Current Project
Project Name: Leads Five Stamp Mill
Project Location: T41S R14W sec 12 SENW 
Type of Site: Heap Leach Repository
HUC#: 15010008
Congressional District: Utah BLM- St. George Field Office
Table of Contents
History
Impacts
Actions & Timeline
Benefits
BLM Funding
Point of Contact

History:

The Leads Five Stamp Mill is a late nineteenth century silver mine mill.  It was discovered that the mine waste/tailings were contaminating the soil, surface water and was migrating offsite. In March 1999, the EPA declared it a risk to human health and the environment and initiated a Time-Critical Removal Action. As of April 2000 the site was under going reclamation and was making good progress.

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Impacts:

Mercury contaminations and metal salts, especially copper, contaminated soil, sediment and surface waters and posed a potential threat of contamination to Quail Creek Reservoir.

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Actions and Timeline:

On January 13, 1999, confirmatory samples were taken by the EPA from the mill tailings deposited on both sides of the creek.

In February 1999, research was done by the St. George Field Office Geologist to find a potential Responsible Party; however, none was found.

In March 1999, the EPA initiated a Time-Critical Removal action when the sample results from the site showed that it may pose a significant threat to aquatic life especially during storm events. Saltation of metals during the drier months may cause crystallization of metal salts that may be flushed into the aquatic system at high concentrations during storms.  High mercury concentration may contribute to potential contamination at Quail Creek Reservoir of fish and other parts of the food web. Mercury, copper, silver and lead were all found to have much higher concentrations at the site than the background of the area.

In March 2000, mitigation work began on the site. Tailings and other waste material were removed from the site and placed on an existing capped leach pile. Waste material from the debris plume was consolidated onto plastic and disposed of at an approved offsite facility. About 3 inches of bentonite were laid down under the pad to act as a liner and prevent any further possible leaching of the area. The sites and the roads were scarified and seeded.

As of April 4, 2000 the site looked good according to BLM members. All work was done through the combined efforts of the BLM, EPA and BOR.

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Benefits:

Contaminating waste was removed and the threat posed to human health and the environment was removed.

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Cost/Funding and Estimated BLM contribution:

$124,000; $1,800 BLM cost

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Point of Contact:

Russell Schreiner
(435) 688-3200
St. George Field Office
345 E. Riverside Drive, Suite 103
St. George, Utah 84770

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Before, During and After Photos: