Will mining firms pay for tailings cleanup?

The Environmental Protection Agency is asking a federal judge to order several mining companies to pay for the cleanup of a Park City tailings site that was an active site for tailings impoundment from the late 1800s through 1982.

According to a suit filed in U.S. District Court last week, at some point in time United Park City Mines Co., Atlantic Richfield Co., Falconbridge Limited and Noranda Mining Inc. used the 160-acre Richardson Flat Tailings Site southeast of U.S. 40 and U-248.

A study of the property in the 1980s showed that the surface and groundwater on the property was contaminated with hazardous substances, including heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, lead and zinc.

The lawsuit estimates there are currently about 7 million tons of tailings at the site.

EPA claimed it has incurred more than $600,000 in response costs to deal with the contamination at the site and claims the named companies are liable to pay all costs incurred by the government.