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Telluride Valley Floor

 
Site Contact:
Joni Sandoval
On Scene Coordinator

(sandoval.joni@epa.gov)

Site Location:
Hwy 145 and Boomerang Trail
Telluride, CO 81435
 response.epa.gov/telluridevalleyfloor

Site Updates

Click on the image below to view an interactive web application detailing EPA's progress at the Site. Interactive Site Updates.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in conjunction with U.S. Forest Service, is conducting a joint Removal Action at the Telluride Valley Floor Site, which is located in Telluride, CO. EPA is the lead agency conducting the cleanup and has assigned Federal On-Scene Coordinator, Joni Sandoval, to oversee field activities. The Removal Action will be conducted in 2 phases. Phase 1 was an Emergency Response to stabilize eroding tailings in the San Miguel River, as well as provide dust and erosion control in an area closed off by signage containing mill tailings, that is frequently trespassed by bikers and trail passers. Phase 1 was conducted in November 2020. The Phase 2 Time Critical Removal Action is being conducted to mitigate the remaining tailings that pose a threat to human health and the environment and is currently underway.


Picture taken on Boomerang Bridge looking East. Shows eroding tailings on both sides of the San Miguel River and open space on the South side of the river bank where trespassing frequently occurs. Photo of area closed sign. Installing erosion controls before the stream bank containing tailings is pulled back. During Phase 1 in 2020 EPA installed a liner on the North Riverbank to prevent tailing from moving until Phase 2 could begin. Installing a geo-textile liner to keep solids from passing through. Securing the geo-textile liner with large rip rap. A portion of the rip rap completed on the North River bank. Road base install with front loader on South side of river. Road based installed in closed areas where bikers frequent on South side of river. San Miguel River looking east from Boomerang Road San Miguel River looking west from Boomerang Road Tailings area ST1, area is located within the river flood plain and covered with sparse trees/vegetation. Trees and vegetation will be removed in order to properly address the tailings pile and return grade back to natural conditions. Air Monitoring station near Court House with continuous dust particulate monitoring during transportation of excavated tailings to the repository. Trail reroute heading south, marked by pink flags. Orange fencing indicates trail closure. Image facing North with view of newly installed bridge and rerouted trail. Image facing northeast with intersection to existing trails heading east. Newly installed bridge connecting the eastern and western sides of rerouted recreational trail. Excavation of tailings within the ST1 tailing boundary near the San Miguel River. Trail closure with map depicting direction of rerouted trail running east to west. Culvert beneath Boomerang Road with ponding of water. Excavated tailings up to the eastern-most fence line in ST1. Tailings can be visually identified by its characteristic coloring, grain size and deposition. Ponding of water after excavation of tailings in the south-central portion of ST1. Tailings can still be seen as EPA contract crews continue removal actions. During Phase 2, EPA contractor loading tailings within area ST1. The excavator loads tailings directly into dump trucks. Once loading is complete, trucks cover the load with a tarp and are cleaned prior to making the drive to the repository. Clean material/soil fill staged for use during restoration and regrading post removal of mine tailings. Excavated tailings in the process of being transported to the respository in a tarp-covered dump truck. Dump trucks from local landslides delivering clean fill material/soil to site. Fill materials will be used for restoration and back filling excavation areas. Excavater removing mine tailings from site ST1 adjacent to the river bank. Excavator direct loading mine tailings into dump trucks from site ST1. Trucks then will make the route through town to the repository. Dump truck operator washing down loaded truck and ensuring that the excavated tailings are watered down prior to departing. Water truck spraying down roads in order to minimize dust generated from tailings removal. EPA ERRS contractor outlines the perimeter of area ST2 in anticipation of beginning removal operations. Area will be closed off to public access during removal operations. Dump truck with a load of tailings from ST1 heading to the Idarado repository. The loaded tailings are covered with a tarp and is watered down prior to the transport of tailings. Excavator and front loader continue to work on removing mine tailings from ST1. Excavator working in the east side of ST1 to remove mine tailings. Tailings will be loaded in a dump truck to transport to the repository. Excavator continues removal process of mine tailings in ST1. Excavated tailings will be transported to the respository. Water truck spraying water around ST1 to minimize dust particulates in the air. Two excavators and a front loader work to remove mine tailings in area ST1. An excavator prepares for tailing removal operations to begin in ST2. After