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UnderstandingtheImpactsofMiningintheWesternLakeSuperiorregion(Minnesota,Wisconsin,and Michigan) September1214,2011 BadRiverLodge,Casino,andConventionCenter Odanah,Wisconsin

Agenda September12 Session:WesternLakeSuperiorRegionMiningandRisk MineralExplorationandPotentialFutureMiningintheLakeSuperiorRegion JohnColeman,GreatLakesIndianFishandWildlifeCommission,Madison,WI InterestindevelopmentofmetallicmineraldepositshasincreasedinrecentyearsandthewesternLakeSuperiorregionhasbeen thefocusofmuchofthatinterest.Wehaveusedleasingofmineralrights,exploratorydrilling,andpublishedmaterialstoidentifyareas wherethereissubstantialinterestindevelopmentofbaseandpreciousmetalmineraldeposits.Thethreesourcesofinformationvaryby stateinavailability,completenessandaccuracybutcombinedprovideafairlycompletepictureofwherebaseandpreciousmineral depositsmaybedevelopedinthefuture.Therearethreecentersofinterestinbaseandpreciousmetalmineraldevelopment:thewestern UpperPeninsulaofMichigan,thenorthernthirdofWisconsin,andtheareaofMinnesotaalongthesouthslopeoftheMesabaIron Range.Wepresentanoverviewofwhereexplorationhasandistakingplaceandhighlightsomeprojectsthatareinadvancedstagedof characterizationanddevelopment. Presentation RiskandRegulationintheMiningIndustry CarolCoxRussell,EnvironmentalProtectionAgency,Denver,CO Miningisahighriskventureinviewofthemultitudeofunpredictablefactorsproducingtheproductandinthepotentialforimpactsto humanhealthandtheenvironment.Environmentalpolicymakinghasbecomemoredependentonformal,quantitativeriskassessment, becauseofincreasingattentiontothepreventionofhumanhealthdamagefromtoxicchemicals. Basicallyriskassessmenthasastraightforwardmethodology:multiplythemagnitudeofalossbytheprobabilitythatlosswilloccur. Alsoriskisoftendefinedasameasureoftheprobabilityandseverityofadverseeffects.Riskiscomprisedofthreeelements:asource, areceptor,andanexposurepathwaybywhichthereceptorisexposedtothehazardsfromthesource.EPAriskassessmentconcepts, principles,andpracticesareproductsofmanydiversefactors,andeachagencyprogramisbasedonauniquemixtureofstatutes, precedents,andstakeholders(F.H.HabichtII,February1992)http://www.epa.gov/risk Keyprinciplesofhowminingisaddressedinvariouslawsandregulationsandhowriskassessmententersintodecisionmakingwillbe addressed.SpecificallyEPArecognizedthatmetalspresentuniqueriskassessmentissues,andsawtheneedtodevelopaframework documentthatputsforthkeyscientificprinciplesformetalsriskassessmentstohelpensureconsistencyinmetalsassessmentsacrossEPA programsandregionaloffices.Thisframework,calledthe"FrameworkforMetalsRiskAssessment,"isasciencebaseddocumentthat describesbasicprinciplesthataddressthespecialattributesandbehaviorsofmetalsandmetalcompoundstobeconsideredwhen
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assessingtheirhumanhealthandecologicalrisks.EPA120/R07/001|March2007www.epa.gov/osa http://www.epa.gov/raf/metalsframework/pdfs/metalsriskassessmentfinal.pdf Presentation DevelopmentofaMining101presentationforOntariosAboriginalPeoples PeterHinz,OntarioMinistryofNorthernDevelopment,MinesandForestry,ThunderBay,ON MineralexplorationanddevelopmentinOntariohasreachedrecordlevelsandisbeingfuelledbyhighcommoditypricesanddemand. TheOntariogovernmenthasaDutytoConsultwithAboriginalpeopleswhererightsmayaffectedbydevelopmentproposals.The governmentalsorecognizestheneedtoengageAboriginalcommunitiesthatcouldbeaffectedbyactivemineralexplorationprogramsand proposedadvancedexplorationanddevelopmentprojects.TheMining101presentationistheresultofa10+yeardevelopmentof presentationstoavarietyofaudiencesincluding:FirstNations,municipalcouncils,ChambersofCommerce,Rotarygroups,provincial ministriesandthegeneralpublic.TheMining101presentationisintendedtobeaninteractiveexchange. Presentation Session:MineralDeposits,AssociatedGeology,andMineralEconomics SulfideDepositsandAssociatedGeologyinMichiganandWisconsin KlausSchulz,U.S.GeologicalSurvey,Reston,VA