| I) Commodore update by Stephen Wardell 1) Fema may have money
available for flood control measures on the Commodore.
2) The county has gabion baskets and is in the process of installing measures to protect
the road from being washed out. The CDMG engineering report gave a good idea as to what
needs done but not how access to these areas should be accomplished, so we (the county)
are taking it upon ourselves to push roads into these areas so work can be done.
3) The county is in the process of pushing an access avenue into the lower side of the
tailings pile just above the pipe and also below the pipe so that work can be done there.
Rock is being located and piled for use as rip-rap.
Stephen pointed out that all work done by the county on this project will be used as an
in kind donation to the Committee. Danny is keeping a record of this work.
JB pointed out the importance of organizing a general cleanup of old scrap metal etc.
This will be possible when we have an access road built.
II) Coordinator’s Report - Glen passed around the year 2000 grant proposal which
was submitted to CDPHE. This grant proposal involves $167,200 of 319 funds, $50,000 from
the Forest Service, $31,000 from other grant sources (i.e. Hewlett packard & the State
Historical Society), $56,000 non cash Federal contribution, and $158,000 of
volunteer and non-federal in kind donation, totaling $462,200 for the year 2000.
New parts that are not a part of the 1999 proposal are...
1) Six or more wells to be put in the year 2000 to test for groundwater contamination
2) Tracer study focusing on Lower West Willow to determine origins of contamination,
direction of flow, volume, and velocity.
This study is focusing on Lower West Willow. Glen stated that a possible nightmare would
be to spend a lot of CDMG, FEMA, and County money in the near future and then find that
because our characterization was incomplete and there were contamination sources in
certain spots that we didn’t know about, that much of our work could be wasted and
have to be redone.
Surface-water, Ground-water and Tracer studies of this area as soon as possible would
insure that everything we do counts within the big picture and nothing is wasted.
3) Surface soil testing and stratification of homogenous units on maps would allow us to
re-vegetate all of the relevant areas of the watershed with the best species possible
according to our re-veg trials that are now underway.
4) Sediment and pile testing. Glen learned that some of our large tailings piles are not
the same everywhere within the same pile. Maybe only small portions are causing most of
the pollution. Dealing with only a small chunk might be a lot easier. This could be
determined by testing these piles.
Zeke Ward and Kathleen Reilly pointed out that although Federal non-cash donations
don't count as in kind they are still very important for us to keep track of in
order to show participation. Also, these non-cash donations might count as part of
non-governmental grant applications.
Everyone is encouraged to send the calendars (posted on the web) with their hours etc.
to Glen on a regular basis.
III) Les Dobson reported that he will get the necessary signatures for the Forest
Service Funding and have that available for the next meeting. Les pointed out that
himself, Kirk Minckler, Daryl Gusey, and others of the Forest Service are going to
continue to be working with the WCRC.
In answer to a question from Frank Sanders, Kirk and Daryl spoke of their roles in this
project as to showing this area to be a regional priority for funding. They also spoke of
the abandoned mines program of the forest service and how this relates to that program.
IV) Kathleen Reilly spoke of the mechanics of getting the 319 grant proposal approved
and of the mid September meeting where Zeke will be given an opportunity to lobby in
person before the 319 committee.
V) Karen Hamilton spoke of a meeting at EPA headquarters where they began the process
of drafting up a letter that shows the EPA’s overall intentions in relation to the
Willow Creek Reclamation Project. The purpose of the statement is to put together the
goals of the various departments of the EPA into a common position in regards to our
project. Karen pointed out that the EPA has many different goals and methods of operating
within the agency. Superfund is only one of those. This statement lists the goals of the
EPA and each person that is working with the WCRC and will be drafted into a work plan.
This draft should be approved by management and available to us by the next meeting. A few
things that are now known are...
1) The official EPA representatives to the Committee are going to be Dianna and Karen
with Tina Laidlaw and Mike Wireman on the TAC.
2) Superfund's role will be limited to any PRP that wishes to negotiate out any
possible liability with the EPA. This will be superfund’s niche role. Ken Wangerud
and Nancy Mangone are in charge of this activity. In order for a PRP to independently deal
with the EPA there must be an agreement of the site's contamination level and what it
would take to clean it up and what the PRP's responsibility is in this clean up activity.
If there are any sampling activities on a site that would be needed to determine
contamination levels, then superfund would want to work in conjunction with the WCRC. We
could use any information that would be obtained. Susan Griffin is an EPA toxicologist
(non-superfund) that has been drawn into this activity. Karen advised that Susan Griffin
act as a liaison between superfund dealings with PRPs and the Willow Creek Committee.