silt fencing has been installed along ST2 an excavator works to clear sparse and stunted trees so that removal of tailings can begin. Water truck driving through ST1 in order to wet the soil down and eliminate the chance for particulates in the air. Excavator continues to remove tailings in the east end of the ST1. Water begins to pool in the excavated area as operations reach water level. Excavation continues until one foot under ground water where possible. This is typically the most contaminated zone. Excavator and front loader work in tandem to move clean infill soil to excavation area ST1. Excavator works to remove tailings in area ST1 and water pools in ST1 as the excavation effort continues. The excavator loads one dump truck with tailings from ST1 while another truck waits to be loaded. Excavation/removal of mine tailings has begun in ST2. ST2 sits at a lower elevation than ST1 and begins to pool with water. The excavator continues to remove mine tailings from ST1 despite the rain slowing down operations. An excavator removes tailings from ST2 and a front loader loads tailings into a dump truck in order to deposit the tailings at the Idarado repository. Due to the rain and muddy conditions the dump trucks tires are sprayed down and washed prior to leaving the exclusion zone. An excavator and front-loader work together to remove tailings in area ST2. The EPA on-scene coordinators, ERRS, and a professional engineer walk the site to discuss the best options for stream restoration of the San Miguel River. START and EPA screen clean infill dirt provided by San Miguel County for the excavated tailings areas. Water truck sprays down the road ways inside the work area in order to keep dust down. Contractor installed construction mats to help ensure all debris is removed from dump truck tires prior to leaving the site. Additionally, a water truck sprays down the road to minimize dust. Excavator removes tailings down to water level in western end of ST2. Water truck sprays down work area as excavator removes tailings in western boundary of ST2. Eastward view of a fully loaded dump truck from ST1 leaving the site to deposit tailings at the Idarado repository. The trail leading to Boomerang road has been rerouted around the work site and the culvert feeding the river from the marsh is flowing freely. An excavator works in ST1 Central to remove mine tailings for deposition in the Idarado repository. The excavation at ST1 Central from a westward facing view. Operators have worked diligently to remove mine tailings. Backfill operations have begun in the western portion of ST1 Central, the excavated tailings are being replaced with clean soil. An excavator loads a dump truck with mill tailings from ST2. The tailings will be transported to the Idarado repository. Water pools in the western end of ST2 as excavation operations reach the water level. Excavation does not go deeper than 1 foot below the water level. A START employee uses an XRF to screen the excavated area in ST2 to confirm visible tailings. This helps determine if further excavation is needed. An eastern view of ST1, two excavators are removing contaminated soil and preparing it to be transported to the Idarado repository. A western view of an excavated section of ST2. Groundwater was reached at certain excavated depths. A western view of air monitoring station one, located on the west end of Telluride it measures air particulates near the excavation site. A southern view of air monitoring station two. It is deployed near the courthouse in downtown Telluride, and measures air particulates from traffic. Air monitoring station three located near the entrance of the repository where contaminated soil is being dumped. Here you can see a haul truck after dropping off a load. A western view of the repository where contaminated soil is being dumped. Measures are put in place to ensure no contaminated soil is being taken from the dumpsite. Workers remove debris from a clogged culvert on a channel that flows into the San Miguel River. An eastern view of clean fill that will be used to backfill excavated areas along the San Miguel River. A front loader and excavator work to backfill contaminated excavated areas along the San Miguel River with clean fill. An eastern, upstream view of the San Miguel River, located just north of ST1 excavation site. A haul truck is being loaded with contaminated soil and taken off site to a repository near the east end of town. An eastern view of ST2, contaminated soil was excavated to one foot below groundwater. An excavator dumps soil removed from ST1 into a haul truck to be dumped at the repository on the east end of town. A western view of the San Miguel River Trail temporary re-route. The trail has been re-routed during operations to ensure the safety of the trail users. A western view of silt fence installed along the northern extent of ST1. Measures are set in place across the site for erosion control. County employees refinishing concrete steps proximate to the air monitoring station. South facing photo of an excavator loading a dump truck in tailings area ST2. South facing photo of ongoing excavation and tailing removal efforts in ST1. Water truck drives through the work area spraying down roadways in order to suppress dust. Photo