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EPA says repository mobilization will begin May 11; County Road 2 detour planned May 19–25
Summary
The EPA told San Juan County commissioners it expects to mobilize repository construction the week of May 11 and is planning a Memorial Day‑week temporary closure and bypass on County Road 2 (May 19–25) for culvert work. EPA and the Army Corps described outreach, dust and traffic controls and plans to start sludge hauling in June.
The county heard an update April 8 from EPA remedial project manager Jessica Dugan and partner agencies on the repository construction and related traffic impacts.
Dugan said the project plans to mobilize on May 11 and begin construction activities immediately. "We anticipate mobilization starting May 11th," she told commissioners, adding that the contractor expects to begin amendments to and mobilization of sludge around June 1–2.
The team said a temporary detour through the industrial park is planned for the week of May 19–25 to allow crews to install a culvert beneath County Road 2. Army Corps project manager Mike McHugh said the schedule is a worst‑case five‑day window; the contractor aims to complete work sooner if possible. "We're looking at getting that prepped and get that bypass created, take a couple days, and then excavate and install that pipe," McHugh said.
EPA community involvement coordinator Ashlin Brooks and local staff described outreach steps they plan to use to alert residents and travelers: newspaper notices, the Silverton community Facebook page, post‑office bulletin posting and Nixle alerts. They also said they are mailing information to property owners upstream of the work and are coordinating speed‑limit signage, dust control measures and flaggers for larger vehicles. "We'll plan on working around the clock to try to get that culvert in and the backfill compaction," the contractor said.
Commissioners and residents pressed the project team on driveway access, the tight turn at the north end of the bypass and whether local campgrounds and tourism events (including the Iron Horse weekend) were considered in scheduling. EPA staff said they had begun property‑owner outreach and would refine detour geometry to accommodate larger trucks, post extra closure signage at the northern entrance of the industrial park and staff round‑the‑clock flaggers if needed.
The EPA team also discussed operations at the treatment plant and the scope of the season's hauling. Project contractor Elliot Petri said the site has a backlog of sludge and the contractor estimates more than 20,000 cubic yards to move this season; hauling could stretch into October depending on weather and truck availability. "We're anticipating there's over 20,000 yards of sludge up there in the backlog," Petri said, adding that after that the site would taper to normal operations.
Commissioners asked whether the Bureau of Land Management might truck material to other repositories; EPA and state representatives said conversations are ongoing and that choices involve legal, financial and capacity considerations.
Next steps: EPA plans formal public notices, targeted owner outreach and continued preconstruction coordination with county road crews on signage and dust control. The board was not asked to take formal action at the meeting; staff and the EPA team said they would return with notice materials and schedule refinements if the detour timing changes.