JB Alexander asked Karen where the money that the EPA might get from when a PRP settles
out their liability goes. Does it become available to the WCRC for the overall reclamation
project or does the EPA use that money to perform their own reclamation project
independent of the WCRC or what? Karen said that the purpose of the EPA statement spoken
about earlier is to insure that everything done in the Willow Creek area is part of the
overall WCRC plan.
Glen expressed concern that any dealings by Superfund could appear as a split-divide-and
conquer strategy by getting PRPs to work separately and possibly against each other
and the WCRC in this reclamation project. Karen stated that certain PRPs have come to the
EPA of their own accord to possibly settle out their liability and it is superfund’s
role to do that and there is no ulterior motive.
Sandra Wright expressed concern that the above stated Superfund involvement might open
the door wider to this area being taken over as a Superfund site. Karen stated that their
efforts this summer have narrowed the door considerably. Glen said that it is possible
that most of us never knew how wide the door was to begin with or there would have been
even more concern.
Karen stated that Creede is not on any priority list to become a superfund site.
She told of people at Battle Mountain actually seeking to become a superfund site and
possibly suing EPA for not taking control of their situation.
General committee members express incredulance at the level of ignorance that must
exist among people that would actually seek Superfund involvement.
Committee members are nervous of the EPA conducting independent characterization or
reclamation efforts in our watershed and hope that the EPA document will alleviate our
nervous concerns. It is clear that WCRC intends to carry out all characterization and
reclamation activities in our watershed and do it according to the highest principles of
scientific endeavor and work with the EPA but not under their control. The WCRC is
committed to cost effective reclamation and to "just and correct" PRP
involvement. PRPs being stuck with a huge and unjust EPA bill like happened in Leadville
is anathema to WCRC philosophy.
Any hint of possible bootleg or independent actions by superfund undermine the
efforts of other contributing agencies and create and atmosphere of dissension among local
citizens and volunteers. At present, many committee members feel that superfund is still
circling overhead like a vulture ready to swoop down and make a kill. This nervousness is
very detrimental to our efforts and must be alleviated. Any superfund activity in our
watershed will be met by a bad feeling from the citizens, other agency people that have
contributed so much, and will create a rift between the Committee, the EPA, and possibly
the PRP. Our relationship with the EPA cannot continue under an atmosphere of distrust and
we are thankful to Karen, Dianna, Mike, and Tina for seeking to create a trustful working
relationship between the WCRC and the EPA.
Karen spoke of a clean water act training course here in Creede that She, Dianna, and
Kathleen could teach. Glen is going to put this information on the Web Site so everyone
knows what is happening.
VI) Water Sampling - Frank Sanders spoke of activities of the last few days where 54
surface water sample sites have been selected. Bence Close, Pam Anderson, Frank Sanders,
Sean Covington, Les Dobson, JB Alexander, Bob Kirkham, & Laura Higgins were involved
in this. Frank said that next week Bruce Stover and Mike Wireman are going to tour the
area and possibly add a few more.
Sampling of the low flow event is to begin on Saturday September 18th.
VII) Biological Assessments - Laura Higgins spoke of the sampling of fish and
macro-invertebrates for archival purposes. She spoke of taking blood samples from birds
called American Dippers because they dive under the water and share the same feeding niche
as a trout and would give a biological indication of water quality.
VIII) Cultural Resource Inventory - John Howard spoke of the contract with Eric Twitty.
Field work is to be completed by the end of October and the reports a month or two later.
Vince Spero said that the value of buildings on Forest Service Land will be better
determined after Eric’s overall site characterization is able to put individual
buildings into context. Les Dobson spoke of the thought that certain buildings may not
have actual historic significance but might have interest to tourists. Zeke spoke of the
fact that decisions concerning historical significance be deferred to the local Creede
Historical Society and that the WCRC work through this group.
IX) Re-Veg Field Trials - Steve Russell spoke of the fact that this rain is no doubt
helping the plants in our field trials grow. However, as of about a week ago they had
barely germinated. Steve spoke of the Northern New Mexico conference he attended and of
various ideas regarding plants etc. Unfortunately much of this would involve a high dollar
approach.
Meeting adjourned at 4:01 PM
Minutes submitted by:
Approved and accepted:
_________________________
__________________________
Glen Miller
Zeke Ward
Project Watershed
Coordinator Chairman
Go to Top of Page
|
