Mining and NPL Superfund Sites; Superfund Case Study, Shoshone Bannock Tribes
Author:
Kelly Wright and Susan Hanson, Shoshone Bannock Tribes
Date Published:
08/2019
Description:
Shoshone-Bannock Tribes lifeways and health have been affected negatively for years because of phosphate mining and processing activities on and adjacent to the Fort Hall Reservation. The Reservation is the site of the largest elemental phosphorus mine in the United States, known as the Gay Mine and now inactive, and the Eastern Michaud Flats Superfund Site which is comprised of two different phosphorus processing plants, the J.R. Simplot Don Plant which is still in operation and the FMC plant which is under-going CERCLA cleanup. This Superfund site placed on the National Priorities List in 1990. In 1998, the EPA issued the largest RCRA fine (at that time) against FMC. In terms of CERCLA status, the Simplot Operable Unit has a Record of Decision and the FMC Operable Unit is working with an Interim Record of Decision. Consequently, the Reservation resources have been contaminated. Industries and federal agencies forget or ignore the health and natural resource damages to our land. However, we continue to remind them that it is important to use a true Tribal Risk Scenario for risk assessments and to respect our laws and cleanup standards as valid ARARs during the cleanup process.
Kelly Wright and Susan Hanson, Shoshone Bannock Tribes during 2019 TLEF
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