Historical site destroyed by the state(UPDATE)

[Seamuss]

Re: Historical site destroyed by the state

Monty
If there was any hazardous materials in the tailing's wouldn't they have taken it away instead of moving it closer to the river?

A governmental phrase: We're the government, we're here to help.

 

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[Montana Jim]

Re: Historical site destroyed by the state

But the question remains... why did they do the work in the first place?

 

[Likely Guy]

Re: Historical site destroyed by the state

The link I listed above is now accesible.

Page 4, Summary: "The constituents of concern that exceeded EPA Region IX industrial levels in waste rock and tailings were arsenic, iron, antimony, cobalt, and lead. However, it would appear that antimony and cobalt are an anomaly as there was only one reading for each of these metals. Mercury was discovered in only one location as well. All three elements were discovered in the tailings area. Appendix A shows all Niton testing results along with associated State and Federal regulations and guidelines for all elements detected.

The Site poses a physical hazard to the general public recreating at the Site in that the upper adit is accessible."

From: http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloreg...o/mayflower-och/mayflower_final apa_11-04.pdf

 

[Montana Jim]

Re: Historical site destroyed by the state

The link I listed above is now accesible.

Page 4, Summary: "The constituents of concern that exceeded EPA Region IX industrial levels in waste rock and tailings were arsenic, iron, antimony, cobalt, and lead. However, it would appear that antimony and cobalt are an anomaly as there was only one reading for each of these metals. Mercury was discovered in only one location as well. All three elements were discovered in the tailings area. Appendix A shows all Niton testing results along with associated State and Federal regulations and guidelines for all elements detected.

The Site poses a physical hazard to the general public recreating at the Site in that the upper adit is accessible."

From: http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloreg...o/mayflower-och/mayflower_final apa_11-04.pdf

Well done... it seems this area is not fit for picnics!

Also, there is good reason for the work being done in possible preparation for cleaning the area or some other such venture.

 

[Likely Guy]

Re: Historical site destroyed by the state

It just sucks when history gets in the way of the environment. This is just preparatory work I think, the hoes and dump trucks will show up next and 'jog' won't be able to recognize the place anymore. Might as well take the 'historic site' signs down, that place is 'history'.

 

[jog]

Re: Historical site destroyed by the state

Thanks for all the comments and replies!!!
Got a hold of the US Forest service today and yes it was cleaned up do to arsenic.It was supposed to have contaminated the trees to,that would explain why there are none.

It just sucks when history gets in the way of the environment. This is just preparatory work I think, the hoes and dump trucks will show up next and 'jog' won't be able to recognize the place anymore. Might as well take the 'historic site' signs down, that place is 'history'.

I guess i wont be camping there ,nothing worth looking at.I agree whats the sense in keeping the sign up.

 

[backup1911]

This literally make my heart hurt. I grew up in Prineville and spent many summers with my prospecting grandfather at that very site. My earliest memories are of possibly as many as a dozen standing structures at that site. Actually from that site there were many bldgs (some collapsed) and mine sites in several of the feeder draws. All the way into my early twenties I would revisit those sites, explore the buildings, creeks, tailing piles, mine shafts, etc. I can't believe that all that has been wiped away. My grandchildren will never get to see the remains of that part of the history of the Ochocos. I wonder if walking some of the surrounding draws and hillsides might still reveal a few un destroyed foundations or the remnants of a few of the buildings that were located a bit farther away from the main hub of the site?

 

[GunRunner]

I too used to spend a lot of time exploring the area - not only this site but several of the others in the area and the feeling is mutual. I lived in Prineville for a couple years in the mid- 2000's and many of my weekends were spent exploring and MDing in the area.