Puma Press: April 2001 Top Story

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	Iron pyrite slowly dissolves as acid leaching from Sheldon mine scars rocks and creates an unnatural ooze in the stream.
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Forest Service, Arizona Game and Fish, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and the Arizona Department of Health Services have all joined forces to assess the environmental impacts that abandoned mines have had on the Bradshaw Ranger District of the Prescott National Forest.

"We are evaluating mines in the forest to determine whether these sites warrant federal attention from the Superfund program," says Jere Johnson, site assessment manager for the EPA. "If we decide that the sites warrant federal attention, we may consider listing them on the National Priorities List to secure funding for cleanup."

The principal reason for increased concern is the rise in population in the area and consequent apprehension for the overall health of residents. Johnson is concerned with the fact that old patented mining claims are being sold as home sites.

Mining began in the Bradshaw Mountains in the mid-1880Ìs. Before the Bradshaw District of Prescott Arizona became a mining environment, the forest was an unspoiled, friendly environment to its inhabitants.

Miners unearthed ore deposits that were rich in copper, zinc, lead, silver, gold, iron, arsenic, cadmium and other metals.

Among these mines, the Sheldon and Blue John mines now may pose a threat to the Lynx Creek watersheds. They are leaching mined substances, including arsenic, mercury, lead, cadmium and more, into both Lynx Creek and Hassaympa watersheds.

Evidence of waste from former mining activity has been detected at levels exceeding EPAÌs Preliminary Remediation Goals. The PRGÌs are levels that the EPA has established as indicators of potential risk and that further investigation is needed. Any contaminants that exceed the PRGs would be considered a potential health risk for long-term repeated exposure.

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In areas where there is bright orange mine drainage and the pH is low, the streams are biologically dead÷.
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The Arizona Department of Health Services drafted a May 1999 report showing a low 2.87 pH (acidity) level in Lynx Creek at the Sheldon Mine adjacent to a waste pile. With such high acidity, no life could exist in these waters. After observing SheldonÌs sedimentation in Lynx Creek, Johnson, says, "In a lot of the areas where there is bright orange mine drainage, and the pH is very low, the streams are biologically dead÷."

Lynx Creek eventually ends up in Lynx Lake. Environmental Toxicologist Brian Hasty of the Arizona Department of Health Services says that this is due to creek waters rising and flowing from the Blue John Mine to the Lynx Creek tributary, which eventually flow into Lynx Lake.

While testing of the lake so far has not shown dangerous levels of leaching substances, the lake has been unable to sustain plankton growth and a food chain usable for growing rainbow trout, according to a study collected by the Prescott National Forest and forwarded to the Arizona Game and Fish Dept.

"As far as with Lynx Lake, the Arizona Game and Fish Department has been unable to establish a self-sustained trout fishery÷We are concerned why÷," says Johnson of the EPA. "So we are looking at the whole watershed and whatÌs happening with the acid mine drainage high up."

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	Photos by Sandy Beasley
	PVCC Environmental Biology student, Jeff Lemley, takes a water sample from Lynx Creek.
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In May 1999, EPA officials collected water, soil, sediment, and tailings samples from the Lynx Creek and Hassayampa river watersheds located in the Prescott National Forest. Results from testing showed that some of the mineÌs waste, or tailings, exceed the EPAÌs Preliminary Remediation Goals. Repeated exposure to these substances poses a health threat to humans.

Adult health problems occurring from lead exposure include possible brain and nervous system damage. For children, risks from lead poisoning are greater yet as their growing bodies absorb lead more readily that adultsÌ, and their brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead.

"We have a couple of Lynx and Hassayampa sites where people have built homes adjacent to tailing piles," says Johnson. "There are concerns that kids could play in high-lead areas."

Consequently, the Arizona Dept of Health Services is offering testing of residentÌs drinking water in their next phase of the investigation. In areas in question, they are recommending residents purchase bottled water or consider having their water tested before consuming. In a recent September 1999 soil draft conducted by the ADHS at the Blue Mine "hopper pile" lead and arsenic levels exceeded the EPAÌs PRGÌs.

In the past, attempts were made to correct the problem, namely with the Sheldon Mine in May of 1975. To prevent leakage of the Sheldon Mine with the consent of the private land owner, the Surface Environment and Mining (SEAM) in cooperation with the Prescott National Forest and the University of Arizona School of Renewable Natural Resources began the reclamation work. They reshaped, sloped, limed, top-soiled and seeded tailings pond and mine site. This effort was to no avail.

There are "flows from both of the (waste and tailing) leached material÷The design wasnÌt sufficient to redirect water," says Beverly Everson, a geologist with the Prescott National Forest.