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<br />MINE ID: t,-,^-=, --oo~ N-g~ ~~~Z (Page 2 c) <br /> <br />INSPECTION DATE: _~ =3- INSPECTOR'S INITIALS: LDO <br />9 ~a ¢ ro-x/93 <br />Larry Oehler noted that five rolls of VLDPE liner material had been place6 on a crushed rock <br />surface and that two of the rolls had holes in them from being handled by heavy equipment on <br />the angular rocks. Specifications state that the liner rolls will be Enlaced on prepared <br />surfaces when being handled. This was brought to the attention of Mr. Guyer and Serrot's <br />site supervisor. The contractor placed the rolls on discarded liner material. Mr. Guyer <br />stated that the material is inspected ae it ie pulled into place and ends with holes are cut <br />off and discarded. <br />A spill of process water occurred while the liner system was being inspected. Process water <br />began to pour from a disconnected pipe between the storage tank and a tailings free water <br />pool. The pipe had been disconnected and elevated in preparation for plating the synthetic <br />liner under the pipe. Most of the water (treated and recycled process water) ran down a <br />panel of VLDPE liner material and onto the old exposed liner. Some loss of water occurred <br />at this location since the two liners had not yet been welded together. xowever, <br />Larry Oehler observed that this was a small amount. Site workers quickly set a pump to pump <br />ponded water off the old liner into the operational tailings disposal area and also trenched <br />through a berm to also allow this water to enter the containment area. Jim Dillie observed <br />that water had escaped the pipe system into an open trench outside of the lined containment <br />system. The water was split sampled by BMRI and the Division. The sample was preserved at <br />high pH iced in Alamosa and sent to Acculab October 4, 1991 for analysis. Field parameters <br />were pH 7 ± .5 and temperature 18° C. Workers told Larry Oehler that their had been pumping <br />fresh water into the tank most of the morning. Treated tailings pond water usually runs <br />about 0.5 to 1.0 ppm wad cyanide and if heavily diluted the cyanide levels were estimated to <br />be quite low and possibly within EPA drinking water standards. Jim Dillie observed that the <br />leak occurred at a joint between two sections of the outer pipe of a double pipe system. The <br />water had entered the space between the two pipes by back flow from were the line was <br />disconnected and elevated. It was estimated by the inspectors that 3,000 to 10,000 gallons <br />of water were spilled outside of the lined containment system. This ie a~poseible violation <br />of Section 34-32-124 and the permit for failure to take appropriate precautions to prevent <br />spills. Alana Scott, Environmental Coordinator for BMRI, stated that she had requested that <br />the tailings free water pool recirculation pumps be turned off by plant personnel during the <br />time the pipe was disconnected but that plant personnel did not comply wish her request and <br />that that action would have prevented the spill. She also stated that the spill was the <br />result of over flow from the process water recirculation tank. <br />While observing the compaction and final surface preparation of a portion of the soil liner <br />some large (over specification) rocks were noted in liner material to be =ompacted. it was <br />later determined that these may have rolled down onto the site from grading work done at the <br />top of the facility at the road/anchor trench area. It was agreed with Ms. Scott however, <br />that at a subsequent inspection a section of compacted soil liner woL.ld be dug up and <br />inspected for compliance with specified rock size. It was agreed that an .srea approximately <br />1-2 feet wide by 25 feet long would be selected by the inspector for thii3 purpose. <br />An SRK engineering technician (John) told Allen Sorenson and Bill York-i-'eirn that similar <br />occurrences had taken place while he was on site. BMRI should provide t:he details of any <br />previous spills not reported to the Division. A post inspection meeting was held with <br />Mr. Kluksdahl, Ms. Scott and Mr. Guyer. All items of concern were discussed. <br />I & E Contact Address <br />NAME Ken Kluksdahl <br />OPERATOR Battle Mountain Resources. Inc. <br />STREET P.O. Box 310 <br />CITY/STATE/ZIP San Luis. CO 81152-0310 <br />cc: Jim Stevens, DMG <br />M:\oss\ern\~~ir.ldo <br />