http://www.faromineclosure.yk.ca/ en Copyright 2010 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:44:51 -0800 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Denison Environmental Services is hosting its next quarterly site management meeting to discuss current care and maintenance activities at the Faro Mine Complex. The meeting is on Thursday, February 4, 2010 at 1:00 pm at the Lands and Resource Building in Ross River. Affected Yukon First Nation/ Community Coordinators and representatives from the Town of Faro are welcome to attend. http://www.faromineclosure.yk.ca/news/2010/02/care_and_maintenance_quarterly.html http://www.faromineclosure.yk.ca/news/2010/02/care_and_maintenance_quarterly.html Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:44:51 -0800 Faro Update - December 2009 Pour lire la version française: Mise à Jour - décembre 2009]]> http://www.faromineclosure.yk.ca/news/2010/01/latest_newsletter_online.html http://www.faromineclosure.yk.ca/news/2010/01/latest_newsletter_online.html Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:51:44 -0800 As of June 1, 2009, the Faro Project Management Team will have new office space. Please visit us at our new location at Suite 2C-4114-4th Ave in Whitehorse. (2nd Floor of the Royal Bank building) Staff telephone numbers and emails will remain the same. http://www.faromineclosure.yk.ca/news/2009/06/our_office_has_moved.html http://www.faromineclosure.yk.ca/news/2009/06/our_office_has_moved.html Mon, 01 Jun 2009 12:19:22 -0800 Care and Maintenance’ section of the website provides a summary of care and maintenance activities at the FMC, descriptions of key monitoring locations throughout the site, and water quality graphs and data with explanations of what types of things are being monitored at each site. The mine complex has over 300 active monitoring sites for water quality with more than 1000 water quality samples collected annually in and near the complex. Please visit the new Care and Maintenance section of the website for more details. ]]> http://www.faromineclosure.yk.ca/news/2009/04/new_care_and_maintenance_page.html http://www.faromineclosure.yk.ca/news/2009/04/new_care_and_maintenance_page.html Mon, 06 Apr 2009 15:03:18 -0800 (FCSAP). The recommended closure plan involves a stabilize-in-place approach. Just like it sounds, this approach will include upgrading dams to ensure tailings stay in place during natural events such as earthquakes and floods. In addition, all waste rock will be re-sloped to improve long-term stability and engineered soil covers will be installed over all tailings and waste rock. The plan also provides for state-of-the-art collection and treatment systems for contaminated water. Implementation of the closure plan will begin once the regulatory and environmental and socio-economic assessments are completed and the project receives final approval. This process could take between two and three years. The major construction phase is expected to take about 15 years. Ensuring jobs and business opportunities for affected Yukon First Nations and Yukoners is one of the key objectives of this project. The construction phase will be followed by an adaptation phase of approximately 20-25 years in which all of the various on-site elements - soil covers, structures, collection and treatment systems, etc - will be tested, monitored and improved as required. Read Newsletter Issue #9 February 2009 Faro Mine Closure UPDATE.]]> http://www.faromineclosure.yk.ca/news/2009/02/recommended_closure_plan_for_t.html http://www.faromineclosure.yk.ca/news/2009/02/recommended_closure_plan_for_t.html Mon, 09 Feb 2009 16:00:08 -0800 The Intertribal Nursery Council (INC) became the International Intertribal Nursery Council when representatives from Ross River Dena Council and Selkirk First Nation joined them for their September 2008 conference and workshop in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Three representatives from Selkirk First Nation and five representatives from Ross River Dena Council attended the conference along with Deborah Pitt, Project Manager for the Faro Mine Closure Project. The INC is an organization of First Nations who undertake the cultivation of native plants for use in reclamation and revegetation projects on their own lands. The Council is in the final stages of production of the first practical nursery manual created by Aboriginal people, for Aboriginal people. “It was really inspiring to meet with other First Nations people and see how advanced they are in creating their own native plant producing industries,” said participant Nora Ladue from Ross River Dena Council. “Using local native plants in different projects and teaching people about the benefits of their use is a great way to keep traditional knowledge alive in an ever-changing environment.” The three-day conference included presentations, tours and workshops. Presentations covered a broad range of topics such as a diabetes prevention program which encourages First Nations people to rediscover and grow traditional native plants and food, the use of long-stem shrub transplants for restoration projects in arid areas, and the use of a new technology that will take 3-D computer images and create visuals of the Faro mine throughout various stages of reclamation. “Seeing first-hand how native plants are used for so many different purposes really opened my eyes,” said Oprah Harper-Johnston, a grade 12 student at Eliza Van Bibber School in Pelly Crossing. “I know I want to pursue courses in biology once I graduate, and after attending the course, I’d like to learn even more about native plant cultivation and how local plants can be used for different projects.” Stops on the tour