EPA v. LEEDS SILVER RECLAMATION

Case summary

THE LEEDS SILVER RECLAMATION SITE IS AN INOPERATIVE ORE PROCESSING FACILITY WHICH FORMERLY UTILIZED AN ACID HEAP LEACH PROCESS FOR THE EXTRACTION OF COPPER AND SILVER. BETWEEN 1986 & 1993, VARIOUS SAMPLES WERE COLLECTED FROM THE SITE AND ASSESSED BY EPA AND THE STATE OF UTAH. THE LEACH PAD AND PONDS CAUSE A SIGNIFICANT DANGER OF RUNOFF OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES AND CONTAMINANTS. EPA TOXICOLOGISTS HAVE REVIEWED THE SAMPLE RESULTS OF THIS EXTREMELY ACIDIC WATER AND DETERMINED THAT IT MAY POSE AN ACUTE HEALTH RISK TO CHILDREN OR OTHER INDIVIDUALS TRESPASSING ON THE SITE. THIS WATER COULD CAUSE BURNS OR PERMANENT DAMAGE TO THE EYES IF CONTACT WERE TO OCCUR. ADDITIONALLY, THE ACIDIC PH IN THE POND IS LIKELY TO SOLUBILIZE HEAVY METALS IN THE SEDI- MENT AND CARRY THEM INTO THE GROUND WATER. FURTHER, TORREN- TIAL THUNDERSTORMS AND STRONG WINDS OFTEN OCCUR AT THE SITE DURING THE LATTER PART OF THE SUMMER. THIS COULD RESULT IN OFF-SITE MIGRATION OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES VIA DOWNGRAD- IENT SURFACE WATERS WHICH FLOW INTO WELLS USED FOR DRINKING WATERS, PASTURES, LIVESTOCK WATERS, AND GARDEN IRRIGATION.

Defendants (1)

• 5MNamed in complaint

Facilities (1)

• LEEDS SILVER RECLAMATION SITE

  2 MLS W OF LEEDS TO WHITE REEF, LEEDS, UT, 84746

  Registry ID: 110031279211

Statutes cited

• CERCLA 104E3 — Entry Access

Timeline (5 milestones)

• 1995-05-01Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1995-08-22Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1995-08-22Complaint Filed With Court
• 1996-01-30Concluded
• 1996-01-30Enforcement Action Closed