Laserfiche WebLink
Closure Source Control <br />Point Source Control is expected to reduce the ground water inflow rate into the mine and <br />the volume of water that will need to be pumped and treated during active operations. <br />However, there will be other areas where ground water inflow cannot be controlled <br />during mining. The Whirlwind decline, is a good example of this type of sihtation. The <br />decline passes through the lower Brushy Basin aquifer over a distance of about 200 feet. <br />The seepage along this contact is barely detectable but the overall inflow is significant <br />{i.e., as high as 2 gpm). There does not appear to be a reliable method for sealing off this <br />inflow during active mining operations and some, if not all, of this water will still be <br />needed to support drilling and dust suppression activities in the mine. <br />Energy Fuels proposes to seal off the portion of the decline that is making water during <br />final reclamation by installing a hydraulic seal downgradient of the seeping sandstone <br />lenses. The aquifer is perched and present only at the base of the channel sandstone unit; <br />therefore, the water level behind the bulkhead seal is expected to stabilize at or near the <br />ground water inflow point within the decline. Energy Fuels will monitor the water <br />elevation above the lower seal until it reaches equilibrium plus an additional 5 quarters <br />(i.e., 1.25 years}. This will be done by manual measurement since the upper seal will not <br />be installed. <br />The pool is not expected to migrate significantly because it will be contained within low- <br />permeable Brushy Basin mudstones and shales. A schedule for taking water level <br />measurements and water quality samples will be proposed to DBMS and the BLM prior <br />to sealing based on the inflow rates measured at that time. Once the pool reaches and <br />maintains equilibrium for 5 quarters, the portal will be backfilled and reclamation of the <br />site can be completed. <br />Exhibit E -Reclamation Plan provides additional details for the bulkhead seal in the <br />decline. Other areas of low, generalized seepage will also be evaluated as part of closure <br />activities for possible implementation of inflow reduction measures. Energy Fuels has <br />