30/1990 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = FI - Field Inspection (General)). Monitoring well M2 installed by Aurora Drilling. No Longer Assigned,
11/28/1990 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = FI - Field Inspection (General)). Cyanide in A well above 0.2 ppm. No Longer Assigned,
12/13/1990 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Initial ranking. No Longer Assigned,
07/26/1991 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = FI - Field Inspection (General)). Armstrong visited site to view S02 Air process reduce cyanide solution to prescribed levels. Armstrong noted that the facility was clean and devoid of any cyanide solutions, solids, and any other toxic chemicals or hazardous waste. Armstrong, Ed
07/28/1991 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = MS - Monitoring/Sampling). RP treated 37,000 gallons of cyanide solution by S02/Air Process and discharged to tailings pond. Dissolved CN (WAD) reduced to less than 1 ppm. Dissolved CN in filtered discharge <1ppm. Unfiltered solution showed 15 ppm due to partial decomposition of ferro-cyanide complex. No Longer Assigned,
12/17/1991 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = MS - Monitoring/Sampling). Analytical results (total CN) of water samples: Monitoring Well# A = 0.03mg/l, Well# M1 = <MDL, Well# M2 = 0.19mg/l. EPA drinking quality = 0.20 mg/l. EPA Method 335.2. No Longer Assigned,
09/30/1993 Site Added to Database Cyanide contamination. No Longer Assigned,
05/31/1994 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Reranked. No Longer Assigned,
05/31/1994 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = RPL2 - Site Information Request Letter). Sent PRP-CS Database Notification Letter to RP requesting update and more environmental information concerning the contaminated site. RP called and then responded with updated and completed information form. Peterson, Jeff
05/04/2001 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Changed Toxicity Value from 2 to 3 to reflect metals contamination. No Longer Assigned,
07/10/2002 GIS Position Updated Plotted latitude and longitude coordinates and found them to be acceptable for associated property or address. Goldman, Heather
11/29/2004 Update or Other Action Reviewed file, GW monitoring results for Cyaninde below Drinking Water standards from 1990 to present with the exception of one 1992 sample result of 0.23 mg/l. DeRuyter, Kim
11/30/2004 Update or Other Action Merged this file with the Tri Con file Grant Mine Site, file # 100.23.031. Also refrence file # 175.62.001 &.104. DeRuyter, Kim
12/01/2004 Update or Other Action Personal Correspondence with Ed Armstrong, they hope to move this site toward closure possibly as soon as the summer of 2005. Will send soil boring reports from tailings pond. DeRuyter, Kim
10/17/2006 Update or Other Action Received calls from DNR, and Ed Armstrong regarding the tailings pond at the site. Ed plans to meet later this winter to discuss a plan for capping the tailings pond. This work is expected to take place next summer. DNR is working with ADOT to approve use of some clean gravel from the site for roadwork in the Ester area. DeRuyter, Kim
05/27/2008 Update or Other Action Mailed letter to RP requesting current status of the site. Cardona-Marek, Tamara
05/29/2008 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed. Cardona-Marek, Tamara
06/11/2008 Update or Other Action Received call from Dan Basketfield. Sampling has taken place quarterly or semiannually at the tailings pond. Tri-con will be meeting with Shannon and Wilson to submit a plan for cleanup and closure. Cardona-Marek, Tamara
06/16/2008 Meeting or Teleconference Held Met with Dan Basketfield and Shannon and Wilson onsite. Discussed the plan that will be proposed for site cleanup. Plan will include a one time permit for disposal. Contaminated soil will be excavated and site capped and revegetated. Tricon will send previous monitoring reports and will present proposal to FNSB and DEC for approval (expected in 2009). Cardona-Marek, Tamara
06/27/2008 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking A new updated ranking with ETM has been completed. Cardona-Marek, Tamara
07/08/2013 Update or Other Action Site symbol visually adjusted using ArcGIS and documents from file. 64.880147, -147.960172. 7/8/13; MLB. Barnes, Michelle
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Juneau, AK 99811-1800
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