YANKEE GIRL TAILINGS REMEDIATION PROJECT YMIR BC. NOAMI Case Study Presentation Part 1 Friday, November 14

Transcription

1 YANKEE GIRL TAILINGS REMEDIATION PROJECT YMIR BC NOAMI Case Study Presentation Part 1 Friday, November 14

2 HISTORY 2 Morrell, Lester G 1940 courtesy of British Columbia Archives

3 SITE OVERVIEW 3

4 ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT HISTORY 4 September 2000 BC Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum resources collected water and tailing samples at the site. November 2000 Salmo Watershed Streamkeepers Society (SWSS) published a report entitled Inventory of Mine Tailings and Ponds in the Salmo Watershed, which included information on the subject site. November 2001 BC Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection (MWLAP, now Ministry of Environment or MOE) collected additional tailing samples. January 2002 MOE provided results of sampling and reconnaissance programs in a report entitled Yankee Girl Tailings Environmental Impact Assessment Summary Report. January 2002 SWSS advocated for site restoration by sending Yankee Girl Restoration Outline letter to property owners along the Salmo River. March 2003 SWSS and MOE provided a presentation to the community. May 2003 Fisheries and Oceans Canada issued a Directive to the Province requiring a site investigation and prevention of further erosion of tailings into the Salmo River The Crown Contaminated Sites Branch (CCSB) was established to assume a lead role in implementing a provincial government strategy with respect to the management of contaminated sites for which the province is responsible; Yankee Girl is identified as a priority project along with a number of other sites. July 2005 Technical review of remedial options initiated and completed. November 2005 Installation of interim erosion control barrier. May 2006 Interim erosion control barrier augmented where necessary due to 1:10 year river level event. October 2006 Completion of additional site investigations and human health / ecological risk assessment. April 2007 Selection of Preferred Remediation Option August 2007 Award of Contracts to implement Preferred Remediation Option

5 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION 5 November 2004 Public Meeting #1 by CCSB presented project objectives and field activity details related to a detailed site investigation (DSI), risk assessment and remedial options evaluation initiated in November July 2005 Public Meeting #2 by CCSB presented the results of the DSI, risk assessment and remedial options investigation. October 2005 Public Meeting #3 by CCSB presented information on the planned interim erosion barrier installation, preferred remedial option, and supplemental assessment work required to address data gaps and confirm remedial options. November 2006 Public Meeting #4 (Open House) by CCSB presented information on the interim findings of the supplemental assessment work and preferred remedial option, as well as solicited community feedback on the conceptual end land use. February 2007 Public Meeting #5 and #6 by CCSB presented information regarding specific concerns raised after the November 2006 open house.

6 6 DETAILED SITE INVESTIGATION HUMAN HEALTH AND ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT Sampling of soil, groundwater, surface water, sediment, benthics, plant/fish/small mammal tissue. Rainbow trout

7 PRIORITY RISK ISSUES 1. Direct erosion of tailings by Salmo River and Ymir Creek; exposed tailings surface was eroding into surface runoff (deleterious substance). 2. Leaching of metals and acid rock drainage into groundwater and Salmo River side channel. Side Channel was not functioning as aquatic habitat. Metals in surface soil (arsenic, lead) presented an unacceptable human health risk, particularly due to use of the site as a recreational area by families with toddlers. 7

8 REMEDIAL OPTIONS ANALYSIS AND SELECTION 8 OFF-SITE OPTIONS Local Sanitary Landfill Hazardous Waste Landfill Sullivan Tailings Pond in Kimberley, BC DeLamar Mine Idaho Goldstream Tailings Pond near Revelstoke, BC HB Tailings Pond, Salmo, BC Re-processing at Teck Smelter in Trail TCML Hazardous Waste Landfill Disposal to Custom Built Facility Near Site Underground mine working ON-SITE OPTIONS 1. Leave all tailings/soil in place beneath an engineered cover 2. Excavate and consolidate: tailings (only) from the lower and southeast lobe tailings area reactive soil (only) from the mill area current tailings stockpile and place on top of the upper tailings deposit in an engineered secure containment cell The closest landfills Permitted for Hazardous Waste were in Alberta ~5,000 Tandem Loads ~1,200 kms round trip 3,500,000 Liters of Diesel 7,000,000 Kg CO 2 emission ~1/22 risk of a vehicle accident fatality ON-SITE CONSOLIDATION AND CONTAINMENT OF REACTIVE MATERIALS SELECTED AS PREFERRED OPTION

9 FLOODPLAIN RECONSTRUCTION EROSION PROTECTION, HABITAT ENHANCEMENT 9

10 10 EXCAVATION OF REACTIVE MATERIALS Excavation of Mill Area Excavation of Southeast Lobe Tailings Lower Tailings Area- Excavation

11 CONSOLIDATION OF MATERIALS REPOSITORY COVER PLACEMENT 11

12 FINAL CONFIGURATION 12 It is noted that the site is valued as a recreation area by the local community who desires continued use of the property. The Province recognizes that there is added value by incorporating the community s desires for final land use into the remediation plan, so that there will be ongoing beneficial use of the rejuvenated area and stewardship of the site.