Tintic, EPA Settlement

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This page was last updated on October 23, 2025.

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EPA Settlement (2000-2010)

(This activity concerning the Environmental Protection Agency and the Chief Consolidated Mining company covers the former mined-out area in the vicinity of Eureka, Utah, and does not affect the area of the Burgin and Trixie mines in the East Tintic area.)

In July 2000, after receiving complaints from some Eureka residents, the State of Utah and EPA began investigating impacts of historic mining activities on the environment and residential areas of Eureka. In 2001, EPA began "Time Critical" soil removal actions due to high concentrations of lead and arsenic in soil combined with elevated blood lead levels in children living in Eureka. Based on the findings of the Site Investigation in 2000, the generically-named "Eureka Mills Site" was placed on the National Priorities List (NPL) in September 2002.

According to the EPA, samples indicated that approximately 150 acres of soil in the Town of Eureka, Utah, the location of Chief Consolidated's principal operations, were contaminated with lead and to a lesser extent, arsenic.

Based on the findings of the Site Investigation in 2000, the site was proposed for placement on the National Priorities List (NPL) on June 14, 2001, and was formally placed on the list on September 5, 2002.

For its part, the North Lily Mining company declared bankruptcy in September 2001, and in February 2003 reached a settlement with the federal EPA for its $2.3 million debt to clean up its portion of the Eureka site. The debt to the federal EPA paid by allowing EPA and its contractors to use well water and fill materiel and top soil from North Lily property in the mitigation and reclamation of other parts of the Eureka site.

Four specific sites (OU, Operating Unit) were identified:

Between 2001 and 2002, the EPA cleaned up 71 residential properties in Eureka. Federal officials also set up a program to voluntarily test the blood of children at risk each year. The EPA also established educational outreach programs for nearby residents and a voluntary program for in-home soil and dust sampling.

On February 27, 2003, the North Lily Mining Company, in bankruptcy since September 2001, announced a settlement with EPA, in lieu of debt payment, allowing EPA access to North Lily property for top soil and fill material and for access to well water for use on other portions of the Eureka Site.

In January 2004, Arco (Atlantic Richfield) signed a Consent Decree covering its portion of the Eureka Site. In September 2004, Arco was released from any further obligations at the site.

(Arco was liable stemming from its ownership of the North Lily Mining company, former Knight Investment properties before 1983-1984, at which time Arco sold all of its metal mining operations in Utah. North Lily Mining remained as the responsible party.)

On April 7, 2004, Spenst Hanson Properties/Centurion Mining/Mammoth Mining (for Godiva Silver Mines, Inc., and Bullion Beck Mining Company) settled with EPA by providing access to a well and associated water rights for the necessary water for the cleanup project. In addition, Spenst Hanson agreed to provide up to 500,000 cubic yards of borrow material if necessary, to perform operation and maintenance on certain remediated mine waste areas and to take possession of land parcels east of the Gemini parcel that EPA bought in order to remediate some of the mine waste areas. Mr. Hanson was also required to file Environmental Covenants on specific land parcels that he owns to ensure that the remedy remains in place.

For the May Day - Godiva Shaft and Tunnel (OU-1) and the Bullion Beck – Gemini Mine Waste Piles (OU-2), because the mine waste piles had already been capped and were protective of human health, the remedy was for them to remain protective in the future, especially to prevent erosion.

Operating Unit 3 (OU-3) included the Chief Mine No. 1, Chief Mill Site and Tailings, Eureka Hill, Snowflake, Eagle & Blue Bell Mine and Dump, Chief No. 2 Mine and Waste Dump. Chief No. 2 was owned by Chief Consolidated (50 percent) and Spenst Hanson (50 percent).

Reclamation to the Eureka Hill, Snowflake and Eagle Blue Bell mine and dump was completed in 2006. All of these mine waste piles were capped with armor rock and road-base.

Beginning in 2003, and finishing in September 2004, Atlantic Richfield Company (Arco) performed the remediation of its portion of the May Day, Godiva and Chief Mine No.2 mine waste piles where it had liability. Arco also constructed the Knightsville sedimentation ponds and the Secondary Water System, and remediated a portion of the top of the Chief Mine No.1 mine waste pile. Arco then paid a cash settlement of less than $16,000. Arco no longer has any responsibility or further obligation at the Eureka Site. (These properties were owned by Spenst Hanson at the time of reclamation, but Arco was found to be responsible because of their previous ownership.)

A secondary water system, using well water, was required to supplement Eureka town water, because Eureka City did not have sufficient treated water resources that were needed to complete the reclamation of the entire Eureka Site. The secondary water system consisted of a new water well, and a one-million gallon storage pond on top of the reclaimed Chief No. 1 Mine Waste Pile. The reclaimed Chief No. 1 Mine Waste Pile was also the location of the Eureka Site management area office trailers, equipment and material storage, and was fully reclaimed at the end of the remediation period. The secondary water system was retired and removed upon completion of the reclamation project in 2010.

The Chief No. 1 Mine Waste Pile was also where most of the residential soil removed from Eureka town lots was disposed of and later capped.

Union Pacific Railroad performed the remediation of Upper Eureka Gulch, the site of its former depot in Eureka, and operated the Lime Peak quarry to produce the rock materials for the project. UPRR then filed on the Upper Eureka Gulch and paid $270,690 in cash to settle its remaining liability. Following the completion of its work, UPRR transferred ownership of all of its land holdings in Eureka to Eureka City. UPRR no longer has any responsibility or further obligation at the Eureka Site.

The Gemini Mine Waste Pile, Bullion Beck Mine Waste Pile and Mill Site and Lower Eureka Gulch (OU-2) was the most visible and complex activity within the Eureka Site. This work consisted of mine waste piles on the west side of Eureka. The work commenced in September 2003 and was completed in September 2004, and consisted of several components:

January 2005, Chief Consolidated signed a Consent Decree covering its portion of the Eureka Site.

In February 2005, Chief agreed to a judgment and Consent Decree against it by the EPA in the amount of $60 million which will remain in effect until it has complied with all the requirements of the agreement. It was also agreed that the judgment would be satisfied by Chief Consolidated complying with its obligations, including:

The Chief Mill Site was located at the mouth of Gardner Canyon, and was fully reclaimed. Reclamation of the Chief Mill Site was started during the winter of 2007-2008 with the demolition of the mill foundation. The capping a vegetative cap for the relatively fiat slopes that will be achieved as final grade saving the cost to make more armor rock and allowing the site to blend visually with the surrounding areas at the base of the mountain.

The agreement and consent decree was modified in May 2010 to allow Andover Ventures, as Chief Consolidated's majority owner, to pay its settlement fees in five annual payments of $225,000. The original consent decree required that Chief Consolidated pay $60 million in damages and cleanup. But by 2010, with Andover as its controlling company, Chief Consolidated had requested a re-negotiation due to the financial condition of the company.

The EPA settlement also allowed EPA and its contractors access to Chief Consolidated's limestone quarry at Homansville to obtain topsoil, limestone and road materials to the end of 2010, and allowing the local town of Eureka to store road base materials and top soil on Chief Consolidated property for 25 years.

Many observers have complained about the ugly rock, known as "armor rock," that was used to cover the contaminated sites. This is to prevent erosion and limit foot access and possible exposure to lead and other hazardous materials. It was a cost-based decision, with the better but far more expensive solution being capping the sites with 24 inches of top soil and reseeding the area with native grasses and plants. Also, using course rock allows the surface runoff to be collected and treated.

The Eureka Mills Site was removed from the National Priorities List on September 25, 2018.​

(Link to the EPA website for the Eureka Mills NPL "Superfund" Site)

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