2024-05-17_REVISION - M1977493 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Permit M-1977-493—Climax Mine and began construction to complete the project. An additional 102 acres of dry cap were placed. Geogrid was used to stabilize the wettest areas. Previous reclamation efforts have used biosolids to supplement available growth media. Although the use of biosolids has successfully enhanced revegetation, Climax will no longer be using biosolids due to concerns with potential per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) in the sources. In addition to capping, the majority of Robinson TSF has been revegetated and 114 acres have achieved bond release. E-3.3 Storke Area Reclamation The Storke Yard historically included many underground mining and support facilities as well as the mine's aggregate resource. Additionally, the Arkansas River headwaters flow across Climax property through the Storke Yard. In the early 1970s, a section of the river was diverted through a buried 2,000-foot-long concrete pipe. Starting in 1989, the gravel pit was reclaimed to a freshwater pond and the surrounding area was revegetated. The Arkansas Pond now supports a sustaining trout population, and the surrounding vegetation community is well established and diverse. In 1994, the equipment from Storke Yard and most of the buildings were demolished in preparation for the reclamation of the area. Much of the area was graded and revegetated in 1995 and trees were planted into the reclamation. This area now supports a diverse grassland vegetation community. Climax's most recent project in the Storke Yard was a project to daylight the Arkansas River into a newly constructed channel. The new design incorporated a stable meandering channel and floodplain that mimics the conditions up and downstream. The channel was designed to pass a 100-year, 24-hour event, and revegetation along the channel includes transplants of native vegetation, willow and birch shrubs, and Engelmann spruce trees harvested on site. The site demonstrates sustaining vegetation establishment and hydrologic stability after numerous years of vary flow rates. Reclaimed portions of the overall Storke Area have since been successfully reclaimed and the bond released. No further actions or cost are anticipated for these specific reclaimed areas. E-3.4 Dam Faces To date, Climax has stabilized and capped all or parts of the faces of 1 Dam, 2 Dam, 3 Dam, 5 Dam, and Robinson Dam. Robinson Dam and 4 Dam were designed for rock cover only with 4 Dam now being owned by Eagle River Water& Sanitation District. A permanent vegetation cover has been successfully established on portions of 3 Dam and 5 Dam. 3 Dam and 5 Dam have previously had 66 acres and 25 acres of bond released, respectively. 1 Dam has been partially revegetated as a result of the Robinson Lake clean-out project (TR-15). This project, initiated in 2008, was designed to expand the process water capacity of the lake. During the project, native soil materials were encountered that had been historically buried under the lake. These native soil materials were used on 1 Dam as an added benefit for reclamation. E-3.5 Searle Gulch Historic Mining Area Numerous inactive mine sites in the Kokomo Creek and Searle Creek were reclaimed in a program that was initiated at the Climax Mine in 2006. Mine wastes were loaded and hauled to identified depositories near active Climax tailing areas. Each of the 26 mine sites were then graded to the approximate original contour. Soils were then amended and revegetated. In all, 240,000 cubic yards of waste rock were removed and hauled, 43 acres were regraded, and 18,000 cubic yards of soil amendments were hauled and placed. Climax is monitoring the results of this voluntary reclamation project. E-4 Water Management Water management for both fresh and process water is a critical component of Climax's mining and reclamation operations. Detailed descriptions of the water management plan for production and at closure are included in Exhibit G: Water Information. Exhibit E E-3 May 2024