TherearetwomajortypesofsulfidedepositsthatoccurinMichiganandWisconsin:1)volcanogenicmassivesulfidedeposits(VMS) and2)magmaticnickelcopperplatinumgroupelement(NiCuPGE)sulfidedeposits.TheVMSdepositsoccurmostlyinabelt extendingacrossnorthernWisconsinfromLadysmithinthewest(FlambeauandThornappledeposits)toacrosstheMenomineeRiver andintotheUpperPeninsulaofMichiganintheeast(BackFortydeposit).Thesedeposits,hostedbyPaleoproterozoic(~1875Ma) volcanicrocksofthePembineWausauterraneofthePenokeanorogen,containvariableamountsofzinc(Zn)andcopper(Cu)sulfidesas wellassomegold(Au)andsilver(Ag).TheCrandondeposit,whichcontainsabout61milliontonnesof5.6%Zn,1.1%Cu,1g/tAu, and45g/tAg,isoneofthelargestdepositsofthistypeintheworld,rankinginthetoptenpercentofknownVMSdeposits.TheVMS depositswereformedontheseafloorasheatedseawaterwasexpelledfromvents(blacksmokers)nearrhyoliticvolcaniccenters. ThemagmaticNiCuPGEsulfidedepositsoftheareaarerelatedtosmalldikelikemaficultramaficintrusionsemplacedearlyinthe historyoftheMidcontinentRiftSystem,anextensionalriftzonethatformedabout1100Maasaplumeofhotmantleroseupbeneath whatisnowLakeSuperior.TheEagledepositintheBaragabasinofNorthernMichigan,containingabout4.05milliontonnesof3.57% Ni,2.91%Cu,and1.48g/tPGE+Au,iscurrentlytheonlydepositofthistypeknowninMichiganWisconsin,butsimilardepositsare presentinMinnesota(Tamarack)andOntario(ThunderBayNorth).TheEagledepositbelongstoarelativelynewlyrecognizedtypeof sulfidedepositrelatedtosmallintrusionsthatservedasconduitsforthemovementofbasalticmagmathroughthecrust.Themagmas,if theyencounterasourceofsulfur,mayprecipitateandtransportNiandCurichsulfidestoshallowlevelsofthecrust.Theresulting sulfidedeposits,althoughgenerallysmallerthanthoseformedinlargeintrusionsliketheDuluthcomplex,tendtohavehighermetal concentrations. Presentation TheLakeSuperiorIronRanges:GeologyandMining WilliamCannon,U.S.GeologicalSurvey,Reston,VA Sevenbelts,knowngeologicallyasironranges,containsedimentarylayers,commonlycalledbandedironformations,thatarerichiniron andformthefoundationforthelonghistoryofironmininginthewesternLakeSuperiorregion.Ironhasbeenminedfromallseven rangesinthepastbutonlytwo,theMesabiRangeinMinnesotaandMarquetteRangeinMichigan,arecurrentlyactive.Thosetwo rangesproduceabout85%ofthecurrentU.S.demandforironoreandarecapableofproducing100%,ifneeded,fortheforeseeable future.Thus,theLakeSuperiorironrangesareofcriticalnationalimportance,allowinganearselfsufficiencyofthisvitalrawmaterial. Thefirstorediscoverieswereinthe1840sandmineproductionbegansoonafter.Fromtheearliestproductionuntilthe1950sores werehighgradeconcentrationsofironthatoccurredwithintheoriginalbandedironformations.Theseoresformedmostlybynear surfacechemicalalterationthatremovednonironbearingmineralsandleftbehindaresidualconcentrationoforeminerals.Beginningin the1950s,productionbegantoshiftawayfromthesehighgradeores,whichwerenearlydepletedinmanyareas.Theyweresupplanted bytaconitemining,whichminesandconcentratesironfromthelowergradebandedironformationitselfandproduceshighgradepellets ofironconcentrate.Theselargeoperations,nineintotal,typicallyproduceabout50milliontonsofconcentrateperyearvaluedatabout $2billion. ContinuedproductionoftaconitefromtheMesabiandMarquetterangesseemslikelytocontinuewellintothefuture.Otherironranges, althoughcontaininglargeamountsofbandedironformationsimilartothatoftheMesabiandMarquetteranges,havegeological complicationsthatinhibitminingunderpresenttechnologicandeconomicconditions.Themostprospectiveareafornewtaconitemining
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ispartoftheGogebicrangeinWisconsinwhereasmuchas3.7billiontonsoforehavebeenestimatedbypreviousstudies.Onesegment oftherangeiscurrentlyunderevaluationbyaminingcompanyforfuturetaconitedevelopment. Presentation MineralDepositsandGeologyofDuluthComplex,Minnesota JimMiller,UniversityofMinnesotaDuluth,Duluth,MN TheDuluthComplexisoneofthelargestgabbrocomplexesonEarth,underlyingmostofnortheasternMinnesota.Itformedduringan attemptbytheNorthAmericancontinenttoriftapartabout1.1billionyearsagoandcreateanoceanbasininthebreach.Magmas generatedbymantlemeltingbeneaththecrusteruptedintothewideningriftandformedanaccumulationoflavaflowsupto20kilometers