Forest Service Solicits Comments on Proposed Hazardous Material Clean-up at Hanna Mill Site in Hoover Wilderness

Forest Service Solicits Comments on Proposed Hazardous Material Clean-up at Hanna Mill Site in Hoover Wilderness
Release Date: May 27, 2011 Bishop, CA
Contact(s): Nancy Upham

The Forest Service has identified the Hanna Mill Site within the Hoover Wilderness as having a release of arsenic and lead into the environment. Based on site testing, the levels present require a non-time critical removal action to address this problem. An engineering evaluation/cost analysis (EE/CA) document describes the possible response actions and their consequences. It is now available for public review and comment.

The Hanna Mill Site is near the head of South Fork Mill Creek upstream from Lundy Lake. The Site encompasses a 23-acre area where the remains of several processing structures associated with the May-Lundy Mine are located. The hazardous substances, arsenic and lead, are exposed at the ground surface in mill tailings created by processing at the 20-stamp May-Lundy mill, the 2-stamp Crystal Lake mill and the collapsed Hanna flotation mill. Additionally, these tailings were deposited within nearby Crystal Lake which results in high arsenic concentrations in fish found in that lake.

Copies of the Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis, and the Administrative Record used in developing it, are available for public inspection during regular business hours at the Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center in Lee Vining, the Mammoth Ranger District Office in Mammoth Lakes, and the Inyo National Forest Supervisor’s Office, 351 Pacu Lane in Bishop. The Forest Service will accept written comments for 30 calendar days from the date of publication of the public notice in the Inyo Register. The 30-day period comment period will end on June 30, 2011.

Written comments should be sent to Jerome DeGraff, US Forest Service, 1600 Tollhouse Road, Clovis, CA 93611. Mr. DeGraff is the On-Scene Coordinator for this Site clean-up. The Forest Service will prepare a written response to significant comments. The public spokesperson for this action is Todd Ellsworth, Acting Resource Officer for the Inyo National Forest. He can be contacted at (760) 873-2404 or (760)937-2033 or by email at: tellsworth@fs.fed.us.