Background:
The North
Cave Hills Wells site consists of private residential ranch land
contiguous and down-gradient from the U.S. Forest Service Riley Mine
removal/remedial project. The Riley
Mine project manages the long-term cleanup of
historic uranium mine workings. Surface water runoff from the Forest Service project carries and deposits metals into
Pete’s Creek, which runs through the Site and serves as a primary water source for livestock.
In July 2016 and May 2017, surface and groundwater
samples were collected at the Site by
EPA personnel. Results showed that,
while groundwater is safe for
both human and livestock
consumption, the surface water samples from Pete’s Creek held elevated levels
of metals such as arsenic, chromium, lead, molybdenum, nickel, and vanadium. It was determined that Pete’s Creek has been contaminated from
over 60 years of mining and erosion on the adjacent Forest Service property.
The
population within a one-mile radius of the Site is
estimated to be fewer than 50 people. However, cattle are raised at
the Site to be sold for human consumption around the nation. Because the cattle
drink contaminated surface waters from Pete’s Creek, they present a possible
heavy metal exposure route to human populations both within and outside the
immediate community.
EPA Removal Action:
An EPA Removal Action took place in 2019, after the initial sampling results were received. The action installed two drinking water wells in the area and mitigated heavy metal exposure livestock by providing alternative, clean water sources. During that action, the EPA conversed with the property owner of the North Cave Hills Wells site and discussed the possibility of installing wells at their property in the future.
This Removal Action is the follow up to the 2019 action and will install two additional groundwater wells to serve as alternative drinking sources for the livestock on the North Cave Hills Wells site property.
The EPA plans to mobilize in the Spring of 2027 to install the two groundwater wells.
Please continue to review the frontpage of this website here, and the "Notices" section of this website for updates as the site progresses.
