The Kolmakof Mine Site (KMS) is an abandoned cinnabar (mercury) mine on lands currently managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).  The KMS is located approximately 19.5 miles east of Aniak and approximately 9 miles west of Napaimute on the north bank of the Kuskokwim River.  The KMS is within the Napaimute Village Townsite selection (F-14900-A2); is scheduled to be conveyed to The Kuskokwim Corp. (TKC) in accordance with the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.

It is thought that the Kolmakof cinnabar deposit was first discovered by Russian explorers in about 1838, making it one of Alaska’s earliest mineral discoveries.  Mining of cinnabar at KMS dates to about 1881, although all of the structures found there by 2006 are of a more modern age from about the 1940’s and newer.  Available records indicate that cinnabar was mined and shipped to off-site refineries on an episodic basis, with the last production occurring in 1970.  Most of the production occurred from a small open pit area, although there was some underground mining.  A small amount of mercury may have been extracted from cinnabar ore at on-site retorts, but the majority was shipped off-site for processing.  It is believed that about 250 flasks worth of mercury were produced by the Kolmakof Mine; a flask holds 2.5 quarts of “quick-silver”.  The KMS mine claims were determined to be “abandoned and void” in 1993.

In 1999 BLM was notified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that a contractor was to conduct a Preliminary Assessment/Site Inspection (PA/SI) of the KMS under EPA’s Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team (START) Program.  Correspondence from EPA and it’s contractor state that they had identified potential for mercury and other toxic metals contamination from the tailings, mill, and retorting operations.  The correspondence identifies several areas of concern such as that there may have been a mercury retort facility at the “upper camp” and that tailings may be impacting wetlands, surface, or groundwater.  In 2000 EPA notified BLM that the SI was cancelled because BLM had stated BLM would conduct the investigation under Department of Interior’s delegated CERCLA authority.  During 2000 BLM conducted site inspections and determined that removal of hazardous materials was warranted.  The BLM removed several drums of chemicals and burned-down a shed containing several cases of commercial-grade explosives.  The BLM case file does not contain documentation that the main areas of potential contamination identified by the EPA were addressed in the inspections or removal.  

During January 2006 BLM was contacted by the Native Village of Napaimute, concerning their perceived need for further cleanup of the site.  Napaimute was concerned about drums at the site, mercury contamination, and other unspecified chemical hazards as well as the large volume of solid waste present there.  On 18 August 2006 BLM conducted a joint inspection of the site with a representative from Napaimute and determined that formal investigation was warranted.  During 2007 Ecology and Environment, Inc. (ENE) conducted a Removal Site Inspection (RSI) of KMS under contract to the BLM.  A copy of RSI report may be downloaded here:  Kolmakof Mine Site RSI Report 3-31-08.pdf.

Results of the RSI indicate that further cleanup work is required at the KMS before the land can be conveyed.  BLM is currently working with the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation and other stakeholders to develop a workplan for cleanup of the KMS.  BLM plans to conduct cleanup work at the KMS during the 2008 field season.

For further information about this site, please contact the BLM Project Manager, Larry Beck at lbeck@blm.gov.