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4 y~ <br />• • <br />began meeting with local officials to review the results of the water-quality <br />investigations and discuss what environmental response activities may be necessary and <br />appropriate. About the same time, a group of local officials and citizens interested in <br />reclamation and redevelopment of the lower Willow Creek watershed held several <br />meetings and formed the Willow Creek Reclamation Steering Committee (WCRSC). <br />Over the past year the WCRSC has held monthly meetings, developed a mission <br />statement with goals and objectives, and hosted representatives from a variety of <br />federal and State agencies and non-governmental organizations to organize support in <br />accomplishing their objectives. WCRSC is attempting to obtain a CWA Section 319 <br />Nonpoint Source Control grant as part of their efforts to obtain funding for their group. <br />Over the past year I have held discussions about the site conditions and potential <br />"next steps" with a variety of local and agency representatives. Several situations noted <br />below need to be addressed by our agencies. In consultation with WCRSC and other <br />stakeholders, 8EPA plans to begin scoping the site studies necessary to characterize the <br />surface and subsurface metal sources and releases, fate and transport pathways, and <br />exposure impacts to biological receptors within the Willow Creek and Rio Grande <br />drainages, as well as possible cleanup scenarios. <br />Throughout EPA's discussions to date with agencies and the community about <br />this site we have encouraged amulti-organization (i.e. stakeholders) and joint-venture <br />($'s and technical contributors) approach. There are numerous organizations with a <br />variety of skills and resources to contribute to projects of this type through watershed- <br />based partnerships. 8EPA's work at a variety of Colorado mining sites has repeatedly <br />encountered the complex regulatory, technical and administrative issues that accompany <br />such projects, as well as the substantial cost and investment required by government <br />agencies and appropriate responsible parties. These issues will be confronted once <br />again at this site, and we are therefore very interested in determining as early as <br />possible from the various State and Federal agencies (particularly those with natural <br />resource management and regulatory responsibilities) what their respective desired <br />outcomes, goals and expectations are for this project. In addition to focusing the <br />objectives for this project we would like to discuss what resources and financial <br />contributions agencies and programs might be in a position to contribute-both short- <br />and long-term. EPA's decision to proceed with response activities under the CERCLA <br />program at this site will be based on our continued assessment and ranking of the <br />situation at this site, but we are interested in determining your views on appropriate <br />clean-up goals and whether and how your agency will be able to assist with the process. <br />Our initial discussions about this site need to address the following matters: <br />2 <br />