Leviathan Mine Project

    Overview

    Leviathan Mine is an inactive sulfur mine that the State of California acquired in 1984. The State acquired the site in order to cleanup and abate water quality problems caused by historic mining. Jurisdiction over the site rests with the State Water Resource Control Board, which in turn has delegated jurisdiction over pollution abatement activities to the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board. The location of the mine is in Alpine County, California, approximately five miles east of Markleeville, California.

    The State of California owns the Leviathan Mine property, which is on the federal list of the most polluted sites in the nation (National Priorities List). The purpose of the Water Board's Leviathan Mine program:

    • Abate discharges of acid mine drainage (AMD) to Leviathan Creek from areas of the Leviathan Mine Superfund Site that the Water Board manages.
    • Maintain the Water Board's pollution abatement infrastructure at the Site.
    • Comply with USEPA orders regarding the Site.
    • Provide review and comment on cleanup activities and Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study (RI/FS) activities proposed and carried out by Atlantic Richfield (AR) to comply with USEPA orders.
    • Develop and implement a final remedy for the Site that is protective of human health and the environment.

    The Water Board implements the program with an allocation of five positions.

    The Leviathan Mine Program Fact Sheet provides more information on the Goals, Challenges, Accomplishments, Performance Targets for the current year and following year.

    Leviathan Mine Site Work and Cost Allocation Settlement Agreement between Atlantic Richfield Company and State Parties

    Additional Information and Background

    Click on the year to expand and retract that year's information.

    Questions or comments about the Leviathan Mine Project?

    Please contact TJ Middlemis-Clark at: (530) 542-5463 or by email at: Timothy.Middlemis-Clark@waterboards.ca.gov