Elizabeth Mine Community Advisory Group Meeting

April 16, 2003 Meeting Summary

Approved 9/24/03

EMCAG Members and Alternates Present: Jim Condict, Kay Campbell, Linda Cook, John Freitag, Tom Essex, Neal Meglathery, Gwenda Smith, Scott Stokoe and Steve Willbanks

Strafford Technical Advisor: Sally Mansur

Copperas Hill Coalition: Fred Moody

VT Agency of Natural Resources: George Desch and John Schmeltzer

VT Division for Historic Preservation: Giovanna Pebbles

EPA: Ed Hathaway and John Vetter

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Scott Acone

URS: Jason Clere

Adamant Accord: Cindy Cook, Facilitator

The meeting began at approximately 7:05.

Draft Memorandum of Agreement

Ed Hathaway gave an overview of the draft Memorandum of Agreement. The National Historic Preservation Act requires EPA to minimize the impacts of its actions on historic sites to the extent feasible, and to “mitigate” or lessen the unavoidable impacts on historic resources. The draft MOA documents the measures EPA will take to avoid and mitigate the cleanup’s impacts to historic resources. The next draft of the MOA will include an appendix (Appendix A) that is a protocol for handling unexpected discoveries at the site.

Ed stated that it is EPA’s intent to minimize impacts on historic resources to the extent that this is possible and still achieve the cleanup goals. He thanked Gwenda Smith for her significant contributions to the historic documentation of the site. Ed noted that the focus of the MOA is on education and outreach—as this is what EPA does best-- and estimated that EPA could spend over $100,000 on these activities. He expressed the hope that the community would follow up and build upon EPA’s historical work at the site.

EPA Archeologist John Vetter discussed the mining sites that he has been worked on out west, and noted that mining sites in the northeastern U.S. are unusual. He noted that EPA has worked with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and has listened to community concerns regarding historic preservation. He also described the historic documentation process that EPA is using to document the mine buildings. In his experience, the historic mitigation at the Elizabeth Mine is “ahead of the curve” of historic preservation projects at larger western mining sites.

SHPO representative Giovanna Pebbles agreed that the MOA for this site is quite different from MOA’s at other mining sites. She described the interaction with EPA as a ‘high level of consultation”. She noted that her office has been listening carefully to community concerns, and asked that the community continue to be actively involved in shaping the details of how EPA will conduct the work that it is committing to in the MOA.

Ed noted that his team is planning to continue to work closely with the community, and that the draft MOA envisions that EPA will make a major investment in historic preservation at the Elizabeth Mine.

John Freitag and others commented that EPA has done “a tremendous job” in drafting the MOA.

John also expressed concern that the project might be moving toward a “document and destroy” strategy that might be premature, given the lack of data on flow rates and the amount of surface water that flows through TP-3 that requires treatment.

Process for Developing EMCAG Comments on the Draft MOA

Ed noted that he would like to receive EMCAG comments on the draft MOA by the end of May. The group agreed that Cindy would prepare a draft EMCAG comment letter, and circulate it by e-mail and fax. If it is possible to agree on wording by e-mail, the letter will go out soon, if not, the ECAG will hold a meeting on May 28 to finalize letter wording.

Site Update

Ed Hathaway stated that EPA would proceed with photographic documentation of the site in April and May.

Emergency Stabilization

EPA will build an access road this spring to get to the area in need of emergency stabilization.

He noted that site conditions have not changed significantly from the last week’s update, and that the critical period of spring snow melt has now passed.

Spring 2003 Construction Activity

Scott Acone described the work that will be done in the next few weeks. He is working with the Strafford Road Commissioner regarding truck routes. For the next week, there will be 40 to 50 trucks per day traveling along Route 132 through South Strafford village to the site. After Wednesday April 26, truck traffic will drop to 20 to 40 trucks per day. He estimates that emergency stabilization work will be completed by May 2. He asked people to let him or Ed know if they see trucks traveling at unsafe speeds.

TP-3

Ed noted that the June 25^th EMCAG meeting will focus on TP-3, and will include a report from USGS expert Bob Seal regarding the acidity levels in various parts of TP-3. The state will also discuss its position regarding the Operations and Maintenance (“O&M”) costs associated with preserving part of TP-3.

ED said that EPA has agreed that any inert materials within TP-3 will be left in place. Ed observed that the costs associated with treating contaminated runoff from any preserved potions of TP-3 is a critical issue, and noted that ANR is open to working with any community groups that might form that are willing and able to be responsible for the treatment of this runoff. However, the State of Vermont will be ultimately responsible for ensuring the environmental effectiveness of all O&M work at the site.

Copperas Hill Coalition Update

Fred Moody gave an update regarding the work of the Copperas Hill Coalition (CHC). He said that the CHC has spent approximately $50,000.00 thusfar. The contract with Woody Reed has been renewed. Richard Downer'’ contract has not been renewed. THE CHC has contracted with hydrologist Lori Barg, and he anticipates that the CHC board will contract with Anne Clift and Dick Magaw. Fred noted that John Freitag will resign from the CHC board, and will be replaced by Jeff Wolfe.

Status of Water Quality Grant to the Town of Strafford

Sally Mansur discussed the $6,000.00 Water Quality Grant that the Town of Strafford received from ANR. The grant expired a year ago. The town has spent approximately $2,000.00 on Barrett Hall rental. The group agreed that if ANR says that it’s all right to do so, the town will use approximately $3,500.00 to repair a culvert on the Mine Road, and the remaining $500.00 will go toward expenses Dartmouth College has incurred in developing and maintaining the mine websites.

Reminder that the Site is Private Property

Linda Cook reminded the EMCAG that the entire mine site is privately owned, and that people must have permission before going on Cook Estate property, and that her family is planning on actively enforcing trespassing laws. She reported that Birger Benson has also expressed concern about people trespassing on his property.

October 12, 2002 and December 11, 2002 Meeting Summaries

The group approved the October 12, 2002 and December 11, 2002 meeting summaries.

Next Meeting

The group agreed that it would meet with EPA on June 25, and hold a meeting on May 28, if needed, to discuss the MOA comment letter and TAG grant considerations.