ENFORCE34720

• Permit No: M1988112
• IBM Index Class Name: Enforcement
• Doc Date: 7/22/1992
• Doc Name: BOARD MEETING
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Battle Flountain Gold
6/25/92 Additional Corrective Action Crder
Status of Tailings Pond Detoxification Process
(Permit No: M-88-I12)
Updated as of July 20, 1992
In consideration of Battle Mountain Resources' progress in satisfyi g
abatement requirement (4) imposed upon the Notice of Violation issu d to
Battle Mountain Gold (BMG) on March 31, 1992, the Mined Land Reclam tion Board
imposed the following additional corrective actions on June 25, 199 as
allowed in Paragraph 18 of the May 2$, 1992 Board Order.
(1) Reduce the tailings pond WAD cyanide level to 50 ppm by July 3 1992,
On July 3, 1992 the WAD cyanide level in the lower pond was 31 0 ppm
(Core Laboratories). On July 7, 1992 the WAD cyanide level in~the upper
pond was reported as 39.6 ppm (Degussa).
(2) Maintain the WRD cyanide level below 50 ppm after July 3, 1992.,
Extensive monitoring da_a was collected on the active lower tailings
pond. This data (see attached) documents the steady decrease in the WQAD
cyanide level from 31 ppm on July 3, 1992 to 12 ppm as of July 9, 1992.
WAD cyanide levels have remained below 15 ppm since July 9th.
Limited monitoring data reported the inactive upper tailings o nd to
contain WAD cyanide concentrations of approximately 40 on July 7, 1992.
On July 16, 1992 BMRI commenced hydrogen peroxide treatment of the upper
pond. On July 20, 1992 BMRI reported a WAD cyanide level deter ination
cf less than 10 ppm for the upper tailings pond.
(3) Impl?ment the additic~al ground i~,Iatef moritori~g proposed in iR~008,
BMRI required verbal approval for the two required additional g ound
water monitoring ~aells from the Division of Water Resources. I~i
acCOrdanc2 with paragraph (3) of the June 25th Order, BMRI mustidrill,
complete, test, log and sample the wells; and prepare and submit an
evaluative report determining whether additional monitoring wells are
required by August 6, 1992. Further, if additional wells are required,
install them within thirty days after the Division requires ins allation.
(4) Use all reasonably practical steps to co~ti~ue to lower the cyanide
levels in the pond to the lowest reasonably achizvable levels.
In the opinion of the Division, BMRI has diligently pursued the reduction
of cyanide levels in the tailings pond at the San Luis mine sit, as
evidenced by the July 20, 1992 reported 4lAD cyanide levels of l~ss than
15 ppm in the active lower tailings pond and less than 10 ppm i the
inactive upper tailings pond.