EPA began the pre-construction historic resource documentation for the Ely Copper Mine in 2023 and this work was completed in June 2024. This work involved archaeological and photographic documentation of historic resources prior to the start of the cleanup.
| City | Vershire |
|---|---|
| County | Orange County |
| State | Vermont |
| Coordinates | 43.92745, -72.28551 |
Ely Copper Mine is a federal Superfund site in Vermont. 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 aluminum, cadmium, cobalt. Contamination has been detected in surface water, leachate, solid waste, groundwater, sediment.
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.