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NPL Site Narrative for Kennecott (South Zone)
KENNECOTT (SOUTH ZONE)
Copperton, Utah
Federal Register Notice: January 18, 1994The Kennecott (South Zone) site area is located in Salt Lake County, Utah. The Salt Lake City suburban area is located to the east and northeast of the site. While the pit and other ore extraction activities occur on the east slope of the Oquirrh Mountains, other sources extend to the east for at least six miles into the Salt Lake Valley. The site area covers approximately 37 square miles.
Mining in the area began in the 1860s, with copper being the primary metal produced. Various mining companies have operated in the district over the years, including ARCO Inc. (formerly Anaconda Co.) and Kennecott Copper Corp. Since around 1900, Kennecott has operated a wide variety of mineral processing and production facilities onsite. Kennecott sent much of the mineral processing waste and copper ore from these operations north to the Kennecott (North Zone). Tailings waste produced in the South Zone is shipped to the North Zone by slurry and rail.
The South Zone includes wastes associated with extracting and concentrating copper ore. The main sources identified at the South Zone are the open pit, Bingham Creek Channel, State Motorcycle Park, Lark Tailings, Butterfield Mine/St. Joe's Tunnel, Bingham Creek/Anaconda Tailings, Large Bingham Reservoir, Small Bingham Reservoir, Leach Dumps, Leachate Collection System, 80 Acre Evaporation Pond, 4000 West Evaporation Pond, South Evaporation Pond, and residential soils in West Jordan.
The largest source at the South Zone is the Leach Dumps, which cover 5,350 acres. Contaminants found in waste sources at the South Zone include arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, nickel, selenium, silver, and zinc.
Many communities in the Salt Lake Valley use ground water for municipal water supplies. In the area of the sulfate plume identified by Kennecott reports, communities are precluded from using the resource. Concentrations of arsenic and cadmium have been found in two municipal wells and one domestic drinking water well. Chromium was also found in a domestic drinking water well. The municipal wells are no longer being used. A very large sulfate plume that originates from the Large Bingham Reservoir extends for miles in the Salt Lake Valley Principal Aquifer. Soil has been contaminated with tailings in residential areas within the city of West Jordan.
Kennecott is currently working and has performed or participated in cleanup work under EPA enforcement orders. Kennecott provided transportation and a repository for clean up of highly contaminated soils in West Jordan. Kennecott removed waste rock from Butterfield Canyon. Sludge and tailings have been removed from the Large and Small Bingham Reservoirs and are currently being regraded and lined. Kennecott is presently removing waste rock and tailings from the Lark area and Bingham Creek. ARCO is also participating in capping the Anaconda Tailings and removing contaminated sediments from Bingham Creek. In addition, Kennecott is undertaking many other projects that are not under EPA order or oversight.
For more information about the hazardous substances identified in this narrative summary, including general information regarding the effects of exposure to these substances on human health, please see the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) ToxFAQs. ATSDR ToxFAQs can be found on the Internet at http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaq.html or by telephone at 1-888-42-ATSDR or 1-888-422-8737.