Laserfiche WebLink
Mine Waste Dump <br />Page 2 <br />Description of Project <br />The initial reclamation plan for the waste dump was to regrade the dump, cover with soil and <br />plant. Due to underlying tailings, SGC believes that it is best to remove the tailings to a more stable <br />environment and therefore proposes to move the tailings and the waste dump material required to <br />access the tailings to Tailings Pond #4 for consolidation. This has been the procedure to date; as of <br />the end of 1995, a total of 90,200 cubic yards had been shipped. The material was pH adjusted to <br />near neutral by lime addition at the pond. The material is similar in acid base potential and metal <br />content with the tailings pond material. <br />All tailings encountered during excavation were removed, the waste dump remaining after tailings <br />removal was feathered in to match the existing county road, the slopes were capped with a minimum <br />of 16" of soil, the flat area was amended for direct revegetation, planted and mulched. Upland <br />diversions will be improved to ensure that surface water flows are diverted away from the remaining <br />material. Initial work on the waste dump removal project was started in 1994 as part of permitted <br />work under SGC's MLRB permit and SGC's stormwater permit. SGC considers the removal of <br />tailings pile material to be authorized under the currently existing MLRB permit. <br />Removal of the tailings pile portion of this project was scheduled for 1995. In 1995, 57,000 cubic <br />yards were hauled, a project total 90,200 cubic yards, to Tailings Pond #4 at the Mayflower Mill. The <br />removal portion of this project is complete. The salvaged soils were spread over the hill side, <br />limestone was added to neutralize the soil and the area was seeded and mulched according to SGC's <br />MLR Permit reclamation plan. <br />Analysis <br />Removal of waste dump material and underlying historic tailings from potential contact with <br />water and consolidation with tailings at the Mayflower Tailings Pond #4 is a Best Management <br />Technique as is vegetating any material left onsite coupled with upland diversions. This project <br />should continue to improve the South Fork of Cement Creek as did the 1991 removal of the historic <br />tailings pond. <br />Monitoring <br />Ongoing monitoring of the South Fork of Cement Creek below the site at the American Tunnel <br />which is required by SGC's MLR Permit, will continue until released from MLR permit obligations. <br />Reporting <br />Due to the limited nature of this project and because the work site is within SGC's MLR permitted <br />area, the completion of work will be reported in SGC's MLR annual report with separate WQCD <br />notification. <br />