EPA removes portion of Eagle Mine Superfund site from priorities list
The EPA move is part of a larger chain of events for Minturn
Eagle River Water and Sanitation District/Vail Daily archives
Work on a portion of the Eagle Mine Superfund site near Minturn has resulted in some good news. But that news is part of a longer chain of events.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Monday announced that a 5.3-acre portion of the Superfund site — known as “the trestle” — has been taken off the National Priorities List.
In a statement, EPA Regional Administrator KC Becker said, “This partial deletion of the Eagle Mine Superfund site reflects the cooperation between EPA, Colorado, the community and private industry to secure the site and protect human health and the environment. EPA will conduct five-year reviews at the property to ensure the remedies in place remain protective.”
The de-listing is the result of a 2021 remediation project at the trestle. That structure contained plumbing from the Eagle Mine, and was known to leak.
The remediation was taken on by Battle North, LLC, the landowner. The project required approval from both the EPA and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
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The release from the EPA noted that other areas of the site aren’t yet eligible for de-listing consideration.
“Any time you can get something taken off (the Superfund list), it’s important,” Minturn Town Council member Gusty Kanakis said.
Kanakis, now retired, has lived most of his life in Minturn. He said he’s been impressed with the improvement in the water quality of that stretch of the Eagle River.
“Every year it seems cleaner,” Kanakis said, noting that even the orange tinge of many river rocks has faded over the years.
The trestle de-listing is part of a larger chain of events related to the Battle North property.
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Minturn Mayor Earle Bidez said the de-listing is an important part of a proposed legal settlement between the town and Battle North.
That proposed deal — which the Town Council is expected to vote on at its first September meeting — could result in the town acquiring 250 acres of land over a number of years.
There’s an open tailings pile that needs to be remediated, probably when Bolts Lake excavation work begins. The town is also set to receive a 62-acre parcel called the highlands, above the open pile. Bidez called that area “pristine.”
The consolidated tailings pile — a covered area near Maloit Park — would also be conveyed to the town. That property can’t be developed, but could be used for wildlife winter range, a large solar energy array or similar uses.
The town could also receive a portion of the south bank of Bolts Lake.
In return, Battle North would receive development rights to build either 250 units, or 225 units if the project also includes a spa.