thick.MuchofthemagmaalsopooleddeepwithinthelavaflowstoformthegabbroicintrusionsoftheDuluthComplex.These magmas,whicharenaturallyrichinmetalssuchasiron,nickel,copper,andpreciousmetals,butpoorinsulfur,locallycameintocontact withsulfidebearingrocks.Thisinteractioncontaminatedthemagmasinsulfur,whichresultedintheproductionofsulfideliquidwithin themagma.Asthisdensesulfideliquidsettledthroughthemagma,itscavengedmetalsfromthemagmaandultimatelyaccumulatedat themarginsofthegabbrointrusions.There,thesulfideliquidcrystallizedtoformmetalsulfidemineralswithinthegabbro.Though originallyformedseveralkilometerdeepintheEarth,erosionhasnowexposedthismineralizedgabbroalonga50milelongbeltjust southoftheeasternendoftheMesabiIronRange.Firstdiscoveredinthe1950s,thismineralizedareaisnowrecognizedascomprising thelargestundevelopedcopper,nickelandpreciousmetalresourceonEarth.Severalcompaniesarecurrentlyinvariousstagesof resourceestimation,mineplanningandpermitting. Presentation MineralDepositEconomicsToMineorNottoMine KeithLong,U.S.GeologicalSurvey,Reston,VA Thedecisiontodevelopamineisalengthyandcomplexprocessthatinvolvesprivateinvestors,governments,andotherstakeholders. Newminesarerequiredtoreplacedepletedreservesandtomeetincreaseddemandformineralproducts.Awellregulated, internationallycompetitivemineralindustryshoulddelivermineralproductsatthelowestpossiblecost.Thisincludesefficientuseof labor,capital,andlandatminimalenvironmentalcost.Therearenumeroustradeoffsatallstagesofminedevelopment,principally betweenalternativeinvestmentopportunities.Fromthetimeaninvestordecidesonaminingopportunityuptothetimeamineisin operation,therearesome12principalstepsanddecisionpoints:(1)determineanexplorationobjective(2)identifysuitableprospects(3) acquireexplorationrights(4)preliminarygeologicalsurvey(5)initialselectionofdrillingtargets(6)discovery(7)selectionamong discoveries(8)depositdelineation(9)preliminaryeconomicevaluation(10)feasibilitystudiesandpermitting(11)developmentand constructionand(12)commissioning.TheCadiaValleycoppergoldmineinNewSouthWales,Australia,servesasanexampleofa stateoftheartminedevelopedinahighlyregulatedenvironmentwithsignificantstakeholderinput,includingaboriginalinterests.Some yearsago,amajorglobalminingcompany,RioTinto,foundthatforroughlyevery3,000ofitsprospectideas,onenewminewas developed.Thetimerequiredtoproceedfromprospecttomineishighlyvariable,dependingonmarketcycles,projectcomplexity, politicalandregulatoryenvironment,andqualityofmanagement.The17newmetalminesdevelopedintheUnitedStatesfrom2000to 2010tookfromaslittleas2andaslongas17yearstobefullypermitted,averaging7years.Thetimerequiredforexplorationwasoften veryprotractedsomeminesiteswereinactiveforlongperiodsoftimeduetomarketcyclesandinvestorsfindingbetteropportunities elsewhere. Presentation AMoreHolisticEconomicEvaluationofMining:ConsideringCostsandBenefits ThomasPower,UniversityofMontana,Missoula,MT Mineralextractionactivitiespayamongthehighestwagesavailabletobluecollarworkers,wagesabouttwicetheaverage.Giventhese highwages,onewouldexpectcommunitiesthatrelyheavilyonmineralextractiontobeunusuallyprosperous.That,ingeneral,isnotthe case.AcrosstheUnitedStatesminingcommunities,instead,arenotedforhighlevelsofunemployment,slowratesofgrowthofincome andemployment,highpovertyrates,andstagnantordecliningpopulations.Infact,ourhistoricminingregionshavebecomesynonymous withpersistentpoverty,notprosperity:Appalachia(coal),theOzarks(lead),andtheFourCorners(coal)areasarethemostprominentof these.Federaleffortshavefocusedconsiderableresourcesatovercomingthepovertyandunemploymentfoundinthesehistoricmining districts.Inaddition,theIronRangeinMinnesota,thecoppertownsofNewMexico,Michigan,Montana,andArizona,theSilver ValleyofIdaho,thegoldminingtownsofLeadandDeadwood,SouthDakota,etc.arealsonotprosperous,vitalcommunities.Overthe lastseveraldecadessomeoftheseareashavebeguntorecoverasaresultoftheinmigrationofnew,relativelymobileresidentsand economicactivities,butthatrecoveryisentirelynonminingbased. Thedramaticcontrastbetweenthewealthcreatedandthehighwagespaidinminingandthepooreconomicperformanceofmining communitiesneedstobeunderstoodbeforeexpandedmineralextractionactivitiescanbesafelypromotedasalocaleconomic developmentstrategy.Thispresentationwilllookattheactualperformanceofmineralcommunitiesoverthelastquartercenturyandthen