facing east of current excavation progress in tailings area ST1. Photo facing south east showing progress of excavation and tailings removal in area ST1. Westward facing photo documenting progress excavating and removing mine tailings in area ST2. ERRS installs a low water crossing on the west end of the work area in order to accommodate a trail reroute as excavation operations progress. Photo facing west in excavation area ST1. The excavator operator finishes removal of tailings in the western most end of ST1. Westward facing photo documenting progress of tailings removal in ST2. The excavation went approximately 1 foot below ground water. Town of Telluride installed South facing view of the newly installed low water crossing/trail reroute on the west end of the work area. View facing east of beaver dam where View facing east of excavation progress in tailings area NT1. View facing west of excavation and tailing removal operations in area NT1 East. View facing east; excavation and removal of tailings is complete in ST1. Next, the excavated area will be back filled with clean soil. Excavation of tailings area NT1 East progresses. Silt fencing was installed prior to excavation. View facing east; after excavation of tailings from NT1 East, ERRS begins installation of a geofab liner. After excavation of NT1 East is complete, the excavator operator backfills the area with clean infill dirt. Excavator loads dump truck with clean back fill dirt headed for NT1 East. Skid steer and front loader work together to backfill NT1 East with clean soil. Excavator operator in tailings area ST2 loads a dump truck in order to transport the tailings to the Idarado repository. Excavation of mine tailings from area NTN began today, 9/20/2021. Excavator and front loader work in tandem to put in a haul road in order to excavate mine tailings from area NTN. Photo facing west; excavation and backfill of NT1 East fully completed. Photo facing west showing the substantial progress that has been made in tailings area ST2. Excavator operator removes the last few bucket fulls of mine tailings from ST2. Excavator operator loads a dump truck with mine tailings from area NTN in order to deposit the tailings at the Idarado repository. Excavator continues to work in tailings area NTN. Water truck in the background wets down the road to control dust. Photo facing west of completed excavation in tailings area ST2. Excavation of mine tailings has begun in area ST3. Excavator operator continues to remove mine tailings from NTN, while the fully loaded and tarp covered dump truck prepares to go to the Idarado repository. Excavator operator loads a dump truck with mine tailings from area ST3 to deposit them in the Idarado repository. Excavator operator removes mine tailings from area NTN and loads a dump truck to transport the tailings to the Idarado repository. Skid steer operator builds a haul road, of clean infill material, through ST1 Central in order to facilitate excavation of tailings area ST1 South. Excavator operator loads a dump truck with mine tailings from area ST3. The tailings will be hauled to the Idarado repository. No tailings or mud present on road by the preschool outside of the Idarado repository. Excavation of NTN is complete, the excavator operator works to install a channel through the excavated area. Excavator operator smooths out backfill in ST1 Central in order to create an access road to begin excavation of ST1 South. Excavator continues to remove tailings from ST3. In total ST3 is 80% complete. Road into the Idarado repository where mine tailings excavated from Telluride Valley Floor are being deposited. Mine tailings from ST1 South have been fully excavated. The area has also been completely backfilled with clean material. Excavation of ST3 is approximately 90% complete. The operator has piled up the excavated tailings in order to load dump trucks more efficiently. The overall extent of excavation operations in ST3. Beavers have been chewing through large trees at the work site creating a hazard that needs to be addressed. A dump truck exits the Idarado repository after depositing a load of mine tailings from ST3. Excavator works in borrow source to load dump truck with clean backfill material. Excavation and hauling of mine tailings from ST3 has been fully completed. EPA ERRS contractor grading and backfilling in ST2. Fill material is being sourced from an onsite area for river restoration work. EPA ERRS contractor grading backfill material in ST2, a skid-steer is utilized for minor grading activities before final engineering plan. EPA ERRS contractor excavating lead/arsenic contamination from NT3-Ceantral. Additional tailings pile located on the periphery of the site boundaries. Area has been assessed and confirmed for lead and arsenic contamination and will be addressed as part of the Removal Action. EPA ERRS contractor loading lead and arsenic containing tailings out of NT3-Central. Trucks will haul contaminated materials to the repository. EPA ERRS contractor excavating lead and arsenic contamination from ST3-central. Loaded dump truck will transport the contaminated soil to repository. Signage placed on access road to inform hikers and bikers of potential hazards EPA ERRS contractor loading some of the last of the lead and