EPA Superfund site
BONITA PEAK MINING DISTRICT
Human exposure is NOT currently under control
Data limitations: Proximity to a Superfund site boundary does not mean your property is contaminated. EPA site boundaries show the area designated for cleanup, not the full extent of contamination. Groundwater plumes can extend beyond site boundaries. This tool shows publicly available EPA federal data. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by EPA, and is not a substitute for a professional environmental assessment.
About this site's exposure pathways
As of September 2026, the Bonita Peak Superfund Site is considered "Current Human Exposure Not Under Control" (HENC). In June 2019, EPA completed a Human Health Risk Assessment for the Site with extensive review by a multi-party human health advisory group. As discussed in the risk assessment, campers may be exposed to contaminants above EPA cleanup levels at multiple campsites within Operable Unit 01 (OU1). This exposure pathway is considered unacceptable based on EPA risk-based criteria. Campground 7 and trespass campground 4 have been remediated under the 2019 Interim Record of Decision. Two additional trespass campgrounds with unacceptable lead exposure risks were identified in a 2022 Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry report. These campgrounds, called 2 and 3, were remediated under an Emergency Removal Action in 2023. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is currently evaluating recreational areas on BLM managed land to assess if there are unacceptable human health exposures. As land use is changing in the county, the EPA is evaluating if there are other areas that pose an unacceptable risk for the current land use. The EPA expects human exposure to be under control in September 2030, when the OU1 remedial action is complete.
If you are potentially impacted by risks inherent at this site, the EPA recommends you camp in designated camping areas and take steps to limit ingestion of contaminated soil, such as proper hand washing. If you have further questions about exposures at this Site, reach out to the Community Involvement Coordinator.