Region 8
Serving Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming and 27 Tribal Nations
Superfund Program
National Information
Regional Information
Site Information
National Priorities List (NPL) History
Proposed Date
12/30/1982
Final Date
9/8/1983
Construction Complete
9/25/1992
Final Date
8/13/1996
Whitewood Creek
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Site Type: Deleted NPL City: Whitewood County: Lawrence Street Address: 18 mi. part of stream Zip Code: 57793 EPA ID#: SDD980717136 Site ID#: 0800570 Site Aliases: Homestake Mining Co. Gold Div. Congressional District(s): At Large |
Site Description
The Whitewood Creek Site consists of an 18-mile stretch of Whitewood Creek, from the Crook City Bridge to the confluence with the Belle Fourche River. Since the 1870s, millions of tons of toxic tailings were deposited along the creek in Lawrence, Meade and Butte counties. By 1994, the potentially responsible party (PRP), Homestake Mining Company, had completed the cleanup, including removal and replacement of contaminated soil from 16 residences. Homestake continues to monitor surface water in Whitewood Creek. Lawrence County also enacted institutional controls to assure that the cleanup remains protective.
Local residents use the creek for irrigation, watering livestock and recreation. About 280 people live within a mile of the site.
Site Risk
Ground water, surface water, and/or soils contain heavy metals including arsenic, cadmium, copper, silver, mercury and/or cyanide. Arsenic is the contaminant of greatest concern. Exposure to high levels of arsenic may increase the risk of skin cancer, neurological effects and vascular disease.
| Media Affected | Contaminants | Source of Contamination |
| Soil, surface water, ground water, sludge, liquid waste | Arsenic, cadmium, copper, silver, mercury and/or cyanide | Mine and mine tailings in and along creek |
Cleanup Progress
The potentially responsible party (PRP), Homestake Mining Company, completed the following cleanup activities by 1994:
- Removal and replacement of 4,500 cubic yards of contaminated soil from 16 residential yards and disposal of contaminated soils in a landfill constructed in an undeveloped part of the site;
- Continuation of Whitewood Creek surface-water monitoring.
Remedial construction at the site was completed in March of 1993. The site was removed from the EPA National Priorities List (NPL) in August of 1996. Subsequently, EPA conducted an ecological risk assessment to verify that the remedy is protective of the environment. Since waste is left in place which precludes unlimited use and unrestricted exposure, EPA will continue to conduct five-year reviews. The most recent five-year review (see link below) was completed in September 2007. The review determined that the remedy is protective of human health and the environment.
Community Involvement
Community interviews were held for the five-year review that was completed in September 2007. Public comment and/or concerns can be addressed to the attention of the EPA Community Involvement Coordinator listed below (Contacts.) The review is available to the public at the Lawrence County Register of Deeds listed below. In September 2006, Homestake Mining Company sent an annual update to area residents, which described the remedy and institutional control and included update maps.
Site Documents
Five-Year Review Documents:
Five-Year Review, September 2007 (PDF, 167 pp, 5.6 MB; about PDF files)
Five-Year Review Annual Update, April 2009 (PDF, 5 pp, 60K)
Land Use Control Documents:
South Dakota Administrative Rul e prohibiting groundwater well installation/construction, July 16, 1992 (PDF, 1 p, 40 KB)
County Building Permit Handbook limiting construction or placement of buildings on tailings deposit areas, February 1, 1994 (PDF, 35 pp, 1.6 MB)
Contacts
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EPA Christina Wilson John Dalton |
South Dakota Joane Lineburg |
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View Documents at: EPA Superfund Records Center Rapid City Public Library Lawrence County Register of Deeds SD State Library |