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turnstoanexplanationforthatrelativelypoorperformance. Presentation September13 Session:MiningandtheEnvironment EvolutionofMiningPracticesintheWesternLakeSuperiorRegion AllanJohnson,MichiganTech,Houghton,MI NativeAmericanswerethefirstminersofnativecopperontheKeweenawPeninsulaandIsleRoyaleasfarbackas7000years, producingcopperweapons,toolsandjewelry.TheseproductswerealsousedintradethroughoutmuchofNorthAmerica. ModernminingofcopperandironorebeganintheWesternUpperPeninsulaofMichiganinthe1840swithcopperminingcontinuing for150yearsuntiltheclosureoftheWhitePineminein1995.IronoremininghasbeencontinuousinMichiganandisstillproduced todayontheMarquetteRangefromtwolargeopenpitmines. Earlyminingwasbegunbyhandlaborusingsimpletools:steeldrillsandhandsledges.Technologicalimprovementsovertimegreatly increasedminingproduction.Blastingpowderwasreplacedwithnitroglycerine,dynamiteandANFO(ammoniumnitrate/fueloil). Humanlaborwasaidedbyanimals,steampower,compressedair,electricityanddieselenginesandmodernminingmachinesofgreat variety.Transportofwasterockandorelikewisebenefitedthroughmoderninnovationfromhumanandanimalpoweronland,to railwaysandtrucktransport.LaketransportwasespeciallyimportanttomovemineralcargosfromLakeSuperiortocoppersmeltersand steelmillsatlowerlakecenters.CompletionofthelocksatSaultSte.Mariein1855greatlyexpeditedandloweredthecostoflake shippingLater,copperwassmeltedneartheMichiganminesasmillingandsmeltingprocessesadvancedwithtechnological improvementscomparabletothoseinmining. Michigan,WisconsinandMinnesotabecametheleadingproducersofironorewhichgreatlyspurredthegrowthandrisingliving standardsinAmerica.SteelproductionfromLakeSuperiorironoreplayedavitalroleinAmericasroleofhelpingtowintwoWorld Wars. MiningwasthefirstindustrytomoveintothewildernessoftheformerNorthwestTerritoryofournorthernGreatLakesstates.Heavy transportationviarailor,betteryet,lakeshipping,wasnecessarytomovebulkoresandmetalstomarket.Intheseearlydays,little concern,ifany,wasgiventoprotectingtheenvironmentandsomeminingactivitiesinsomelocationshavenotbeenfavorabletothe imageofmining. However,overthelastfiftyyearsorso,lessonslearnedfrompooroutcomesatsomeminingoperationshaveresultedinimproved workingconditionsandbetterstewardshipbytheminingcompanies,especiallyintheareasofminesafety,protectionoftheairandwater, andreturningminedoutlandstosuitableandproductiveuses.TodayinMichigan,miningremainsavital,profitable,sustainable industry,providingmuchneededmineralsforsociety,goodjobsforemployees,dollarsforlocalcommunities,thestateandthenation. Outofnecessity,andthroughnewlegislation,theminingindustryhasevolveditsoftenformerboomandbustreputationtooneofa permittedandstrictlyselfregulated,butenforcedenterprise,committedtogoodstewardshipfromexplorationtoextractionthrough acceptablemineclosurepracticesguaranteedthroughbondedcontractswiththepeoplethroughgoodgovernment. AcidMineDrainage(AMD)EnvironmentalIssuesUndergroundandSurfaceMiningofSulfideMinerals ChuckBrumleve,KeweenawBayIndianCommunity,Baraga,MI Thispresentationwilldiscusstheprimaryenvironmentalconcernrelatedtotheminingofmetalsulfideminerals.Metalsulfideminerals, whenexposedtoairandmoisture,undergooxidationwhichcreatesasolutionofsulfuricacidanddissolvedmetals.Thebasicqualitative chemicalreactionisdescribedaswellasthehowandwhyofacidmetaldrainageintheminingenvironment.Thethreesourcesofthe sulfidereaction,wallrock,wasterockandtailings,areexaminedinlightofsurfaceandundergroundmining.Abriefreviewofthe legacyofacidminedrainageisundertakenfollowedbythehistoryandapparentstateoftheartofpredictingimpactstosurfaceand groundwater.ThisisbroughtintocontextbylookingattheimplicationsofmetalsulfideminingforthewesternLakeSuperior watershed.Lastly,thephilosophicalapproachtoregulatoryandpermittingactivitiesisexaminedinlightofsulfideminingslegacyand industrystechnicalcapabilities. Presentation
