1995-08-11_REVISION - M1977493 (9)

Home Browse Search

The EPFs which control and contain the designated chemicals, as with the process water and tailing circuit, have a proven track record for effectiveness at the Climax Mine. As discussed in Section 5.3.2 and in the SPCC/MCP in Appendix B, designated chemicals have primary and, for most, secondary containment. In actuality, with the exception of the sulfuric acid tank at the Mayflower pump station, designated chemicals also have tertiary containment in that any accidental release which escapes secondary containment ultimately will report to and be contained by the tailing impoundments. The ETDL generally has a good record for effectiveness. However, leaks have occurred in the past. When these leaks have occurred, repairs to the line have been made and the material picked up and trucked directly to the nearest tailing impoundment. The effectiveness of the Robinson, Ten Mile, and Mayflower tailing impoundments is self- evident. The Robinson impoundment has been used since the mid-1930s, the Ten Mile impoundment since the mid-1950s, and the Mayflower impoundment since the mid-1970s without failures. All, in some fashion, serve to contain any major point and non-point source releases of potential contaminants from upstream areas including acidic seepages from the McNulty waste rock dump, the E-Dump, the OP dumps, and potentially contaminated surficial run-off from haul roads, the pit area, and the yard areas around the crusher/mill facilities. The effectiveness of the Mayflower impoundment(including the Mayflower seepwater collection and return system) in the Climax water treatment and discharge system has been discussed at length. Coherex has a documented proven record as an effective dust suppressant in the mining industry and elsewhere. Likewise, its use at Climax to suppress the release of airborne particulates from the Ten Mile tailing impoundment and dam area also is highly effective. The optimum effectiveness of Coherex and its application, however, is dictated by the knowledge of when to initiate application as discussed in Section 5.3.2 Storage and secondary containment of Coherex also has been discussed in Section 5.3.2 and in Appendix B. Dust suppression in the crusher and conveyor systems using scrubbers, Rotoclones, and baghouses has been highly effective during periods of mine and mill operation. These units are permitted by the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division as per Section 2.2. 5.5 Specific Environmental Protection Facility Monitoring/Alarms All of the critical EPFs at Climax are checked, inspected, or monitored either visually, • analytically, or both. Checks and inspections are defined and discussed in the SPCC/MCP in Appendix B. In the case of pump stations, mechanical and telemetric alarms also are operational 32