2009-03-23_REPORT - M1977424 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

5.0 Maintenance Activities Logan Wash Mine Annual Report Permit No.: M-1977-424 Maintenance activities included periodic inspections of mine roads, portals, mine water drainage systems associated with the retorts and general mine workings, as well as the inspection of evaporation pond facilities including the pond's security fencing, operation, and leak detection system. Maintenance activities conducted at the mine and evaporation pond are summarized in the following sections. 5.1 Mine Maintenance During the reporting period, OOSI inspected the Logan Wash Mine site on a weekly to monthly basis during April through December. The upper mine facilities are usually not accessible from December through March due to deep snowpack and poor road conditions. Inspection of the mine site was typically restricted to the surface areas of the mine. Inspections focused on mine roads, headwalls, portal closures, bench surfaces, dump faces, and storm drainage ditches and rip-rap channels, and the plant irrigation system. Mine water discharge rates and Evaporation Pond water levels were periodically monitored and recorded (Section 3.2). No snow removal was conducted during the 2008-2009 winter. However, road repair from winter snowmelt and spring wash outs was conducted in May. Road maintenance activities included grading of the running surface and constructing and maintaining runoff ditches and waterbars. During the reporting period, a partial plant inventory was conducted on the Upper Dump and Lower Dump faces. This inventory will be repeated in the spring of 2009 to assess plant mortality. 5.2 Evaporation Pond Maintenance Maintenance of the Evaporation Pond included inspection of (1) discharge rates to the pond from the mine retorts, (2) the leak detection vault, (3) wildlife security fence, (4) storm drainage ditches, and (5) general conditions of the pond, liner, and egress ladders. The leak detection vault did not indicate any drainage from the detection drainage lines. Monthly inspections were conducted through out most of the reporting period with exceptions of months when safe access was not possible. Pond maintenance activities conducted at the Evaporation Pond during the reporting period included, brush mowing and repair of pond egress ladders, general repairs. The Upper and Lower Manholes on the retort water pipeline were pumped with a vacuum truck and the waste was deposited in the Evaporation Pond. No liner repair was required. 6.0 Anticipated Reclamation in the Year 2009 Because of a proposed change in land use at the mine that would involve the construction of a natural gas well on the Lower Bench and because OOSI is currently evaluating water quality for the retort discharge, OOSI does not anticipate reclamation of any roads or disturbed surface areas at the mine site in 2009. However, Wells LW-32, LW-45, LW-116, and LW-22, are scheduled to be abandoned in 2009. Specific reclamation maintenance activities expected to be conducted during 2009 may consist of maintenance of existing planted native shrubs on the Upper and Lower Mine Dump slopes. If determined necessary, maintenance may include installation of irrigation supplements, irrigation with available mine water and possibly imported water sources, some plant replacement, terrace and pocket repairs, fertilizing, and mulching where necessary. Evaporation Pond maintenance will be conducted as needed, some liner repairs may be required. Western Water & Land, Inc. 6