1984-1987 WRST Hazardous Waste Inventory

Rosenkrans, Danny; Rosenkrans, Danny

WRST conducted a survey and sampling of hazardous waste materials that were abandoned at numerous mining (and other) sites throughout the Park. The project was restricted to publicly owned lands during 1985, 1986 and 1987. Samples were collected in accordance with Environmental Protection Agency safety standards and were subjected to flashpoint testing or laboratory chemical analysis to determine their identity. Ignitable and non-ignitable hazardous liquids sampled had a combined total of 1,693 gallons found in a total of 133 containers. Solid wastes totaled 167,142 pounds and included 10,200 pounds of Q-Broxin, a drilling mud containing highly toxic levels of chromium (Sudden Stream). Explosives were found at seven sites and included 310 pounds of unstable dynamite. The suggested actions were removal of all hazardous materials found, and elimination or mitigation of physical hazards. The alternative to the suggested removal action was no action which would have allowed the hazardous materials to enter the park soils and water, as well as, continue to pose a significant safety risk to park visitors and NPS employees .