EPA administrative orders, 1991-1997

Page 361

BINGHAM CREEK CHANNEL .SSID # - PHASE 2 T4 STATEMENT OF WORK I. SITE HISTORY AND EACKGROUND Bingham primary Creek the of originates in the Bingham Canyon and was the drainage from the mining district in this area Although historically, water from the mining district flowed in the channel, the Large Bingham' Reservoir now contains all the The reservoir is located flow from the canyon. nearly in Western Salt Lake County, Utah approximately one-half mile East of Copperton, Uth in Section 17, Township 3 South, Range· 2 West, Salt Lake Base and Meridian. The channel starts at toe .. the reservoir. The channel passes t.h rouqh several miles of Kennecott property before reaching a county gravel plant and a brick factory, and then entering residential areas at 4800 West. The channel is accessible year-round and is ued as a recreational area and trail by residents in the area. It serves as a storm water and receives runoff events drainage during irrigation wastewater. Sampling in 1992 by the EPA indicated'high levels of lead and arsenic in the soil in Bingham Creek Channel. Samples were collected through residential reaches and from upper reaches on The ·tailings in the upper CO and Kennecott property. reaches also indicated elevated levels of lead and arsenic consistent with those found down channel. Lead and 'arsenic at were identified the Site as the contaminants of ·concern. These are hazardous substances, as defined by § 101(14) of CERCLA, that were eleased into the environment through mining and beneficiation processes in the Bingham ·Canyon. Mining waste (tailings), were discharged directly to. Bingham Channel and deposited along the banks of the channel upstream from the residential areas. The mining waste was transported primarily by. normal runoff events and The last major flood through the Bingham Creek flooding. Channel occurred in 1983. Precipitation events continue to erode tailings into the channel. Contaminated· soil is also wind-blown and disturbed during development activities. Dust-size particles (especially those with diameters of 100 microns or less), are a significant and are transported by wind and human source of exposure, 2