Tailings and Mine Waste Conference

Questa Mine regulatory process (Superfund) overview Sharrer, William; Coats, Michael

Abstract

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) or “Superfund” cleanup process at the Questa Mine Site (Site) began in 1999 when the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identified possible past releases of hazardous substances. On September 27, 2001, Molycorp, Inc. (now Chevron Mining Inc.) and EPA signed an Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) to conduct a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) for the Site. The RI/FS and existing state and federal permits required numerous investigations and studies. The Final RI/FS was completed in 2009 and in December 2010, EPA issued its Record of Decision (ROD) for the Site. The next step in the Superfund process will be for Chevron to work with federal and state agencies to prepare a Statement of Work (SOW) for the cleanup. Pursuant to the SOW, Chevron will complete preparation and implementation of plans for applying the Site remedies. In the case of the Questa Site, the remediation and reclamation will take at least twenty-five years. [All papers were considered for technical and language appropriateness by the organizing committee.]

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