1995-08-11_REVISION - M1977493 (9)

Home Browse Search

. As discussed in Section 4.1.2, ore and waste rock from the Climax ore body contains sulfur complexes and has the potential to generate acid. Therefore, waste rock utilized in the construction of any yard area at Climax is suspect. Geochemical analyses of Storke yard materials indicate that some areas of base fill may be potentially acid generating while other areas will not produce acid. The growth media and aggregate cover material which will cover the Storke yard is non-acid generating. These results are found in Appendix C. The industrial process water tanks, although located in the mill complex, are positioned such that catastrophic failure of either or both would cause some process water contained therein to flow toward the Arkansas River side of the Continental Divide. A release of this type would flow overland and could pick up a significant sediment load prior to reaching the Arkansas River along the reach just below Highway 91. There are no designated chemicals stored or utilized on the Arkansas River watershed. 5.1.2 Environmental Protection Facilities In the Arkansas River watershed affected by Climax Mine operations, there are four (4) controls which are considered environmental protection facilities (EPFs). i No. S Shaft Pump Station: A pumping station has been installed in the No. 5 Shaft to maintain the water level at an elevation which does not threaten the release of acidic water to the Arkansas River. The water level is maintained by pumping back to the process water circuit in the Ten Mile Creek watershed. A detailed description of the operation of this EPF is included in Appendix D. Storke Yard Wastewater Pump Station: The Storke yard wastewater pump station is located just below the Storke yard and acts as a seepage collection and return system where collected wastewater.is pumped to the process water circuit in the Ten Mile Creek drainage. Two ponds at this EPF serve to collect seepage and stormwater/snowmelt run-off from the yard area and return it to the tailing delivery house where it mixes with mine water prior to treatment (Appendix E). Briefly, collected waters flow to two collection boxes which are connected to concrete flumes that transport the water to the pumping station reservoirs. Each reservoir has a capacity of 329,000 gallons. Water is pumped from the reservoirs using a level probe system that determines which of the pumps is to operate. More specific details of this pumping station are found in Appendix F. 15