2010-08-02_REVISION - M1977300 (34)

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Environmental Protection Plan, Schwartzwalder Mine 1-1 9 1. INTRODUCTION The Schwartzwalder Mine is a reclaimed underground uranium mine located in Jefferson County near Golden Colorado. The property encompasses approximately 87% (558 acres) of Section 25, T2S, R71W, of which 57 acres were permitted for mining under Colorado mining permit number 77-300. The mine was operated by Cotter Corporation (N.S.L.) (the Operator) from 1966 until May 2000, when mining operations ceased, dewatering pumps were shut off, and the mine was allowed to flood. The Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (DRMS, 2008) determined that the Schwartzwalder Mine is a Designated Mining Operation (DMO) on the basis that `toxic material' had been disturbed. As a DMO, the Schwartzwalder Mine is required to submit an Environmental Protection Plan (EPP or "Plan") in accordance with the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Act (C.R.S. 34-32, the "Act") and the Hard Rock/Metal Mining Rules and Regulations (the "Rules"). This EPP describes how the Operator will assure compliance with the provisions of the Act and Rules to protect all areas that have the potential to be affected by designated chemicals or toxic materials or acid mine drainage. Because the Schwartzwalder Mine has ceased operations, most mine facilties have been removed and the site is nearing final reclamation. The mine is not, nor is it expected to become, acid- generating. Therefore, many of the EPP requirements do not apply and are identified as "not applicable" in this Plan. The specific facilities required for consideration under the Rules include the following: leach facilities, or heap leach pad (Not Applicable); tailings storage or disposal areas(Not Applicable); impoundments (Not Applicable); • . waste rock piles; stock piles, temporary or permanent (Not Applicable); land application sites (Not Applicable). The facilities of interest for the EPP at the Schwartzwalder Mine include the reclaimed waste rock piles, the flooded mine workings, and the valley fill. The purpose of this EPP is to provide for net improvements in the protection of human health, property and the environment related to these features. (a) Mine History The Schwartzwalder Mine operated from 1953 to 2000. The deposit was discovered by Fred Schwartzwalder in 1949, and work progressed slowly on veins related to the Illinois Fault until 1953 when exploration and mining assistance was received from the Federal government. Production and exploration increased when Schwartzwalder sold the mine to Denver-Golden Oil and Uranium Co. in 1956. Several adits were driven along the Illinois Fault System, including the Steve Level adit, located about 50 ft above creek level, and shaft sinking began in pursuit of deeper ore. Cotter Corporation purchased the mine in 1966. The #1, #2, and #3 shafts were completed in 1958, 1970, and 1976, respectively. An exhaust borehole to the surface was drilled northwest of the other shafts in 1977. A water treatment system was implemented in 1972' and the water treatment plant was constructed in 1987. A spiral decline was developed from the 19 Level to the 22 Level during the 1988-1996 period. Chemical treatment of mine effluent was begun in late 1972. Treatment consisted of addition of BaC12 to precipitate insoluble • barite (BaSO4), which is a highly efficient scavenger of dissolved radium . A series of settling ponds was constructed to collect suspended solids, including radium-bearing barite precipitate, from the treated water (Carrasco, 1977). Water from the final settling pond was allowed to enter Ralston Creek, which was monitored for dissolved radium and uranium 4109C.100731 Whetstone Associates