EPA Accepting Comments for Sulphur Bank Mercury Mine Superfund Site Cleanup Plan

We (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) are accepting comments from the community on our recommended cleanup plan for part of the Sulphur Bank Superfund site—the mine site and residential soils areas.

This part of the site is also called “Operable Unit 1.” The Sulphur Bank Mine operated from the late 1800s to the 1950s, spreading mine waste containing toxic levels of mercury and arsenic across the mine property, into nearby neighborhoods and into Clear Lake.

Our recommended cleanup plan (called the “Proposed Plan”) will protect the community from the mercury, arsenic and antimony and reduce mercury entering Clear Lake.

This is a critical first step to reduce mercury in the lake’s fish.

The 90-day public comment period for the Proposed Plan begins in early December 2022 and ends on February 28th, 2023.

- Learn more at: epa.gov/superfund/sulphurbankmercury

- There, you can:

• Watch a recorded presentation on the plan,
• Read the plan, and/or
• Review the site’s Administrative Record.

- We will also host events to help you understand the plan. Visit the “Key Announcements” section of our website (listed above) for more details by scanning this QR-code with your phone’s camera: 

- Printed copies of the plan are available to view at: Redbud Library 14785 Burns Valley Rd Clearlake, CA 95422 (707) 994-5115 Please call for hours and availability.

How to Submit Comments

(1) Send written comments by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

(2)Mail, postmarked no later than February 28th, 2023, written comments to:

Gavin Pauley, Community Involvement Coordinator
EPA Region 9
75 Hawthorne Street (Mail Code: OPA-2)
San Francisco, CA 94105

(3)Leave an oral comment (in a voicemail) at: 800-231-3075 (toll-free). We will transcribe all oral comments.

If you have difficulty accessing the online materials or have questions, please contact:

Gavin Pauley, Community Involvement Coordinator
(415) 535-3725
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

We will review and respond to all comments in a document called a “Responsiveness Summary.” We will publish this summary when we release our final decision (with supporting information) about the cleanup plan, likely in Fall 2023. CNSB#3650445