included a Pueblo-run production nursery and retail garden centre, a native grassland and cottonwood bosque (forest) restoration project on the Rio Grande, a teaching greenhouse at the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute and a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) research station where new production and revegetation techniques are developed and tested. http://www.faromineclosure.yk.ca/news/2008/10/yukon_first_nations_attend_intertribal_nursery_council_annual_meeting_.html http://www.faromineclosure.yk.ca/news/2008/10/yukon_first_nations_attend_intertribal_nursery_council_annual_meeting_.html Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:05:05 -0800 In an effort to understand the effects of mining activity on water quality and the aquatic ecosystem, Selkirk First Nation has been carrying out aquatic environmental studies around the Faro Mine Complex since 2000. The creeks surrounding the mine complex eventually drain into the Pelly River, which is an important resource for Selkirk First Nation as it flows through their traditional territory. In 2000, Selkirk First Nation began carrying out aquatic environmental studies in their traditional territory, with the assistance of local environmental consultants. In 2004, Selkirk First Nation, in cooperation with consultants and the Faro Project Management Team, initiated Aquatic Effects Assessment Programs on Anvil Creek and Pelly River. Part of this monitoring program involved collecting data on stream water quality, metal levels in sediment, soils and fisheries in waters downstream of the Faro Mine Complex. In 2007, the monitoring program was expanded to focus on sampling at sites both upstream and downstream of the mine. The expanded program, called the Interim Aquatic Ecosystem Monitoring Program (IAEMP) includes trainees from Ross River Dena Council and Selkirk First Nation. Access Consulting Group provides technical support to the program. Sampling at sites upstream of the mine provides background data of water quality before the mine, and sampling at sites downstream of the mine, provides comparison data and indicates the aquatic effects of mining activity. As part of the closure planning process, a long-term environmental monitoring program will be developed. The IAEMP will provide accurate data that can be used to determine the optimum design for long-term water quality monitoring at the Faro Mine Complex. Access Consulting provides trained personnel to assist with environmental monitoring at 19 sites on Rose Creek, Anvil Creek, Vangorda Creek and Pelly River. “The program offers an introduction to environmental monitoring to members of Selkirk First Nation and Ross River Dena Council,” said Paul Inglis, Environmental Scientist with Access Consulting. The program is also intended to build capacity and develop local understanding of the site. “This program is a good first step in getting local people interested and involved in environmental monitoring work,” said Ellie Marcotte, Faro Mine Project Community Liaison with Selkirk First Nation. “In the future, I hope to see even more training and employment opportunities in aquatic studies and monitoring work for First Nations in Pelly.” The IAEMP is carried out monthly and measures water quality, sediment levels, physical properties of the site and metal levels both upstream and downstream. At the conclusion of the IAEMP in 2009, the data will be evaluated to determine the monitoring stations, parameters and sampling frequencies that should be incorporated into the long-term monitoring program. http://www.faromineclosure.yk.ca/news/2008/09/interim_aquatic_ecosystem_moni.html http://www.faromineclosure.yk.ca/news/2008/09/interim_aquatic_ecosystem_moni.html Tue, 16 Sep 2008 09:15:12 -0800 Originally published Tuesday, July 29, 2008. Reprinted with Permission]]> http://www.faromineclosure.yk.ca/news/2008/07/whitehorse_star_company_agrees.html http://www.faromineclosure.yk.ca/news/2008/07/whitehorse_star_company_agrees.html Wed, 30 Jul 2008 10:01:22 -0800 Denison Environmental Services (DES) has been awarded the new contract to take over care and maintenance responsibilities at the Faro Mine Complex. DES was the successful bidder in an open and competitive public tender process overseen by the Yukon government. The three-year, $7.2 million per annum contract will provide care and maintenance services at the Faro Mine Complex. This will include the ongoing collection and treatment of contaminated water, management of uncontaminated runoff, inspection and maintenance of dams and diversion channels, water quality monitoring, general maintenance, and site security. The contract also includes provisions for training and employment opportunities for affected First Nations and Yukoners. Canadian based, Denison Environmental Services will take over care and maintenance services at the site beginning March 2009, after a transition period with Deloitte and Touche Inc., the court appointed Interim Receiver who managed care and maintenance at the site for the past 10 years. http://www.faromineclosure.yk.ca/news/2008/07/new_care_and_maintenance_contr.html http://www.faromineclosure.yk.ca/news/2008/07/new_care_and_maintenance_contr.html Tue, 29 Jul 2008 09:59:54 -0800 On blustery days, when winds get above 20kph, fine dust particles on the surface of the Rose Creek tailings impoundment start to move. They are either carried into the air (in what is known as a suspension), or bounce along the surface (by a process known as saltation). Although it is much easier for us to see tailings suspended in the air (the typical dust cloud), over 90% of movement is usually across the surface. Because of the action of the wind, tailings