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~ • ~~ ~ / Agenda Item 8 ~ Mine Develop. Inc. Neglected Mine ~r 81-165 ~~ F .5~ /f is /n cpfcG~ fl~Y~+vL. I3 in J, /l~Gt~ or ~u rctn o Purpose: To determine if there is a violation of permit requirements and for failure to minimize effects to the hydrologic balance. The Division will be reconrnending that a violation be found and a cease and desist order and corrective action be im{posed. If a violation is found then we will proceed to civil penalties. It should be noted for the record that the Board found RTB at lasts months meeting. bti ~oPa~,,,~s~y,,,,l~t On June 17, 1985 the Division was notified^that a cyanide solution spill had occurred at the Neglected Minesite. The spill was the result of a leak from the heapleach pit lined embankment. Mr. Brosseau of Mine Development Inc. found the spill after reaching the site on June 14, 1985. Mr. Brosseau contacted Mr. Gilbert Rindahl and Mr. Jim Rouse, consultants, who then contacted the Division and visited the site on June 17. A report of their observations and sampling was submitted to the Division. QRJ~ Sk~~Ta,N Tyr-sPezi Go 7FrE. s iii erV G/xj~$ S Camille Farrell, Lee Campbell and I inspected the site on July 8,1985. 01~i~q~s fJF~A,L~®a!e.'~epicted in the following slides.-whteh ~~ SLIDE 1 Overview note Heapleach pit, soulution tanks and pit embankment The leak occurred near the SW corner of the embankment The spill area was an approximately 10 X 150 long area toward Gaines Gulch. The cyanide solutions c~~'d not reach the instream flow of Gaines Gulch bit infiltrated into the'~o'Iluvium. In order to prevent further possible "` Mr. Brosseau pumped the solution s remaining in the heapleach pit into the empty steel ~,n solution tanks. , n c.fi„n~~ S6 Slide 2 Close up e# }calf-area a the heapleach pit embankmentJ~~t~O-~~zcJccLishaaa.cE1` Slide 3 Close up of the spill area just below the embankment White is Ca HC10~1 Mr. Brosseau used to kill free cyanide. Slide 4 Spill area down i`rom the embankment leak. 10 X150 feet. ~joo ~a.~{dab Note there is no observable Vegetation Kill. The operator took samples from this area to determine the CN concentration in the soil additional follow up samples were taken to determine if CN concentrations are naturally degrading. Slide 5 This is a slide of liner problem on the site Note that the liner is not completed in this area. Slide 6 Close up of liner and evidence of uddling indicating that solutions were above the existing liner~le believe that solutions piped under the liner at this point and ultimately piped through the embankment at a zone of weakness. Slide 7 Another view of liner and overview of the tanks. In gemeral it is my opinion that this site was not adequately constructed with concern for good engineering practices.