Upper Silver Creek Watershed Stakeholders Group

Lower Silver Creek Work Group

Statement of Goals – 6/5/06 Draft

1.  Protect human health and the environment.

    1.1.   With regards to hazardous substances such as heavy metals, bring Lower Silver Creek into compliance with water quality standards set by the State of Utah and implemented through the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Program, to the extent possible. This will be done through:
        1.1.1.   A hazardous substance investigation to determine the sources of contamination within the Lower Silver Creek area. This hazardous substance investigation will be coupled with any TMDL investigations of other substances to the degree possible.
        1.1.2.   Preparation and implementation of a practical remediation plan(s), preferably in cooperation with the TMDL program, which may use a variety of measures to achieve significant improvements in water quality. The ultimate goal is attainment of water quality standards, though it is unknown at this point if this goal is completely achievable through available and reasonable measures. 

    1.2.  Ensure that the amounts, or the accessibility, of hazardous substances in watershed soils and mine wastes do not pose unacceptable risks to human health. Establish soil/mine waste cleanup standards and methodologies which support planned and actual uses of the land as defined by the appropriate regulating agencies. This may include residential, commercial, recreational or others.

    1.3.  Ensure that impacts to ground water from hazardous substances are understood in sufficient detail to appropriately mitigate. 

    1.4.  Identify existing, or potential, fish and wildlife habitat within the watershed. Ensure that the levels, or the accessibility, of hazardous substances in soils, mine wastes, and creek bed sediments do not pose unacceptable risks to fish and wildlife resources and associated habitats. 

2.  Keep the public informed and provide opportunities for involvement and feedback. Consider the public's concerns when making decisions.

3.  Achieve regulatory closure and minimize the need for future Federal/State involvement, especially with regards to CERCLA (aka Superfund). Remove existing sites from the CERCLA database as appropriate and minimize the need for addition of other sites into the database, if appropriate. 

4.  Find solutions which enjoy widespread acceptance.

5.  Minimize the negative perception of environmental investigation and cleanup. 

6.  Save time and money for everyone involved.