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HumanHealthAspectsofMineralDepositsandMining GeoffPlumlee,SuzetteMorman,U.S.GeologicalSurvey,Denver,CO RobertSeal,U.S.GeologicalSurvey,Reston,VA(presenter) Mineraldepositsandminingpresentanumberofriskstohumansandthesurroundingecosystems.Potentialpathwaystohumansinclude contaminationofdrinkingwatersuppliesandmineraldustsresultingfromtheminingandmillingororesthatcaneithercontaminatesoils andbeingestedorinhaledasairborneparticles.Thetoxiceffectsofmineraldustsandthebioaccessibilityofelementsassociatedwith thesedustsareacomplexfunctionofthemineralogyofthemineraldusts,itschemicalcomposition,pathwaysintothehumanbody,and thebiochemicalconditionsassociatedwithtargetorganssuchasthelungsorgastrointestinaltract.TheUSGSiscurrentlyconducting studiesonmineralscommonlyfoundinminewastestounderstandtheimportanceofthesefactors,whichareyieldingimportantnew insights. Presentation ToxicityofMetalContaminatedSedimentsfromMiningAreas JohnBesser,U.S.GeologicalSurvey,Columbia,MO Toxicmetalsfrommining,oreprocessing,andsmeltingactivitiesenteraquaticenvironmentsbyavarietyofpathways.Inreceiving waterswithneutralpH,metalstendtomovefromwatertosedimentbysettlingofparticulatewastesandbyprecipitationandsorptionof dissolvedmetals.Therefore,metalsoftenaccumulatetohighconcentrationsinbedsediments,leadingtoelevatedmetalexposureand toxiceffectsonbenthicorganisms,principallybenthicmacroinvertebrates.Toxiceffectsofmetalcontaminatedsedimentson invertebratescanresultinlossofmetalsensitivetaxaandreducedproductivity,andsurvivinginvertebratesmayaccumulatehighlevelsof metalsthatposerisksoftoxicitytofishorotherpredators.Fieldstudiesoftencannotestablishcasualrelationshipsbetweenmetal exposure(viawater,diet,andsediment)andobservedimpactsonbenthiccommunities.Incontrast,laboratorytoxicityand bioaccumulationstudiesprovidescientificproofofcausallinksbetweensedimentexposureandtoxiceffects.Sedimenttoxicitytestingis oftenusedtosupportmanagementdecisionatsitescontaminatedbypastorongoingminingactivities,andtomeetregulatoryrequirements foreffluentdischargesanddisposalofmetalcontaminatedwastes.Thispresentationwill:(1)provideanoverviewofsedimenttoxicity testmethods,testorganisms,andendpoints(2)illustrateapproachesforinterpretationandfieldvalidationofsedimenttoxicitytestresults and(3)demonstratehowtoxicitydatacansupportdevelopmentofreliablesedimentqualityguidelinesforprotectionofbenthic communities. Presentation TheEffectsofMiningonAirQuality TrentWickman,U.S.ForestService,SuperiorNationalForest,Duluth,MN Whataretheeffectsofminingemissionsonairqualityandtheenvironment?Whatregulationsapply?Whoaretheagenciesthatbecome involvedinthepermittingandreviewofnewmines?Whattypesofenvironmentalimpactsarepossible?Whattypesofmonitoringcan bedonetoassessimpacts?Caseexamplesfromtheareawillbediscussed. Presentation BadRiverinaHistoricalandEcoculturalContext NaomiTillison,CyrusHesterBadRiverBandofLakeSuperiorNaturalResourcesDepartment,Odanah,WI Geographyandgovernanceinfluencesresourcedistribution,whichinturndrivespracticesonthelandscape.Environmentalhistory providesauniquemediaforunderstandingtheimpactsofhistoriclanduseandprovidesacontextforfuturedecisionmaking.Withthis historiccontextestablished,thecultural,ecological,socialimportanceoftheKakagonandBadRiverSloughsishighlighted.TheSloughs haveearnedmanyrecognitionsandawardsduetoitsdiversityanduniquenessandtheBadRiverTribesstewardshippractices. Presentation