arsenic contamination out of ST3-Cental EPA ERRS contractor using skid-steer to regrade ST2 with clean material collected from the on site barrow source. EPA ERRS contractor beginning excavation of lead and arsenic in NT2. Signage placed along road to warn public and keep everybody safe Additional safety fence installed to help keep pedestrians and their pets safe around ST2 during backfill operations. EPA ERRS contractor excavating the last part of NT2. Excavation will be limited to leave easement for public utilities and infrastructure in place. Visible discoloring of tailings in NT2, tailings contain lead and arsenic. EPA ERRS contractor loading out lead and arsenic contaminated soil from NT2. Contractor will transport the contaminated soil to the repository. EPA ERRS contractor placing geotextile fabric for protection and easement of public utilities. EPA ERRS contractor removing debris out of river near NT5 post excavation of tailings in the area. EPA ERRS contractor backfilling NT2 with soil from borrow source for slope stabilization. EPA ERRS contractor backfilling and grading ST2 with soil from borrow source. EPA ERRS contractor loading out soil contaminated with lead and arsenic from NT6. EPA ERRS contractor bringing clean backfill to ST2. EPA ERRS contractor backfilling ST2 with clean dirt from borrow source. EPA ERRS contractor excavation of contaminated soil (lead and arsenic) from NT6. EPA EERS contractor beginning excavation of ST1N, soil contaminated with lead and arsenic. EPA ERRS contractor loading dirt contaminated with lead and arsenic from ST1N EPA EERS contractor excavating contaminated soil (lead and arsenic) from ST2 island. EPA ERRS contractor, NT6 excavation, contaminants were lead and arsenic. EPA ERRS contractor beginning excavation of NT1 EPA ERRS contractor, excavation of ST1N, lead and arsenic. EPA ERRS contractor path diverted for excavation of ST4 EPA ERRS contractor path diverted for excavation of ST4 (west end) EPA EERS contractor building a berm and backfilling NT1 EPA EERS contractor excavation of ST1 Island, contaminants were lead and arsenic. EPA EERS contractor backfilling ST2 Island EPA EERS contractor beginning backfill of NT3W EPA EERS contractor beginning backfill of NT1 EPA EERS contractor backfilling NT1, limited excavation due to utilities, installed geotextile fabric to prevent migration of tailings. EPA EERS contractor installed geotextile fabric to prevent migration of tailings, excavation was limited to maintain integrity of the bridge foundation. EPA EERS contractor backfilling NT2 EPA ERRS contractor backfilling NT2 area. Backfill is being sourced from an on-site location. EPA ERRS contractor installed sediment control barriers to reduce turbidity from excavation in ST1. Remaining tailings are removed in ST1 and are replaced with a temporary berm to maintain current channel flow of the river. EPA ERRS contractor finished backfilling in NT1. EPA ERRS contractor continued to backfill in NT3 (west end). EPA ERRS contractor continued backfill of NT3 (east end), replanting of willow trees along the bank of San Miguel river. EPA ERRS contractor completed excavation in ST4W (west corner). EPA ERRS contractor excavating contaminated soil (lead and arsenic) from ST1. EPA ERRS Contractor makes progress with the San Miguel River reroute. Reconstruction of San Miguel River progress with new alignment of the river taking form. EPA ERRS contractor continues to restore the San Miguel River in the work zone. Layout of new channel alignment in middle and upstream sections of the proposed channel. Installation of coconut matting on sloped bank prior to riprap installation along south bank of upstream channel section. New channel alignment upstream of the bridge; photo faces East. New channel alignment of the San Miguel River; photo faces West. EPA ERRS contractor places rip rap material along the newly constructed channel in order to prevent erosion and protect existing infrastructure. Layout of bank sloping and riprap installation on north bank of new channel alignment upstream of Forest Service bridge. Installation of boulders in upstream channel section to build a foundation for riprap installation and the placement of the boulder and cobble material for the engineered riffle. Completed riprap installation on the middle portion of the south bank of the upstream channel section. Installation of coconut matting on sloped bank prior to riprap installation along the north bank of new channel alignment upstream of Forest Service bridge. Approximately 50% of the stream flow diverted into the new upstream channel section. Photo from the area where the stream reroute began. Newly constructed bank, armored with rip rap visible. Downstream view of initial grading on new high bank terrace and floodplain in upstream channel bend in new channel section. Upstream view of partially completed grading on new high bank terrace and floodplain in upstream channel bend in new channel section. Upstream view of initial grading on high bank terrace and floodplain in downstream channel bend in new channel section just upstream of Forest Service bridge. Upper section San Miguel River that has been rerouted. EPA ERRS contractor is approximately 80% complete.
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