The Montezuma County landfill has taken a measure to help save taxpayers unnecessary expense when disposing of nonhazardous waste from the Red Arrow mill in Mancos.

Landfill manager Deb Barton recently requested clarification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency about accepting any non-hazardous waste from the federal Superfund site. Acting as a concerned citizen, Barton said she sought the clarification in order to help lower waste disposal transportation costs associated with the cleanup effort.

"Why pay an extra 50, 60 or 70 miles of transportation when we're basically 20 miles from Mancos?" she asked. "If this will reduce the cost to taxpayers, isn't that my responsibility as a citizen?"

After an environmental investigation by state authorities, the EPA issued a temporary 60-day permit for the landfill on Feb. 28. Barton said state and federal laws prohibit the landfill from accepting anything but non-hazardous and non-liquid waste only.

"We've been certified to meet EPA standards," said Barton. "Does that mean they can bring the material to me willy-nilly? No. They have to prove that it is non-hazardous."

Barton said a certified EPA lab report stating the waste was not hazardous would have to be produced before receiving any non-hazardous waste from Red Arrow. Any mercury tainted waste from the milling site must be less than 0.2 parts per million, and any lead or arsenic polluted material must be less than 5 parts per million, she said.

Because of the EPA lab results, Barton said she remained confident that no hazardous material would ever enter the local landfill. She added that nearby archeological sites, ranchers and ordinary citizens also have nothing to fear.

Located on Grand Avenue just outside of Mancos, the Red Arrow milling site was ordered closed by the Colorado Department of Reclamation and Mining Safety in June. DRMS officials also closed the Red Arrow gold mine some nine miles northeast of Mancos. Owner Craig Luikko was fined $335,000 for six violations, including operating a mine without a permit.

At this time, however, the entire waste disposal issue is moot, because all cleanup efforts at the milling site are stalled because of pending bankruptcy proceedings in Texas. Red Arrow is embroiled in a complicated bankruptcy case with partner company American Patriot Gold and a New York hedge fund, Maximilian Investors.