1992-06-24_REVISION - M1988112 (3)

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1 ~ • III IIIIIIIIIIIII III • BEFORE THE MINED LAND RECLAMATION BOARD STATE OF COLORADO Permit No. M-88-112 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INTERIM ORDER CONCERNING DETOXIFICATION ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BATTLE MOUNTAIN RESOURCES, INC. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. This matter concerns an enforcement action brought by the Mined Land Reclamation Division ("the Division") against Battle Mountain Resources, Inc. ("BMRI") pursuant to §34-32-124, C.R.S. (1984 & 1991 Suppl.> for failure to comply with the terms and conditions of its permit. Following a hearing, the Mined Land Reclamation Board t"Board") issued an order dated May 28, 1992 ("the May Order") which among other things required BMRI to bring the cyanide levels in the tailings slurry and the ponds into compliance with the permit provisions by no later than June 24, 1992. 2. Pursuant to paragraph 18 of the May Order, the Board held a hearing on June 24, 1992 to consider detoxification efforts at the site and to Consider the need for additional corrective actions. 3. BMRI had not reduced the cyanide levels in the tailings pond and tailings slurry to 4.4 parts per million ("ppm") total cyanide and 3.8 ppm weak acid dissociable "(WAD") cyanide as required by the permit and the May Order. Currently, the cyanide level in the tailings pond is approximately 80 ppm WAD cyanide. 4. BMRI has agreed to implement TR-007 and to use the approved hydrogen r_ peroxide method as an interim process to achieve an immediate reduction in the cyanide level in the pond. BMRI also proposes to implement the Inco process described in TR-010 as a final process to achieve the cyanide levels specified in the permit. TR-O10 was submitted to the Division on June 16, 1992 and is currently under review. 5. Costilla County Conservancy District ("CCCD"), Jane I. Kircher and Peoples Alternative Energy Services ("PAES"), parties to the hearing, requested that the Board order BMRI to cease the addition of cyanide to the process solution in order to reduce cyanide levels in the tailing slurry more quickly. 6. BMRI has made a good faith effort to reduce cyanide levels in the pond, and by using the hydrogen peroxide process, has achieved a substantial reduction in such levels. By continuing to operate the plant, and continuing to treat the solution using the hydrogen peroxide method, BMRI should be able to reduce the cyanide levels to below 50 ppm WAD cyanide by July 3, 1992. 7. There is no evidence that the elevated cyanide levels have in any way impacted surface or ground water in the vicinity of the site. However, BMRI should not be required to cease using cyanide so long as it meets the standards prescribed by the Board. Therefore, as described in the May Order it is necessary to enhance ground water monitoring at the site, it is unlikely that any impacts to ground water will pose a hazard to the health and welfare of the public prior to the installation of additional necessary ground water monitoring wells.