Dames & Moore, 1999 - USDA Forest Service

Waste Rock Piles
Referring to Figures 4.1-3 and 4.1-3% two waste rock piles are present in the immediate proximity of the
abandoned mill building. One pile is located to the west and one to the east of the mill facility. The piles
are estimated to range between approximately 120 to 150 feet in height. The uppermost surfaces of the piles
are relatively level and near the same elevation as the mine portal. The slopes of the piles are relatively
steep, in some cases approaching 45 degrees. The majority of the two piles are located outside the boundary
of the patented mill site claims and are, therefore, on National Forest System (NFS) lands.
The surface of the western waste rock pile contains approximately 2,400 cubic yards of petroleum
hydrocarbon-affected soils reportedly associated with the removal of 12 USTs from Holden Village in 1994
(QUEST, 1996). The top of the western waste rock pile is being utilized by Holden Village as a "bone
yard," or for the storage of miscellaneous materials.
A relatively minor amount of water seepage was observed near the base of both the west and east waste rock
piles during the spring months. The water from the western pile flows overland for a short distance before
percolating into the ground surface. The seepage from the eastern rock pile flows into a surface water
diversion onto the surface of tailings pile 1, which drains eventually into the Copper Creek diversion (see
below under Hydroelectric Plant).
Portal Museum
Referring to Figures 4.1-3 and 4.1-34 the portal museum is present to the west of the abandoned mill
building, in a building that was constructed by Holden village after the closure of the mine facility. The
museum contains a collection of artifacts and information related to the past mine operations; the actual
mine records were transferred to the University of Washington library archives (Adarns, 1981).
Maintenance Yard and Buildings
Referring to Figures 4.1-3 and 4.1-34 several Holden Village equipment maintenance buildings are located
to the north of the mill building.within the patented millsite area. The wood buildings are used to store
equipment, parts, tools, and miscellaneous chemicals and lubricants associated with the equipment. The
principal "shop" building is an "A-frame" structure which was reportedly constructed by Holden Village
after the original building burned down in the early 1970s (personal communication with Warner Jansen,
former Holden Village Operations Manager, 1998). The principal equipment maintained on the Site
includes road grading, excavation, and transport vehicles. Electrical transformers, labeled as not containing
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), were observed outside the storage building. Fuels are stored in
aboveground storage tanks (ASTs). There is a general absence of vegetation in the maintenance yard area,
likely due to vehicle traffic, grading, and the compact nature of yard surface.
Holden Village completed a new building immediately to the east of the older shop building in 1998, which
is used for additional vehicle maintenance and water treatment for the village.
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