EPA performed remedial investigations and risk assessments on the Yerington Paiute Tribe’s Campbell Ranch reservation and on the Walker River Paiute Tribe’s reservation. The investigations focused on contamination that potentially migrated from the mine impacts through the Wabuska Drain and into the Walker River.
| City | Yerington |
|---|---|
| County | Lyon County |
| State | Nevada |
| Coordinates | 38.99027, -119.18707 |
Anaconda Copper Mine is a federal Superfund site in Nevada. The Superfund program, created by Congress in 1980, addresses sites where hazardous substances have been released or threaten release into the environment. EPA scores potential sites using the Hazard Ranking System; those that score high enough are placed on the National Priorities List.
Current status: Cleanup underway. Active cleanup is underway, meaning EPA has approved a remediation plan and work is in progress. Cleanup timelines vary widely — some sites take decades depending on contamination depth, groundwater involvement, and funding availability.
EPA has identified 10 contaminants of concern at this site, including arsenic, chromium, cobalt. Contamination has been detected in sludge, sediment, liquid waste, solid waste, soil.
If you live near this site and have health concerns, your state health department can provide site-specific guidance. EPA maintains a community involvement program for most NPL sites, and site documents — including the Record of Decision, five-year reviews, and public health assessments — are typically available through EPA's Superfund site profile.