Forest-wide Documents
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Item Open Access Golden Fraction abbreviated preliminary assessment(2006-08) Wallowa-Whitman National Forest (Agency : U.S.)Assesses site consisting of a large collapsed adit and approximately 3000cy of wasterock material adjacent to Granite Creek. A Niton XLt found that most metals at the site exceeded screening criteria for birds, invertebrates, and plants, but only arsenic (50.79 to 76.5 mg/kg) exceeded EPA Region goals. Since the wasterock forms part of the embankment for Granite Creek, the site has been given a High Priority for further site assessment.Item Open Access Cap Martin complex abbreviated preliminary assessment(2006-08) Wallowa-Whitman National Forest (Agency : U.S.)Assesses site consisting of four collapsed adits, one of which has water discharge, and 6000-80000cy of wasterock materials, most of which is adjacent to Granite Creek. There are numerous trenches and apparent hydraulic mining in the area as well as possible historic dredging operations, with one old log cabin and another apparently collapsed cabin. A Niton XLt unit found that most metals at the site exceeded screening criteria for birds, invertebrates, and plants, but only arsenic (60 to 105.6 mg/kg) exceeded EPA Region goals. The site has been given a High Priority for further assessment.Item Open Access Granite Creek Tributary Mines initiation of CERCLA investigation memorandum(2007-02-20) United States. Forest Service. Pacific Northwest RegionDocuments, pursuant to the guidelines of the National Oil and Hazardous Substance Contingency Plan (NCP), the decision to initiate a CERCLA investigation in nine locations at the Granite Creek Tributary Mines site. A Site Inspection has determined that a hazardous release has occurred and a human health and ecological risk assessment has been performed and acceptable exposure exceeded. Identifies possible threats to nearby human populations, animals, food chain, soils, and drinking water.Item Open Access Granite Creek Mines site inspection(2004-01) Wallowa-Whitman National Forest (Agency : U.S.); EA Engineering, Science, and Technology, Inc.Documents Site Inspection performed by EA Engineering at five Granite Creek Mines: Monumental, Cap Martin, Sheridan, Tillicum, and Central. The objectives were to access the immediate or potential threat posed by wastes at the site to human health and the environment, and to collect information to support a CERCLA decision, including background research and file review; onsite and offsite reconnaisance; and collection and analysis of soil, waste, surface water, pore water, sediment, plant tissue, and benthic macroinvertebrate samples. Based on the elevated concentrations of metals detected in onsite soil and waste rock samples at all five mine sites, as well as onsite surface water samples collected at the Monumental Mine, an Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis (EE/CA) is recommended.Item Open Access Granite Creek Tributary Mines initiation of CERCLA investigation memorandum(2007-02-20) Wallowa-Whitman National Forest (Agency : U.S.)Documents, pursuant to the Guidelines of the National Oil and Hazardous Substance Contingency Plan (NCP), the decision to initiate a CERCLA investigation in nine locations at the Granite Creek Tributary Mines site. A Site Inspection has determined that a hazardous release has occurred, and a human health and ecological risk assessment has been performed and acceptable exposure has been exceeded. Identifies possible threats to nearby human populations, animals, the food chain, soils, and drinking water.Item Open Access Upper Central Mine abbreviated preliminary assessment(2006-08) Wallowa-Whitman National Forest (Agency : U.S.)Assesses mine site on moderately steep side slopes consisting of four collapsed adits and about 1500cy of wasterock. A Niton XLt unit found most metals detected at the site exceeded screening criteria for birds, invertebrates, and plants, but only arsenic (84.1 mg/kg) exceeded EPA Regional goals. Based upon the location of the adits, lack of evidence of water discharge from the mines, lack of surface water sources, and relative ease of access by the general public, the site has been ranked a Low Priority for further assessment.Item Open Access Granite Creek Mine #7 abbreviated preliminary assessment(2006-08) Wallowa-Whitman National Forest (Agency : U.S.)Assesses mine site consisting of a large collapsed adit and approximately 700cy of wasterock material adjacent to Granite Creek, with numerous trenches stemming from hydraulic mining and possible historic dredging operations. A Niton XLt unit found that most metals at the site exceeded screening criteria for birds, invertebrates, and plants, but only arsenic (79 mg/kg) exceeded EPA Region goals. The site has been given a High Priority.Item Open Access Granite Creek Mine #6 abbreviated preliminary assessment(2006-08) Wallowa-Whitman National Forest (Agency : U.S.)Assesses mine site consisting of a large collapsed adit and approximately 1000cy of wasterock material, which is adjacent to a small ephemeral tributary to Granite Creek. A Niton XLt unit found that most metals at the site exceeded screening criteria for birds, invertebrates, and plants, but only arsenic (7.16 mg/kg) exceeded EPA Region goals. Further site assessment was not warranted.Item Open Access Buffalo Mine abbreviated preliminary assessment(2008-08) Wallowa-Whitman National Forest (Agency : U.S.)Assesses mine site on moderately steep side slopes, consisting of two adits, associated wasterock and tailing ponds, one with water treatment facilities and miscellaneous buildings. A Niton XLt unit found that all metals at the site exceeded screening criteria for birds, invertebrates, and plants, but only arsenic (13.13 to 338 mg/kg) exceeded EPA Region goals. The site has been given a Low Priority for any future site assessments.Item Open Access Granite Creek Mine #5 abbreviated preliminary assessment(2006-08) Wallowa-Whitman National Forest (Agency : U.S.)Assesses mine site consisting of a large collapsed adit and approximately 500cy of wasterock material adjacent to Granite Creek, with numerous trenches and apparent hydraulic mining. A Niton XLt unit found that most metals at the site exceeded screening criteria for birds, invertebrates, and plants, but only arsenic (59.7 mg/kg) exceeded EPA Region goals. Since the wasterock forms a part of the embankment for Granite Creek, the site has been given a High Priority for further site assessment.Item Open Access New York Mine abbreviated preliminary assessment(2006-08) Wallowa-Whitman National Forest (Agency : U.S.)Assesses mine site consisting of numerous trenches on the mountain slope, at least five of which are collapsed to partially collapsed adits, 9000-12,000cy of wasterock and 4000cy of tailings. A Niton XLt unit found all metals detected at the site exceeded screening criteria for birds, invertebrates, and plants, but only arsenic (133.5 to 1459 mg/kg) exceeded EPA Region goals. Based on the high levels of arsenic throughout the site, the proximity of wasterock and tailings material to Granite Creek, the ease of access to the site, mine drainage, and numerous physical hazards, a High Priority has been assigned for further site assessment.Item Open Access Pyx Mine and Mill abbreviated preliminary assessment(2004-03) Wallowa-Whitman National Forest (Agency : U.S.)Assesses mine and mill site in moderate to steep side slopes, consisting of an open adit, waste rock dumps, tailings pond, and remains of a mill. A Niton XRF unit found numerous chemical elements exceeding regulations, including arsenic (595 mg/kg), lead (1720 mg/kg), and chromium (924 mg/kg). A Site Inspection is recommended.Item Open Access Granite Creek Mines human health and ecological risk assessment(2006-04) Wallowa-Whitman National Forest (Agency : U.S.); Cascade Earth SciencesAssesses, through a streamlined risk assessment process, potential human health and ecological risks associated with mining-related contamination at the Monumental, Cap Martin, Sheridan, Tillicum, and Central Mines (collectively called Granite Creek Mines). Arsenic and lead were identified as contaminants with carcinogenic risk predicted from exposure to arsenic-impacted surface water and soil/wasterock. Soil and wasterock threaten ecological impacts for primary plants and terrestrial invertebrates, and surface and pore water similarly pose a threat to aquatic life and wildlife. An Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis (EECA) is recommended, along with a data gap investigation.Item Open Access Rabbit Mine and Mill abbreviated preliminary asessment(2004-03) Wallowa-Whitman National Forest (Agency : U.S.)Assesses mine and mill site on moderate to steep side slopes, with burned debris of the mill, open adit and an airshaft filled with water, with associated waste dumps. A Niton XRF unit found numerous chemical elements exceeded regulations, especially arsenic with readings as high as 807 mg/kg. Two partially-covered shafts constitute a physical hazard. A Site Inspection is recommended.Item Open Access Standard Mine abbreviated preliminary assessment(2006-08) Wallowa-Whitman National Forest (Agency : U.S.)Assesses mine site on moderate side slopes, consisting of a large collapsed adit with minor seepage, approximately 500cy of wasterock near a small creek. A Niton XLt unit found that all metals exceeded screening criteria for birds, invertebrates, and plants, but only arsenic (198.3 to 322 mg/kg) exceeded EPA Region goals. The site has been given a Medium Priority for further assessment work.Item Open Access Upper Powder Watershed draft assessment(2005) Wallowa-Whitman National Forest (Agency : U.S.)Unfinished draft analyzes the watershed and its thirteen subwatersheds to facilitate planning, implementation, and evaluation of forest management activities. Examines issues, including vegetation and forest health, riparian and aquatic habitat, human uses, and wildlife.Item Open Access Upper Grande Ronde Watershed analysis(2004) Wallowa-Whitman National Forest (Agency : U.S.)Analyzes the watershed and its twelve subwatersheds to facilitate planing, implementation, and evaluation of forest management activities. Identifies existing conditions and provides an analytical framework and integration of the conditions and processes of the ecosystem elements. Lists elements out of balance with the analysis area, and identifies opportunities to return balance to the area subsequently pursued in the analysis.Item Open Access Wallowa-Whitman National Forest forest roads analysis(2003-10-21) Wallowa-Whitman National Forest (Agency : U.S.)Analysis identifies issues and assesses benefits, problems, and risks associated with the Forest's arterial and collector roads. Determines minimum road system for maintenance of level 3-5 roads, the number of roads necessary to meet resource management objectives, priorities for funding, general guidelines for management of level 1-2 roads, and provides information for the Watershed Restoration and Prioritization Process.Item Open Access Joseph Creek rangeland analysis final environmental impact statement and record of decision(2005-09-23) Wallowa Valley Ranger District (Or.)FEIS reviews proposed activities to allocate forage for commercial livestock grazing on eleven allotments near Joseph Creek. Record of Decision announces implementation of Alternative 3 modified of the project FEIS, which would authorize grazing using an adaptive approach to grazing management while implementing specific protections for sensitive areas.Item Open Access Meadow Creek Watershed analysis(2002) La Grande Ranger District (Or.)Documents the completed update for the 1994 Upper Grande Ronde Watershed Analysis, investigating needs, opportunities, priorities, effects, and success measurements. Includes description, issues, key questions and relevant processes, past and current conditions, desired condition and trends, management opportunities, landscape scale monitoring workplan, and management thresholds.