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2012-05-01_REVISION - M1977300
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2012-05-01_REVISION - M1977300
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Last modified
6/15/2021 5:44:23 PM
Creation date
5/2/2012 8:12:41 AM
Metadata
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Template:
DRMS Permit Index
Permit No
M1977300
IBM Index Class Name
REVISION
Doc Date
5/1/2012
Doc Name
Submittal.
From
Cotter Corporation
To
DRMS
Type & Sequence
AM4
Media Type
D
Archive
No
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The remedial process plan for solid source term materials (Figure 1) addresses water quality impacts to <br />alluvial groundwater and Ralston Creek due to materials residing outside of the underground mine <br />workings including: 1) the "alluvial fill" (a term collectively used to describe low -grade mineralized mine <br />spoils or waste rock mixed with naturally occurring soils, alluvial sands and gravels along the valley floor), <br />and 2) the South WRP which consists of an engineered mine waste rock repository that was partially <br />constructed on top of alluvial fill. <br />The first step to address solid source term materials (implemented over the past two years) was to intercept <br />and treat impacted groundwater flowing underneath the South WRP and throughout the alluvial fill. The <br />second step (operational since April 10, 2012) was to isolate Ralston Creek from these solid source term <br />materials by diverting the creek past the site in a pipeline in order to prevent associated leaching of <br />uranium. These measures, along with subsequent decision points, remedial measures and associated issues, <br />challenges, and technical details, are presented in various sections of Exhibit E in this mine permit <br />amendment application. <br />The mine pool refers to flooded portions of the underground mine workings. Before mining operations <br />were terminated in 2000, the mine was continually dewatered so that the underground workings could <br />advance. When mining operations were terminated, dewatering pumps were turned off and the underground <br />workings were allowed to flood in accordance with the 1983 and 2001 mine reclamation plans as approved <br />by DRMS. As water levels in the mine pool rose over time, concentrations of uranium, radium, various <br />metals and sulfate increased due to leaching of mine wall rock and rubble that had become oxidized during <br />operational mine dewatering. <br />Although the mine pool is contained within hundreds to thousands of feet of solid bedrock, dissolved <br />uranium in mine pool water has the potential to migrate beyond the underground workings and impact <br />groundwater and surface water. The remedial process plan for the mine pool (Figure 2) also relies on <br />interception and treatment of alluvial groundwater and pipeline diversion of the creek, but requires further <br />measures to address the source (thine dewatering and ex -situ treatment, and /or in -situ treatment). New <br />bedrock monitoring wells are planned under TR -19 to better understand groundwater flow dynamics and <br />associated hydraulic gradients in the vicinity of the mine workings. Basic strategies, decision points and <br />remedial measures outlined in Figure 2, along with associated issues, challenges, and technical details, are <br />also presented in Exhibit E of this mine reclamation permit amendment application. <br />E -2 Interception and Treatment of Alluvial Groundwater' <br />Since operational mine dewatering and treatment was terminated in 2000, water quality monitoring data <br />have consistently demonstrated that uranium is the only parameter in alluvial groundwater and surface <br />water in Ralston Creek that exceeds applicable water quality standards. Due to geomorphic valley features <br />in the vicinity of the site, potentially impacted alluvial groundwater flows towards the creek in the lower <br />portions of the alluvial fill. Stream monitoring station SW -BPL (just below the property line) is situated <br />just below a geologic constriction in the valley that forces most of the alluvial groundwater flux to the <br />surface and into the creek channel to become surface water. For this reason, station SW -BPL is considered <br />a point of compliance for both alluvial groundwater and surface water. <br />The highest priority remedial objective at the site is to continuously meet water quality standards at <br />monitoring station SW -BPL, and the first steps taken were to refurbish the water treatment building, install <br />1 In fulfillment of the first of two requirements indicated in Item 5, Attachment A, to the DRMS letter dated January 30, 2012 <br />(DRMS, 2012a). <br />May I, 2012 10 <br />
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