This site has four operable units (OUs) and two signed Records of Decision (RODs). The OU-1 ROD included the cleanup of the mine tailings and adit water in the mine area and the mine residences. The residences were later designated as OU4. The OU-2 Interim ROD for groundwater was signed in 2008. OU-3 is the Lost Lake area downstream of the site.
| City | Nevada City |
|---|---|
| County | Nevada County |
| State | California |
| Coordinates | 39.22806, -120.96986 |
Lava Cap Mine is a federal Superfund site in California. 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 antimony, arsenic, barium. Contamination has been detected in surface water, sediment, soil, groundwater.
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.