dust has been detected outside of the direct footprint of the Faro Mine complex. In response to these findings, the Faro Project Management Team commissioned a study to see what effect the tailings dust has had on the surrounding environment. Work was completed last year, and found that tailings dust does not currently pose a risk to humans or animals. Over the long term, control of tailings dust will be an issue dealt with in any future closure plan. In the meantime, the technical team has been working with current site staff to design an interim measure to control dust. This involves spraying a chemical over key areas of the tailings, effectively 'sealing' the surface and creating a hard crust. The material is first mixed with water and applied by a vehicle-mounted sprayer, with periodic re-applications as needed. This approach was recently used at the GIANT mine in Yellowknife and proved to be very successful. Our plan is to begin this interim dust control process this summer, and continue as needed until a closure plan is implemented. So, it could be dust free days in Rose Creek valley from now on! UPDATE: Interim dust control measures were not undertaken this summer because of weather. Significant rainfall in Faro meant little to no dust coming off the tailings. This measure will begin next summer as required. http://www.faromineclosure.yk.ca/news/2008/05/dealing_with_dust.html http://www.faromineclosure.yk.ca/news/2008/05/dealing_with_dust.html Tue, 20 May 2008 17:42:30 -0800 Beginning in late May, you may notice a flurry of activity next door to the Fire Department in the Town of Faro. This is the location of the former Metafina Chemicals plant, and the action is related to environmental assessment work that will be carried out this summer. For those who are not familiar with the history of the site, from 1987 to 1990 Metafina Chemicals manufactured chemicals for use at the Faro Mine. These chemicals were xanthates used as flotation agents for separating minerals in the milling process. The plant was mothballed in 1990. Shortly thereafter, there were concerns about the storage of chemicals on the site. In the early 1990s, some actions were taken to lessen any risks that might be posed by snowmelt and seasonal flooding. Due to continuing concerns, the Yukon Government ordered a cleanup in 1996 and paid for 25,000 litres of xanthates to be removed from the site. But even after the chemicals were removed, some concerns about potential contamination of the site remained. This is due in part to information from former employees about practices at the plant, which included reports of numerous spills. In 2007, the Yukon Government, Assessment and Abandoned Mines branch, with the support of the Town of Faro, made an application to the $40 million Northern Strategy Trust to obtain the funds necessary to undertake an environmental assessment of the property. More than $49,000 was approved for work to begin in the 2008 field season. The Metafina project consists of two phases. Phase 1: Site Assessment consists of a Level II environmental assessment of the property, which will be completed this year. Work will include sampling and laboratory testing of soils, surface water and groundwater to determine the nature, extent and amount of any residual contamination. Pending the findings of Phase 1, and dependant on funding availability, Phase 2 of the work would then consist of cleanup of any remaining contaminants. Once the site is confirmed to be clean, it can then safely be used for future development. The Metafina Chemicals site has been highlighted as a key area of concern by the Town of Faro in ongoing consultations regarding the closure and remediation of the Faro Mine Complex. The work to be completed this summer is the first step in the final remediation of the Metafina site, and another step forward in ensuring a safer environment for everyone. http://www.faromineclosure.yk.ca/news/2008/04/metafina_site_scheduled_for_as.html http://www.faromineclosure.yk.ca/news/2008/04/metafina_site_scheduled_for_as.html Fri, 18 Apr 2008 12:02:02 -0800 Click here. ]]> http://www.faromineclosure.yk.ca/news/2008/02/new_materials_posted_on_faro_mine_closure_options.html http://www.faromineclosure.yk.ca/news/2008/02/new_materials_posted_on_faro_mine_closure_options.html Mon, 04 Feb 2008 13:30:43 -0800 The Faro Mine Closure project team has been working with governments and communities for the past several months to develop a way to evaluate the closure options for the Faro Mine Complex. That assessment process is now underway and is designed show how each updated closure option meets the overall project objectives that were set in 2004 by the project Oversight Committee. Updated information on the Faro Mine Closure (FMC) project, with new visuals and descriptions for each closure option, as well as a new simplified PowerPoint presentation on arriving at a closure plan were presented at community open houses and meetings on January 23 and 24, 2008. There are now five closure options for the Faro Mine Complex: three options for the Faro Mine Area (which combines the Faro Pit and Waste Rock with the Tailings Area) and two options for the Vangorda/Grum Area. The options were reviewed and refined from a larger list of alternatives earlier this year using input from communities, technical advisors, and an independent expert panel. Interested in reviewing the updated closure options in detail? Information is available from: - the FMC community coordinator’s office in Pelly Crossing; - the FMC community coordinator’s office in Ross River; - the Town of Faro office; - our web site at www.faromine.ca; and - the Faro Mine Closure UPDATE newsletter (the next issue comes