Montrose - Daily Press

MONTROSE �” The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is removing thousands of gallons of toxic chemicals from the now-defunct Elizabeth Mining and Development Inc. in Montrose.

“The worst thing we have found is a little over 6,000 gallons of hydrochloric acid,” Al Lange, on-scene coordinator for the EPA’s Region VIII, said Tuesday as contract crews moved barrels of sodium nitrate to a staging area.

The EPA’s Christopher Wardell said there is no immediate danger to the public, but teams are undertaking a “time-critical removal” lest acids stored at the EMDI facility on 63.00 Road leak into nearby drainages and waterways.

Scientific contractors Amy Gray and John West examine and test chemical samples that were pulled from drums on Elizabeth Mining and Development Inc.'s facility Tuesday afternoon. (Joel Blocker / Daily Press) Advertisement

Highly flammable chemicals are also stored at the site, defunct since owners Joseph and Steven Casebolt were indicted in 2007 on state charges related to hazardous waste disposal and fraud.

The 35-acre site sits on the floodplain of the Uncompahgre River, just across the road from the Delta-Montrose Electrical Association. A housing development and dairy are close by.

“If they (wastes) were left here, the potential is that they could be released into the environment and threaten nearby businesses and residences,” said Wardell, the EPA’s community involvement coordinator for Region VIII.

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