The Environmental Protection Agency will conduct work at the Koehler, Junction and Longfellow sites near the top of Red Mountain Pass on National Forest System Road 825 (U.S. Basin Road/Brooklyn Road) beginning Monday.
The road will be closed Thursday to install a new culvert at the site and will reopen Friday. Work is expected to be completed by Sept. 25.
The work is being conducted pursuant to the 2019 EPA Interim Record of Decision for the Bonita Peak Mining District Superfund site. At the Koehler and Junction site area, sludge will be removed from the pond to provide long-term sediment storage capacity and replace the undersized culvert at the west end of the pond.
During this work, there is a chance that turbidity might increase and may cause localized discoloration in Mineral Creek. This work is not anticipated to have a negative impact on aquatic life or on downstream water uses. The “hot spots” of mining waste that present risk to recreational users in the area will be covered at the Longfellow site area.
For more information, call Kerry Guy at (303) 312-7288 or Walt Brown at 385-1372.