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Session:MinePermitting MinePermittingProcessinMichigan MichelleHalley,NationalWildlifeFoundation,Marquette,MI ThispresentationwillexplainthepermittingprocessfornonferrousmetallicmininginMichigan.Wewilldiscusstheprimarypermitting statute,Part632ofMichigansNaturalResourcesandEnvironmentalProtectionActaswellasotherpotentiallyapplicablestateand federallaws.Preparationforpublicparticipationintheseprocesseswillbeemphasized,aswillkeycomponentsofthevariouslaws. Presentation MinePermittingProcessinWisconsin ThomasJ.Evans,WisconsinGeologicalandNaturalHistorySurvey,Madison,WI Thecurrentminepermittingprocessischaracterizedbyatransparentprocessofdatagatheringanddataassessment,financialguarantees tosupportlocalparticipationearlyon,financialguaranteestoproactivelyaddressunforeseenenvironmentalimpacts,determinationof specialtaxestoensurecapacitytoaddressissuesofboom/bustcycles,and,ultimately,aformalcontestedcasehearing. ThepresentpermittingprocessformetallicmineraldevelopmentacurrentlycontroversialeconomicactivityinWisconsinistheresult ofaconsensusprocessinwhichmininginterests,environmentalinterests,stateandlocalgovernmentperspectives,andaState governmentandLegislatureinterestedincraftingabroadlyacceptablepolicyforthisresourcewereengagedinextensivediscussionsand legislativeactionduringthe1970s.Thesediscussionswerefueledbymetallicmineralexplorationactivityandthediscoveryofsignificant metalresources.Asaresultofthispermittingprocess,twomineshavebeenpermittedandreclaimed,aworldclassminingprojecthas twicebeeninitiatedandthenwithdrawn,andseveralsmallermetallicmineraldepositsdiscovered,initiallyevaluated,andshelved. Today,thereisrenewedinterestindevelopingWisconsinsmineralresourcesfueledbyhighmetalprices,adesiretocreatewellpaying jobsinadifficulteconomictime,andaperceivedmorefavorablepoliticalclimate.Accompanyingthisrenewedinterestisconcernonthat partoftheprivatesectorthatthepresentpermittingprocessdoesnotworkverywell.Doesit? Presentation MinePermittingProcessinMinnesota SuzanneBaumann,MinnesotaPollutionControlAgency,St.Paul,MN Itistheprimarilythefederalgovernmentthatsetsallowablelevelsforpollutants,delegatingtheirimplementationtothestates.Many stateshavedevelopeduniquewaystoimplementthesameregulations.SuzannewillbrieflydiscussmininginMinnesotaandtalkabout theMinnesotaPollutionControlAgenciesenvironmentalresponsibilities,thenuancesandchallengesofMinnesotaspermittingand environmentalreviewprograms. Presentation MinePermittingRolesandResponsibilitiesoftheU.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers RalphAugustin ,U.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers,St.Paul,MN ThispresentationprovidesanoverviewoftheCorpsofEngineersregulatoryprogram,withanemphasisontheCleanWaterActandthe roleofNEPAinthepermitreviewprocess.Thediscussionwillfocusonthisprocessforprojectsthatrequirethepreparationofan EnvironmentalImpactStatement.ItincludesanoverviewofmajormilestonesintheNEPAprocessincludingassociatedagencyactions. ProjectmanagementthroughdevelopmentofMemorandumsofUnderstandandmanagementplanswillalsobediscussed. Presentation SolidLeasablePermittingandLeasingProcessRolesandResponsibilitiesofthe U.S.ForestService RandyRabideaux,U.S.ForestService,WashingtonD.C. Allfederallandsarecomprisedofasurfaceestateandamineralestate.Themineralestateiseitherfederallyownedornonfederally owned.Ifthemineralestateisfederallyowned,theUSDIBureauofLandManagement(BLM)possessestheauthoritytomanagethe permittingandleasingofmineralresourcesinconjunctionwiththeU.S.ForestService(FS)whomanagessurfaceresources.The
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primarysetofregulationsthattheFSusesforagencyactivitiesisthe36CodeofFederalRegulations(CFR),theBLMuses43CFR.The FSdoesnothavespecificregulationsforsolidssotheprimarysourcefordirectionistheForestServiceManual2820thatoftencite portionsof43CFRPart3500whicharethespecificregulationsfortheBLM.SincetheBLMcannotpermitorleasewithoutFSconsent, thesolidleasablepermittingandleasingprocessrequiresfrequentcommunication,cooperationandcoordinationbetweentheagencies. Presentation September14 Session:Geochemistry,Water,andSediments PreminingCharacterizationandPrediction RobertSeal,U.S.GeologicalSurvey,Reston,VA Theprocessofdesigning,permittinganddevelopingaminerequiresanumberofenvironmentalstudiesthatservenumerouspurposes. Preminingbaselinecharacterizationisimportantforestablishingmonitoringsitesforusethroughouttheminelifecycleforallstages includingdesign,permitting,development,operation,closure,andbeyond.Thebaselinecharacterizationexerciseisequallyimportantfor