30-day Public commentary period begins tomorrow for Upper Granite Creek Watershed Mines: Engineering Evaluation and Cost Analysis

By on Tuesday, April 1st, 2025 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News

BAKER CITY – (Release from the U.S. Forest Service) The United States Forest Service is announcing the start of the 30-day public review and commentary period starting April 2, 2025, for the draft Integrated Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis (EE/CA) of a Non-Time Critical Removal Action of nine abandoned mines located in the Upper Granite Creek Watershed in Oregon.

The Monumental, Cap Martin, Tillicum, Sheridan, Golden Fraction, Central Mine, Granite Creek (GC) #5, GC #6, and GC #7 mines are located on public lands administered by the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, approximately 5 to 8 aerial miles north of the town of Granite, OR.

The Draft EE/CA report for the Sites has been prepared in accordance with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Contingencies Plan (NCP). The purpose of this report is to present a detail analysis of cleanup alternatives that can be used for the decision-making process for immediate and future action(s).

Alternatives considered in the EE/CA include: 1) no action, 2) on-site containment of waste-rock and tailing piles, 3) excavation and on-site disposal of waste-rock and tailing piles, and 4) excavation and off-site disposal of waste-rock and tailing piles. The goal of the preferred alternative(s) is to minimize or eliminate any release or threat of release of a hazardous substance into the environment or impact on public health and welfare.

The USFS will consider all public comments on the Draft EE/CA before finalizing the document and issuing an Action Memorandum.

The Draft EE/CA is available for download at the following link:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/wallowa-whitman/landmanagement/projects/?cid=fseprd1232109 A hard copy of the Draft EECA report may be reviewed at the Whitman Ranger Station, 1550 Dewey Ave., Suite A, Baker City, OR. 97814. All written comments must be e-mailed to the USFS no later than May 2, 2025, for consideration in the Final EE/CA.

Written comments may be submitted by e-mail to: Mario A. Isaias-Vera, USFS On-Scene Coordinator, mario.isaias-vera@usda.gov; or to Andrew Schamber, USFS Regional Environmental Engineer Program Manager, andrew.schamber@usda.gov. The public may also contact Keifer Nace, Wallowa-Whitman Forest Geologist, keifer.nace@usda.gov for additional information.