Cancerous Mine Waste, Blowing in the Wind

In Randsburg California there are huge piles of mine waste that are being blown around by high winds. This is threatening the health and well-being of its residents as well as people who use the surrounding area desert for recreational purposes.

Arsenic levels 460,000 times higher than those which are deemed safe by the Federal government could affect all 300 residents in Randsburg which is now rated as having the highest toxic levels of arsenic in the nation. Unfortunately, little has been done about cleaning up these poisonous mounds of mine waste which can cause cancer in people who breathe the deadly dust. The difficulty comes in actually cleaning up the waste piles. Agitating them could do more harm to the environment that just leaving them alone and just monitoring them.

There are about a dozen or so silver and gold mines about 150 miles northeast of Los Angeles have been largely ignored because of their isolated locations. Meanwhile, more and more developments have crept into these areas, exposing unsuspecting residents to the deadly air.

Back in July of 2008 an audit was released by the federal government that stated the mine dust was not being dealt with in an effective manner by the Bureau of Land Management. The Interior Department has accused the BLM, in its audit, that it is endangering the public health and safety by not properly cleaning up and fencing off these deadly mines.

The Rand Mining District was named in the audit as an extremely hazardous site and immediate action is needed to prevent the public from going into these dangerous areas.

Luckily, rangers patrol the area regularly for trespassers but, when the winds pick up to over 25 mph, the rangers are required to leave because the air becomes saturated with the contaminated dust.

Arsenic was tested in the air and drinking water as well as in urine and soil samples and although biological samples from about 28 residents have not revealed elevated levels of toxic substances it has been found that the deadly arsenic could be ingested and/or inhaled could in turn contaminate area residents. However, the BLM has stated that what they have done thus far with the dust mounds has been highly effective.

What's holding back the clean-up? Money. It's been estimated that a proper clean will cost about $170 million. Sadly, several measures have been introduced and subsequently stalled in the House. However, there are plans to use money from the Department of the Interiors central hazardous materials fund in the hopes to jump start the clean-up.