EPA Superfund Program Region 10 - Proposed Plan: White

0,16

MB

King/Lucky Lass Site Lakeview, Oregon

27

stron

2601

ID

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

1999

rok

SITE BACKGROUND

The White King/Lucky Lass mine site is a former uranium mining area located in South-central

Oregon, northwest of Lakeview. Lakeview Mining Company began mining the site in 1955. Initial

mining at White King was underground via mine shafts until 1959. In 1959, open-pit mining

techniques were used and continued until active mining stopped around 1965. Mining techniques

resulted in the stockpiling of overburden material in the current locations and the creation of the pit

where ore was extracted. Mining at Lucky Lass was conducted via open-pit mining techniques.

Through a series of mergers, Kerr-McGee Corporation acquired Lakeview Mining and became a

potentially responsible party (PRP)under CERCLA. Other individuals or entities involved at the site

may also be PRPs.

In 1989, the Forest Service began considering action on the mine pits and the piles of overburden.

In August 1991, the Forest Service issued a draft report titled, "Draft Environmental Impact

Statement Remedial Investigation & Feasibility Study for the Cleanup and Rehabilitation of the

White King and Lucky Lass Uranium Mines." This report was written by the Forest Service to

evaluate proposed remediation alternatives at the Mines site. This report was revised in 1994 to

included expanded discussions, more detailed descriptions, and edits for clarification. Subsequent

to this report EPA listed the Mines Site on the National Priorities List (NPL) on April 25, 1995.

Upon review of the 1994 DEIS-RI/FS Report, EPA determined that further investigation and

alternative analysis was needed to support a remedial action decision. On April 24, 1995, Kerr-

McGee Corporation signed an Administrative Order on Consent with EPA, the Forest Service, OOE,

and ODEQ to conduct a RI/FS. The RI/FS was completed in August 1999.