2012-03-27_REPORT - M1977424 - Laserfiche WebLink

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weigh down the liner. This cut may be a source of the leakage that was eventually conveyed to the leak detection vault sump. The leak detection vault sump and the pond waters were sampled on February 2n 2012. The analytical results showed that the sump water was highly saline — even more saline than the pond water. This indicated that the water in the sump was evaporation pond water, not water from precipitation. The relatively diluted concentrations of constituents in the evaporation pond water are likely related to winter precipitation (there was significant ice cover on the pond during sampling). 4.0 Reclamation Activities in 2011 Reclamation activities conducted at the Logan Wash Mine in 2011 are discussed in the following sections. 4.1 Revegetation Maintenance During the reporting period the irrigation system for planted saplings on the Upper and Lower Mine Dumps was not deployed. General inspections of plant mortality and overall cover were conducted. 4.2 Well Abandonment No monitoring wells were abandoned during the reporting period. 5.0 Maintenance Activities Logan Wash Mine Annual Report Permit No.: M -1977 -424 Maintenance activities included periodic inspections of mine roads, portals, mine water drainage systems associated with the retorts and general mine workings, as well as the inspection of Evaporation Pond facilities including the pond's security fencing, operation, and leak detection system. Maintenance activities conducted at the mine and Evaporation Pond are summarized in the following sections. 5.1 Mine Maintenance During the reporting period, OOSI inspected the Logan Wash Mine site on a weekly to monthly basis during April 2011 through February 2012. The upper mine facilities are usually not accessible from December through March due to deep snowpack and poor road conditions, but light snowpack in early winter allowed reasonable access by vehicle and on foot. Inspections focused on mine roads, headwalls, portal closures, bench surfaces, dump faces, constructed storm drainage and rip-rap channels. Mine water discharge rates and Evaporation Pond water levels were periodically monitored and recorded (Section 3.2). A new electromagnetic flow meter was installed in August 2011 to measure low flow for Outfall 001 per compliance with the new NPDES permit. Road maintenance activities included grading of the running surface of the sparsely vegetated portions of the Lower Access Road, the Upper Access Road from the main Logan Wash Road to the Research Mine portal area, and the Evaporation Pond Road which also included the installation of a culvert at a low area where water would pond. The road maintenance also included the construction and maintenance of stormwater runoff ditches and waterdips. Western Water & Land, Inc. 6