EPA Superfund Site

CENTRAL CITY, CLEAR CREEK

CO | EPA ID COD980717557

About this site’s exposure pathways: As of September 2025, the Central City, Clear Creek Superfund Site is considered "Current Human Exposure Not Under Control," because human health hazards from this Site involve potential exposure to heavy metals (primarily lead, arsenic and cadmium), from historic mining activities. Pathways of human exposure include inhalation of dust and ingestion of surface soils or mining waste materials. Based on available data for the waste rock piles demonstrating high concentrations of arsenic and lead, occupants of homes in the Site could be experiencing unacceptable exposures.
To date, remedial activities at this state-lead Site involve treatment of contaminated surface water through two water treatment plants (Argo⁄North Clear Creek) and removal or capping of tailings and waste rock piles. Currently, the planned activities to address the exposure pathway are the removal or capping of waste rock piles identified under the newly established operable unit 5 (OU5). Established in 2022, OU5 will address risk posed by the waste rock piles located on or near residential properties. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and EPA have completed the first round of data collection and are close to finalizing the remedial investigation and focused feasibility study.
If you are impacted by risk inherent at this site, simple precautions such as avoiding contact with mine waste piles, removing shoes before entering your house, and washing hands (especially for children) can help to reduce risk. The agencies currently anticipate that human exposure will be under control by December 2031 corresponding to the completion of the OU5 remedial action.