Cleveland Mill is an abandoned lead, zinc, and copper mill covering 5-10 acres in Grant County, New Mexico, about 5 miles northeast of Silver City. The land is owned by Sharon Steel, Inc. On the site are piles of over 12,000 cubic yards of tailings heavily contaminated with lead, silver, zinc, copper, and arsenic, according to the New Mexico Environmental Improvement Division (NMEID). The tailings were moved from the mill via a slurry pipeline and deposited directly to the steep sloping sides of a small valley.
The piles are uncovered, unstabilized, and unlined. They are approximately 100 yards south of the Continental Divide at the headwaters of Little Walnut Creek. NMEID has found that water in the creek at least 5 miles downstream of the tailings is highly acidic and contains the same contaminants as the piles. The creek and downstream waters are used for recreational activities.
Contamination of ground water is likely because the piles and contaminated surface water are in areas that recharge the alluvial aquifer. This shallow aquifer consists of coarse, permeable materials and is hydraulically connected to the bedrock aquifer, so that water moves downward. An estimated 1,200 people obtain drinking water from private wells within 3 miles of the site.
Direct contact with contaminated tailings is possible since the site is unfenced. Two Forest Service roads converge on-site.
Source: US EPA superfund National Priorities List.
[url]http://epa.gov/superfund/sites/npl/nar1122.htm[/url]