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A,, Project Descriptions AdrianBrown MINE PERMITTING AND MINE WATER SUPPLY, UTAH An open pit copper mine was successfully permitted on BLM, state, and patented land in Utah. AdrianBrown contributed substantially to the groundwater and surface water sections of the federal NEPA(EIS)documents,and responded to subsequent appeals. Additionally,AddanBrown was instrumental in securing Water nights and obtaining a Ground Water Discharge Permit for the project. The project work included well installation,pumping tests, laboratory geochemical testing, computer modeling,permit applications,meetings with the agencies, and annual reports to the State of Utah on behalf of our client. Field investigations were conducted to determine the flow and quality in the deep aquifer,near the proposed open pits. Five monitoring wells were installed in the deep aquifer, to depths of 1,440 feet. Four long-term pumping tests in the shallow and deep aquifer were conducted and analyzed. Additional slug tests and sampling were conducted for the purpose of water supply engineering and decision- making. Meteoric water mobility tests were performed in the AdrianBrown geochemical laboratory to determine the potential for constituents leaching from waste rock and from pit walls. The laboratory testing was performed on 30 samples from 1 I different drill holes and four major rock types at the site, using three pH levels in the extractant. The results were analyzed for eight metals,TDS,conductivity,and pH. The data formed the basis for concluding that the release of constituents from waste rock and pit walls would not significantly impact groundwater. Numerical models were constructed to simulate pit refilling, leakage to the underlying aquifer, geochemical mixing,and mass balance for each of the three pits. The models were run for TDS and trace metals, and demonstrated that the potential for impact to the lower aquifer is negligible. Water rights of up to 900 gpm for the project were obtained, through the Utah Department of Natural Resource Division of Water Rights. A groundwater discharge permit was obtained for the sulfuric acid leach pad,pregnant and barren ponds,open pits, and other site facilities,through the Utah Department of Environmental Quality. An appeal of the project to the Interior Board of Land Appeals(IBLA), under the federal NEPA program,was successfully overcome. On the basis of technical information collected and analyzed by AddanBrown, the IBLA ruled in favor of project proponent,allowing mining operations to commence at the site.