The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday added the Nelson Tunnel/Commodore Waste Rock pile near Creede to the National Priorities List (NPL) of Superfund sites. The draining mine adit and waste rock pile are located about one mile north of Creede in Mineral County. 

A final Superfund listing for part of the historic mining district north of town is likely in September, but clean up of one of the main pollution sources may take up to three years, according to officials with the Environmental Protection Agency.