1995-08-11_REVISION - M1977493 (10)

Home Browse Search

5.3.2 Tailing and Industrial Water System in the Eagle River Drainage 5.3.2.1 Robinson Lake (also known as Robinson Reservoir) Description: Robinson Lake is the primary industrial water storage reservoir for water that has been decanted from the tailing ponds. Location: Robinson Lake is located at the northwestern base of Chalk Mountain. Spill Potential: Under normal operating conditions, the water level of Robinson Lake is controlled by transferring water into the Industrial Water System via pumps and a distribution network. In the event of an emergency overflow condition, the reservoir's spillway would discharge directly into the Upper North Interceptor Canal which, in turn, discharges into the Eagle River. This is not likely to occur, and sand-bagging the reservoir spillway to retard flow is a control option. Potential Volume Spilled: Several hundred gallons could be spilled into the Eagle drainage, but the Upper North Interceptor Canal "cut-out" would have to be sabotaged by plugging for this to occur. Prevention and Control: The Upper North Interceptor Canal "cut-out" enables diversion of any Robinson Lake overflow into the No. 4 Dam Reservoir (Eagle Park Reservoir). This minimizes or eliminates any discharge to the Eagle River. Countermeasures: If an overflow condition in the Robinson Lake spillway exists, the Upper North Interceptor Canal "cut-out" must be immediately checked to make sure it is working properly to divert flow into the No. 4 Dam Reservoir. Nearest Clean-up Equipment: Mobile heavy equipment (back-hoes, dozers, etc.) is located throughout the minesite to assist in earthwork. Monitoring: Visual monitoring of the Robinson Lake water level occurs weekly during operation of the mine, when the access road is passable. During idle times, the water level is also visually checked weekly. System alarms are telemetrically transmitted to the Mill Control Room. Reporting: In the event of an overflow from Robinson Lake and subsequent discharge through the Upper North Interceptor "cut-out," a "Spill Incident Report" form (Appendix 1) should be filled out immediately and given to the Environmental Coordinator. If, for any reason, waters of the State of Colorado are threatened by a spill, the procedures outlined in Sections 4.2, 4.3, and 4.4 of this SPCC Plan should be followed. Corporate policy dictates the careful documentation of any spills in the vicinity of Robinson Lake. 46