california gulch

S OF CY-YAK TUNNEL DOWNSTREAM

The site consists of about 18 square miles in Lake County, Colorado, and includes Leadville, the highest incorporated city in the United States. Mining, mineral processing and smelting activities in the area have produced gold, silver, lead and zinc for more than 130 years. Mining in the Leadville area began in 1859 when prospectors working in the channels of the Arkansas River tributaries discovered gold at the mouth of California Gulch. Wastes generated during the mining and ore processing activities contained metals such as arsenic and lead at levels posing a threat to human health and the environment. These wastes remained on the land surface and migrated through the environment by washing into streams and leaching contaminants into surface water and groundwater. The site was added to the National Priorities List in 1983, and in 1994 was divided into 12 geographically based areas, identified as operable units. Investigation of the site began in the mid-1980s.

Hazardous Ranking Score

56 / 100

A score of 28.5 or higher qualifies a site for the Superfund National Priority List.

Regional Contact

Region 8
Phone: (303) 312-6312

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Timeline

Discovery
Site Inspection
Preliminary Assessment
Final Listing On NPL
Removal

Contaminants & Health Effects

      Carcinogen
      Endocrine Disrupter
      Neurotoxic
      Sensitiser
      Reproductive Toxin
      Persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic
      VOC
      Mutagen

        Census

        White
        African American
        Asian
        American Indian and Alaska Native
        Native Hawaiian
        Other

        34

        People living
        within a 1 mile radius

        $49,519

        Average Income

        15

        Occupied homes

        Potentially Responsible Parties

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