Sullivan County residents may be forgiven if they didn’t know there was once a substantial mining operation in Wurtsboro. After all, it has not been in operation since 1920. But back in the day, the mine was reportedly a busy place.

According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), major mining began in the 1830s, “though the small-scale extraction of lead began much earlier,” during the 1600s.

According to at least one website the early settlers knew that the local Indians obtained lead from someplace near Wurtsboro, but the Indians were not willing to divulge the location of the place.

Three men ultimately learned the location of the mine, but didn’t know who owned the land, so they kept the location secret for 20 years. Ultimately one of the men, Moses Stanton, talked about the location in his sleep, and his son, Daniel, a blacksmith, overheard him and was able to profit from this knowledge in 1836. (This is recounted in the 1875 edition of “The History of Sullivan County,” by James Quinlan.)

This is the same area where the tailings are located. According to the DEC, although the tailings are located on the surface of the ground, they came from mine shafts, which still exist in the area. Now some 92 years after the mining has ended, the tailings, which are residual materials left over from the mining process, remain and, because of the lead, may present a danger to the public.

The DEC is in the process of developing a unit management plan for the Wurtsboro Ridge State Forest, and through that process the agency discovered the presence of the tailings, and conducted a preliminary investigation into the matter. They found there are four separate piles of tailings that together constitute an area of about two acres.

Because of the discovery, DEC is prohibiting public use of the area, “by establishing a restricted area and posting signage at the locations in question.”

DEC will investigate further and come up with a proposed remedial action plan, which will then be presented to the public. The DEC press release said, “The investigation is planned to begin in 2013, contingent upon the availability of funds.” The release further said that access roads may need to be improved and possibly new sections created.

In the meantime, the DEC warns anyone, who may travel through the unrestricted part of the state forest, not to drink any water found near the mined areas and also to be careful about eating meat from deer or other animals taken in the area.

Again from the press release, “Since much of lead accumulates in bone, the NYS Department of Health recommends removing the bones from meat of deer and other game taken in the Wurtsboro Ridge State Forest area before cooking.”