This summer EPA, BLM, USFS and State agencies will be working on several important cleanup and monitoring projects across the Bonita Peak Site. Here’s what’s happening:  

Mine Cleanup Projects:  

• Anglo Saxon Mine – Stabilizing the hillside and waste rock pile where the old crib wall collapsed and was removed.  

• Bandora Mine – Installing a monitoring well into the Bandora Mine to sample and monitor the mine pool fluctuations over time.   
  • After the drilling and well installation is complete, reestablish drainage channels and remove settling ponds that were used during the drilling.
• Brooklyn Mine – Removing two nuisance ponds and replacing with a more natural channel.

• Columbus Mine – Redirecting mine impacted water flow to protect native plants.

• Terry Tunnel – Planting grass and other native plants to revegetate the covered waste pile – preventing erosion. 

• Tom Moore Mine – Replacing a degraded portal shed to prevent debris from backing up mine impacted water in the portal area. 

• Forest Queen Mine – The Bureau of Land Management drained the mine adit and will be reconstructing the piping system at the portal area to mitigate the risk of an unplanned release. This allows BLM to access pipes for long-term site maintenance.  

• Gold King Mine Road – Road improvements are planned to stabilize the access road and portions of the pile and ensure long-term access for water collection for treatment.

• Red and Bonita Mine – A portal shed will be added to improve avalanche safety and support winter access.

• Koehler Mine – Assessment of the concrete bulkhead to determine if additional reinforcement is needed to increase the longevity of the structure. 

Testing Innovative Technologies:  

• EPA scientists in the Office of Research and Development are testing a new protective coating that may help reduce mine waste pollution from mine waste piles.
  • Field test: July 2025 near Bandora Mine 

EPA’s Brownfields Program offers grants and technical support to help communities, states, tribes and others to assess, clean up, and safely reuse contaminated properties. In San Juan County, several Brownfields projects are underway; these efforts are separate from the Bonita Peak Mining District Superfund Site (BPMD) activities. 

One key Brownfields projects is the Lackawanna Mill Site, which sits outside the BPMD site boundary but overlooks the Town of Silverton. A conceptual design was produced to reflect community feedback and ideas, including future uses such as a recreation hub, event space, and public gathering area. Assessment of the mill site was completed in January of 2025 through an EPA Brownfields grant awarded to the Town of Silverton.  A structural analysis of the mill building is planned for summer of 2025. The results will help guide cleanup strategies and determine how the site may be reused in the future.