out in February). The assessment process will include community workshops in Ross River February 12-15, 2008 and in Pelly Crossing in early March. A Yukon and federal government officials’ workshop will be held in Whitehorse in late February. The results from the assessment workshops will assist each government in selecting their preferred closure options. The members of the Oversight Committee will be working over the coming months to come to an agreement on which of the five closure options best meet the overall project objectives. The Oversight Committee will then recommend a closure plan that combines those selected options to the federal government for initial funding approval, before it can be submitted into the Yukon regulatory process. http://www.faromineclosure.yk.ca/news/2008/01/governments_begin_their_formal_assessment_of_closure_options.html http://www.faromineclosure.yk.ca/news/2008/01/governments_begin_their_formal_assessment_of_closure_options.html Fri, 25 Jan 2008 09:24:14 -0800 By Chuck Tobin, Whitehorse Star Alexco Resources Corp. is one of two parties that will be invited to bid on the job to look after the bankrupt Faro mine for three years, until a final closure plan can be implemented. Alexco was one of nine companies or conglomerates that submitted applications to qualify for the final list of companies that were shortlisted to bid on the three-year care and maintenance contract. Stephen Mead, the senior project manager overseeing the Faro Mine Closure office, said recently the team wanted to qualify three companies for the final bid. But after a month-long review of the nine submissions, it was determined Alexco and Dennison Environmental Services of Elliott Lake, Ont. were the only two submissions containing what the closure office was looking for, Mead said. "The other seven did not qualify," he said. "They failed in one or more of the minimum standards that were set." Alexco, a company with executive roots in the Yukon, is currently spending millions upon millions of dollars to pursue its goal of restarting mining operations at United Keno Hill mines in the Elsa area. Mining ceased in January 1989. Alexco is named as the lead authority in a consortium involving four other companies. They include Epcor, a national company with extensive experience in water delivery and waste water treatment; SNC Lavalin, an internationally recognized engineering and construction firm with ties to Yukon first nations; and the development corporations of both the Selkirk and Ross River first nations. Dennison, Mead explained, is instrumental in the ongoing closure plans for Elliott Lake's uranium mines and currently provides all the care and maintenance for the sites. He said while Alexco and Dennison must remain the lead companies, they are still able to add more companies to their team. The two lead companies will be invited to submit final proposals early in the new year for the three years of care and maintenance work. It's expected the winning proposal would be selected sometime next spring. The bankrupt and abandoned Faro mine is currently under the management of the court-approved receiver, Deloitte and Touche. The company will asking the court to remove it from its responsibilities at the Faro mine in February 2009. The care and maintenance of the mine site currently costs about $7 million annually. The Faro Mine Closure office is seeking a company to take over the care and maintenance work from 2009 to 2012, when work on the final closure plan is expected to start. Permanent closure options for the tailings area and the three large open pits are under review currently. It's estimated final closure of the once-great economic pillar for the territory will cost Canadians anywhere from half a billion to a billion dollars, over decades. It's widely accepted that under any of the closure options, regular monitoring of the reclaimed site would be required until the end of time. The schedule calls for finalization of the closure plan in 2009. It's expected it will require three years to move the plan through the necessary environmental review and permitting process, with implementation beginning in 2012. There will be another bid to select a company for the final closure contract. The federal government is paying $13.5 million for work at the Faro mine this year, of which $7 million is dedicated to care and maintenance, with the remainder going to planning and research into the closure options. Federal taxpayers have been covering the babysitting fees since Ottawa declared the mine abandoned by the bankrupt Anvil Range Mining Co. The mine closed in 1998. Mining first began at the site in 1969. Originally published Monday, November 26, 2007. Reprinted with Permission. ]]> http://www.faromineclosure.yk.ca/news/2007/11/whitehorse_star_firm_interested_in_safeguarding_mine_site.html http://www.faromineclosure.yk.ca/news/2007/11/whitehorse_star_firm_interested_in_safeguarding_mine_site.html Thu, 29 Nov 2007 16:04:00 -0800 Elders from Pelly Crossing and Ross River, along with a few other members from their communities, took advantage of a unique opportunity to learn more about the proposed closure alternatives for the Faro Mine complex. In early October, fifteen people from the communities travelled to northern BC, accompanied by Bill Slater, who is the technical manager on the Faro Mine Closure project. Bill Price, who is part of the expert technical review group for the Faro Mine Closure Project, led the tour. http://www.faromineclosure.yk.ca/news/2007/10/elders_tour_to_learn_more_about_mine_remediation_.html http://www.faromineclosure.yk.ca/news/2007/10/elders_tour_to_learn_more_about_mine_remediation_.html Mon, 22 Oct 2007 13:52:10 -0800