1995-08-11_REVISION - M1977493 (10)

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5.3.3.2 No. 5 Shaft Pump Station Description: The No. 5 Shaft Pump Station (No. 5 SPS) is designed to pump approximately 5900 gpm of mine water from underground back into the Climax mine water treatment system. The No. 5 SPS is comprised of three pumps suspended in the shaft. Two of the pumps are suspended at elevation 10,975 feet and the third pump is located at elevation 11,134.5 feet. Electric controls are located in the No. 5 Shaft personnel tunnel. Control for the pumping system is primarily through a system of level controllers. Location: No. 5 Shaft is located in the Storke area and is easily noted by the presence of the No. 5 Shaft Hoist House structure. Spill Potential: A break in one of the pipelines located in the No. 5 shaft personnel tunnel could conceivably flood the tunnel and exit through the tunnel opening approximately 270 feet north of the shaft. At 5900 gpm, there would be approximately 20 to 30 minutes to react to the line failure before water would discharge out the tunnel opening. Water would spill out across the old Storke Dry and Office area, through the reclaimed parking lot, over the hill and would be collected in the concrete-lined ditch of the Storke Waste Water Plant (SWWP). Water reporting to the SWWP would be picked up by the SWWP alarm system and telemetrically transmitted to the Mill Control Room, where the No. 5 Shaft pumps would be shut down. If the No. 5 shaft pumps could be shut off in time, then the spill would report to the SWWP, providing the system had the necessary surge capacity. If so, then spillage would be captured and pumped back into the tailing circuit, and no effect would be noticed in the Arkansas River. If the SWWP was unable to handle the surge, then there would be several channels flowing to the Arkansas. At any rate, spill potential is low, but possible. Prevention and Control: Water level alarms for the pump station are-transmitted,to the Mill Control Room. Manual control conditions are also transmitted to the Mill Control Room; this mode of operation prohibits the pumps from operating via the level control automatically. Countermeasures: If a leak in the piping is noted inside the personnel tunnel, then the pumps must be shut off. If water has not exited the personnel tunnel, then it will naturally drain back into the shaft over time. During the interim, repairs to the pipeline can be made. If water does exit the personnel tunnel to the north, efforts at diking or digging a temporary collection sump may have to be made. Water can be routed through temporary ditches to the SWWP, if possible, providing surge capacity exists at the SWWP. Nearest Clean-up Equipment: Earthmoving equipment (backhoe, endloader, small dozer) is available throughout the minesite. Shovels and hand equipment are available in the Warehouse. 57