Revised On: Jan. 2, 2024 - 4:00 p.m.

Registry placement date: Oct. 23, 1998

Score: 97

County: Gila

Location

In and around the city of Globe, town of Miami and the communities of Claypool and Wheatfields, including the BHP Copper and Freeport-McMoRan (formerly Phelps Dodge) Miami mining properties, the drainages and underlying aquifers of Miami Wash, Bloody Tanks Wash, Russell Gulch and Pinal Creek; the entire floodplain of Pinal Creek from the Old Dominion Mine to the Salt River, and those portions of the communities underlain by contaminated groundwater.

If you own a private well, live in or near the site boundaries, and have not had your well tested, please contact ADEQ.

Contaminants of Concern

Aluminum, iron, manganese, copper, cobalt, nickel, zinc, cadmium, sulfate, acidity and dissolved solids, plus arsenic, lead, copper, cadmium, manganese, nickel and zinc in localized soil and stream sediment

Action Taken

The Pinal Creek Group (PCG) (previously BHP, Freeport-McMoRan and Inspiration Copper) conducted remedial actions including source control since 1988 and has completed a remedial investigation (RI), risk assessments, a feasibility study (FS) and a recommended remedial action plan. They have also conducted a well replacement program for contaminated private and public supply wells. The PCG conducted groundwater extraction and treatment from the alluvial and regional aquifers since 1988 and it continues to this day.

In 2010, they petitioned the U.S. District Court to limit PCG’s membership to Freeport-McMoRan and Inspiration Copper. BHP Copper is no longer a part of the group, though they remain responsible for management of their properties in accordance with the governing Consent Decree. The Pinal Creek Group was dissolved and  Freeport-McMoRan’s Pinal Creek Project (PCP) became the sole owner/operator of the Pinal Creek groundwater remediation systems and responsible for the Groundwater Remedial Action Plan described in the 1998 Consent Decree.

Status

The PCP remains responsible for site-wide remedial actions. Source control, groundwater remediation and groundwater monitoring continue. To speed up aquifer restoration, groundwater remedy optimization pilot tests have been conducted near the source area in Bloody Tanks Wash. BHP completed the Miami Avenue Tailings Relocation project.

Community Advisory Board (CAB)

Dissolved