establishingclosuregoalsbecausemineraldepositsaregeochemicalanomaliesthatexpressthemselvesinallmediaincludingsurface water,groundwater,sediment,soil,andbiota.Inmanycases,theseexpressionsnaturallyexceedregulatoryguidelines.Another importantaspectofpreminingenvironmentalstudiesisthepredictionofthebehaviorofminewastematerialstoinformdecisionplanning forwastemanagementpracticesandclosurestrategies.Akeypointwithregardstoenvironmentalchallengesassociatedwithfuture miningisthatnotwodepositsarealike.Differencesarisefromthegeologicalcharacteristicsoftheoredepositsbeingmined,their geologicsettings,theminingandoreprocessingmethodsbeingused,thehydrologicsettingofthemineanditswastes,andclimate. Presentation EstimatingSoluteReleasefromProposedMiningOperations KimLapakko,MinnesotaDepartmentofNaturalResources,St.Paul,MN Fourgeneralcomponentsarepresentedtoaidinquantifyingsolutereleasefromminewastefacilitiesatproposedminingoperations.The firstismineplandevelopment,whichextendsbeyonddescriptionofmining,processing,andotheraspectsofeconomicresource recovery.Thisplanmustalsoidentifythewastestobegeneratedanddescribethepredictedmass,compositionalrange,andscheduleof generatingminewastes,aswellastheintendedplanfordisposal.Asthedegreeofdetailintheplanincreases,sodoesthepotentialfor efficientenvironmentalreview.Irrespectiveofinitialdetail,theplanwilllikelyevolveiterativelyoverthecourseofmorerefined environmentalandeconomicanalyses. Second,thereareexistingminespecificresources,includingthoseonwhichtheminemodelisdesigned,thatcanbeusedforpreliminary environmentalanalysis.Baselinewaterqualitydata,thegeologyofthesite,andgeoenvironmentalmodelingliteraturewillprovidean indicationofwhatsolutesmightadverselyimpactwaterquality.Theminemodelislargelybasedondrillcoresamplesthatdescribethe location,concentration,andmineralformofeconomicresources.Similarlygeologistsdescriptionofdrillcoreandanyexistinganalyses ofthecorefromwasterockzonescanbeusedtodeterminethelocationandsomecompositionalaspectsofthepotentialwasterock. Drillcorealsorepresentsasourceofwasterock(andore)samplesfortestingtoevaluatepotentialtoreleasepotentiallyproblematic solutes.Additionally,mineralprocessingtestsconductedtoevaluateeconomicconstituentrecoveryfromorecanprovidetailingssamples forenvironmentaltesting.Ifappropriatelydesigned,thesetestscanalsoprovidewaterqualitydatatohelpinformquestionsregarding solutereleasefromtailings. Third,usingdrillcoreandtailingsdiscussedabove,testingcanbeconductedonsamplesrepresentativeofthewastes.Thetests conductedmustconsidertheconditionsunderwhichtheminewasteistobedisposed,asdescribedinthemineplan,andshouldhave clearlydefinedobjectives.Solidphasetestsinclude1)conventionalchemicalanalysesthatindicatehowmuchofaspecificchemical componentispresent2)mineralogical,andpetrologicanalysesthatindicatethemineralinwhichchemicalsarepresentandthe availabilityofmineralsfordissolution3)sequentialextractionstoassesstheeasewithwhichspecificsolutescanbeleachedfromsolids and4)statictests(acidbaseaccounting)designedtoassessthelikelihoodthatmaterialswillgenerateacidicdrainage5)shorttermleach tests(e.g.meteoricwatermobilityprocedure,syntheticprecipitationleachprocedure,USGSfieldtest)and6)kineticteststoassessthe dissolutionbehaviorofminewastesoverthecourseofyearsanddecades. Fourth,amodelisconstructedtodescribethechemicalreleasefromminewastedisposalfacilitiesbasedonthemineplanandthe informationcollectedabove.Themechanicsofthemodelshouldbetransparentasopposedtoablackboxorproprietarymodel.It shouldaccuratelydescribethephysicalsituationtobemodeled,presentascientificallybasedconceptualmodelthatdescribesfactors controllingsolutereleasefromsourceterms,usealgorithmsthataccuratelyreflecttheconceptualmodel,andincorporatesounddataand assumptions.Sensitivityanalysesshouldbeconductedtoidentifyinfluentialvariablesinthemodel.Uncertaintyrangesforinputvalues ofinfluentialvariablesshouldbeusedtogenerateaprobabilisticdescriptionoftheoutputs.Outputsshouldbecheckedforaccuracyby usingsimplifiedcalculations,comparisonwithoutputgeneratedbyothermodels,orcomparisonwithempiricaldata.
