Region 8
Superfund Program
National Information
Regional Information
Site Information
National Priorities List (NPL) History
Proposed Date
10/15/1984
Final Date
8/30/1990
Construction Completion Date
5/12/1999
Deletion Date
9/24/2004
Sharon Steel Corp. (Midvale Tailings)
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Site Type: Deleted NPL City: Midvale County: Salt Lake Street Address: 7800 South 700 West ZIP Code: 84047 EPA ID: UTD980951388 SSID: 0840 Site Aliases: Midvale Tailings, United Smelting Refining and Mining Company Congressional District: 2 |
Site Description
Sharon Steel, a former smelting and milling facility just south of Salt Lake City, covers about 530 acres in Midvale, Utah. It is next to Midvale Slag, another Superfund site.
In 1982, the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (UDEQ) became involved at the site when it learned that nearby residents were gathering tailings for use in gardens and children's sandboxes. UDEQ tested the "sand" from the gardens and sandboxes and found high levels of lead.
Current operation and maintenance (O&M) activities include monitoring of groundwater and the cap. EPA also worked with potential developers on site redevelopment options. EPA and UDEQ chair a community forum that meets quarterly to provide community members with timely updates of site-cleanup activities at both Sharon Steel and Midvale Slag Superfund sites. It also gives the community input into site decisions.
Site Risk
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) tested the groundwater and found high levels of arsenic. Subsequent studies found the groundwater to be contaminated with heavy metals, such as arsenic, iron, manganese and zinc. EPA added the Sharon Steel site to the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) in 1990.
The greatest potential public health threat to people came from exposure to lead and arsenic through direct contact with or inhalation of contaminated soils, including dust. Children playing in nearby neighborhood soil or sandboxes are especially at risk.
| Media Affected | Contaminants | Source of Contamination |
| air, surface water, groundwater, soil, liquid waste | lead, arsenic, heavy metals such as iron, manganese, and zinc | wastes from former smelter operations |
Cleanup Progress
The following cleanup activities have been completed by either EPA or UDEQ:
- 1989: Fencing the site, stabilizing the banks of the Jordan River and spraying the tailings to control blowing dust.
- 1992–1993: Removal of old mill building.
- 1995: Capping tailings and reclaiming of surrounding areas.
- 1995: Installation of groundwater monitoring wells on the perimeter of site to ensure contaminated groundwater is not migrating from the site.
- 1998: Removal of contaminated soil from more than 600 properties (mostly residential) and replacement with clean soil.
Site Documents
You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view some of the files on this page. See EPA's PDF page to learn more.
Annual Update to the Five-Year Review, January 2011 (PDF, 2 pp, 64K)
Third Five-Year Review Report, September 2009 (PDF, 88 pp, 1.3MB)
OU2 (Vicinity Properties Soils) Explanation of Significant Differences, June 23, 1994 (PDF, 5 pp, 16K)
OU1 (Mill Site and Groundwater) Record of Decision, December 9, 1993 (PDF, 81 pp, 176K)
OU2 (Vicinity Properties Soils) Record of Decision, September 24, 1990 (PDF, 51 pp, 124K)
Contacts
EPA
Kerri Fiedler
Environmental Engineer
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8
1595 Wynkoop Street (EPR-SR)
Denver, CO 80202-1129
303-312-6493
800-227-8917 ext. 312-6493 (toll free Region 8 only)
fiedler.kerri@epa.gov
Jennifer Chergo
Community Involvement Coordinator
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8
1595 Wynkoop Street (8OC)
Denver, CO 80202-1129
303-312-6601
800-227-8917 ext. 312-6601 (toll free Region 8 only)
chergo.jennifer@epa.gov
UDEQ
Tony Howes
Project Manager
Utah Department of Environmental Quality
Environmental Response & Remediation Division
195 North 1950 West
Salt Lake City, UT 84116
801-536-4283
thowes@utah.gov
Dave Allison
Community Involvement Specialist
Utah Department of Environmental Quality
Environmental Response & Remediation Division
195 North 1950 West
Salt Lake City, UT 84116
801-536-4479
dallison@utah.gov
View Documents at:
Ruth Vine Tyler Library
8041 South Wood Street (55 West)
Midvale, Utah 840477
801-943-4636
Utah Department of Environmental Quality
Division of Environmental Response and Remediation
195 North 1950 West
Salt Lake City, UT 84116
801-536-4100
EPA Superfund Records Center
1595 Wynkoop Street
Denver, CO 80202-1129
303-312-6473
800-227-8917 ext. 312-6473 (toll free Region 8 only)
Links
Utah Department of Environmental Quality
Citizens for a Safe Future for Midvale, a United States Environmental Protection Agency Technical Assistance Group