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Presentation Applicationofthemassloadingapproachtounderstandingtheimpactsofmining BriantKimball,U.S.GeologicalSurvey,WestValleyCity,UT Watershedsinmineralizedzonesmaycontainmanymines,eachofwhichcancontributetoacidityandthemetalloadofastream. Combiningtheinjectionofachemicaltracer,todeterminestreamdischarge,andsynopticsampling,toobtainthechemistryofmajorions andmetals,spatiallydetailedloadprofilesarequantified.Usingthedischargeandloadprofilesprovidesameanstoanswerimportant questionsabouttheremediationofminingimpacts.(1)Combiningthedatafromamassloadingstudywiththereactivesolutetransport capabilitiesoftheOTEQcomputermodelgivesanapproachtoestimatepreminingconcentrationsofmetalsinthestreams.(2)Various remediationoptionscanbeevaluatedintermsoftheloadreductiontheycanprovide,usingboththeOTEQandtheOTIScomputer modelswiththemassloadingdata.And(3),theeffectivenessofstreamrestorationonreducingmetalconcentrationscanbeassessedina verydetailedspatialapproach.Thesethreeapplicationsareillustratedbyfieldexperimentsinstreamsaffectedbyminedrainagein ColoradoandMontana.Theseapplicationscanhelplandmanagersmakedecisionsabouthowtomosteffectivelyremediatemining impacts. Presentation TheImpactofMiningandRelatedActivitiesontheSedimentChemistryofLakeCoeurdAleneandtheSpokaneRiverSystem ArtHorowitz,U.S.GeologicalSurvey,Atlanta,GA During1989/1990aseriesof12gravitycores,and150surfacegrabsampleswerecollectedinLakeCoeurd'Alene(LakeCDA),Idaho. SubstantialportionsofthesurfaceandnearsurfacesedimentsinthelakearemarkedlyenrichedinAg,As,Cd,Hg,Pb,SbandZn,and somewhatenrichedinCu,FeandMn.Surfacedistributionpatterns,aswellasvariationsinthethicknessofthetraceelementrich subsurfacesediments,indicatethatthesourceofmuchofthisenrichedmaterialistheCDARiver.Anestimated75millionmetrictonsof traceelementrichsedimentshavebeendepositedonorinthelakebed.Basedona1980Mt.St.Helens'ashlayer,agesestimatedfrom 137Csactivity,andthepresenceof80discernibleandpresumablyannuallayersinacorecollectedneartheCDARiverdelta,indicate thatthedepositionoftraceelementrichsedimentsbegansometimebetween1895and1910,datesconsistentwiththeonsetofmining andoreprocessingactivitiesthatbeganintheareainthe1880's. During1998/1999,surfaceandsubsurfacesedimentsampleswerecollectedalongtheentirelengthoftheSpokaneRiverBasin(SRB) fromitsoutletatthenorthernendofLakeCDAtoLakeRooseveltontheColumbiaRiver,Washington.SurfacesedimentsintheSRB areenrichedinPb,Zn,As,Cd,SbandHgrelativetolocalbackgroundlevels.Pb,Cd,andZnarethemostelevated,withmaximum enrichmentoccurringintheupperSRBincloseproximitytoLakeCDA.Onaverage,enrichmentdecreasesdownstream,apparently reflectingbothincreaseddistancefromtheinferredsource(theCDARiverBasin),aswellasincreaseddilutionbylocallyderivedbut unenrichedmaterials.Basedon137Csandexcess210Pbdating,traceelementenrichmentbeganinthemiddlepartoftheSRB(Long Lake)between1900and1920,whereasinthemostdownstreampartofthebasin,enrichmentbeganbetween1930and1940,probablyas aresultoftheclosureoftheGrandCouleeDam(19341941),whichformedLakeRoosevelt,backeduptheSpokaneRiver,and increasedwaterlevelsintheRiverArmbyabout30m. Presentation UseofGroundwaterflowModelsinMinePermitEvaluations MichaelN.Fienen,U.S.GeologicalSurvey,Madison,WI Theassessmentofpotentialwaterresourcesimpactsofminingprojectsisanimportantelementofminepermitevaluation.Manyaspects ofthehydrologiccycleandgeologicframeworkplayimportantrolesintheseevaluations.Amodelprovidesawaytocombinethe conceptualization,fieldmeasurementsandobservations,andphysicalandchemicallawsinaframework.Themodelcanthenbeusedto evaluatehowthehydrologicsystemreactstovariouschanges,includingthosecausedbyminingoperations.Examplesofimpactsthat canbeevaluatedincludewaterqualitychangesdotoaddingorremovingspecificcompoundsfromthewater,changesinstreamflow, changesingroundwaterlevels,changesinwatersuppliedtowetlands,andothers. Thekeyconceptsingroundwatermodelingareconservationofmass,conservationofenergy,andcorrespondencebetweenmodel outcomesandactualmeasurements.Conservationofmassmeansthatwater,inthiscase,cannotbecreatedordestroyed,sothemodel mustmakeanaccountingofwaterbalanceintoandoutofthesystem.Conservationofenergyishonoredsimilarlybythemodel balancingenergyinputsandoutputsthiscontrolshowwatermovesthroughtheareabeingsimulated.Finally,thecorrespondence betweenmodeloutcomesandmeasurementsisenforcedthroughmodelcalibrationanduncertaintyanalysis. Theprocessofusingamodeltoevaluatethesepotentialchangesissimilartousingphysicalmodelsandcomputermodelsinengineering designofbridges,buildings,andotherstructures.Themodelsallowforevaluationofresponsestochangesinconditionsandenable incorporationofsafetyfactors.Inthecaseofminingpermitapplications,thisenablesdecisionmakerstomakeevaluationsofpermitsina waythatisprotectiveofwaterresources.
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