Welcome to the second issue of the RGC e-newsletter!

Our first newsletter was published in April of last year and focused on issues related to water, air flow and mine waste cover systems.

In this edition, we have focused on the themes of impact assessment and decision tools for mine development conflict resolution; two areas in which RGC has been focusing many efforts and actively developing recently.

Our objective of publishing these newsletters remains to keep our clients and associates informed of some of the RGC activities and developments of interest and to provide links to technology updates and related publications.

We hope you enjoy hearing "What's New"   at RGC,

Andy Robertson , President
Robertson GeoConsultants Inc.

Golden Sunlight Mine

Whitehall, Montana, USA

Golden Sunlight Mines , a subsidiary of   Placer Dome U.S. Inc. has been producing gold at the Golden Sunlight Mine, located ~ 5 miles from Whitehall Montana since 1982. Mining operations consist of both open pit and underground operations and continued mining is anticipated for another 5 years. In 1998 GSM published an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) outlining potential plans to reclaim the mine after it closes.

Since 1998, some conditions have changed and new information has been attained, resulting in an agency decision to prepare a Supplemental EIS (SEIS). In conjunction with the SEIS, RGC was retained to conduct a Multiple Accounts Analysis (MAA) to evaluate potential pit reclamation alternatives.

A MAA is a decision-making process that provides a means to select alternatives from a list by weighing benefits and costs. It allows for multi-stakeholder/multi-disciplinary groups to attempt to reach consensus and provides a systemized framework for the assessment of issues.

RGC led the MAA for GSM reclamation alternatives and facilitated a technical working group consisting of representatives from:

• the Bureau of Land Management (BLM),
• the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ),
• the Golden Sunlight Mine , (GSM),
  and their technical consultants, (Telesto),
• the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
  
  
• and consultants representing five environmental groups
  • the National Wildlife Federation,
  • the Montana Environmental Information Center,
  • the Mineral Policy Center,
  • the Gallatin Wildlife Association,
  • and the Sierra Club.
  
  
• Spectrum Engineering directed the MAA working group as the contractor for the SEIS.

Seven potential reclamation alternatives were evaluated in the MAA, the results of which are being incorporated into the SEIS . Readers are referred to the agency websites above for further information regarding the SEIS.

RGC has used the MAA tool at a number of sites including the Golden Sunlight Mine, the Zortman and Landusky mines and others. A description of the MAA methodology is available on EnviroMine

"Mine Waste Cover System Design -
Linking Predicted Performance to Groundwater and Surface Water Impacts".

by:  M. O'Kane and  Dr. C. Wels

published in:   ICARD 2003 - Proceedings of the
Sixth International Conference on Acid Rock Drainage.
"Application and Sustainability of Technologies".
Cairns, Queensland, Australia,     July 14-17, 2003,     pp. 341-349 .

Current best management practice requires the placement of a cover onto most types of mine waste including tailings, waste rock and/or spent heap leach rock at closure of the mine.

There has been a general tendency by stakeholders to develop performance criteria for cover systems, which are tied directly to these specific design objectives; for example, "net percolation", "rate of oxygen ingress" and/or "plant density/mixture". In our opinion, there is a need to develop cover performance criteria on a case-by-case basis and with due consideration of the short-term and long-term impacts on the receiving environment at a particular site.

This paper, presented at ICARD 2003 , puts forward a methodology for developing site-specific performance criteria for a cover system designed to isolate acid-forming mine waste and to control acid rock drainage. The proposed methodology links the predicted performance of a cover system to groundwater and surface water impacts.   more...

Michael Pond, B.Sc., P.Geo.

Mr. Michael Pond, P.Geo. holds a B.Sc. in Geology and a Diploma of Technology in CAD/CAM. Michael has worked with Robertson GeoConsultants Inc. since March of 2001 and is responsible for the management of the Company's map & drawing production, and database processing.

Recent projects include maintenance of the RGC web site, creating an 'Image Library' database to manage the Company's comprehensive project and technical photograph archive, and publishing the RGC Company Newsletter.

Michael uses GIS, CAD and air photograph interpretation techniques to assist with project analysis. Recent tailings management projects at Chuquicamata and Collahuasi, Chile have especially benefited from the combined use of these methods.

Curriculum Vitae:

Sebastien Fortin

Sebastien Fortin has moved from Vancouver to take a postion with AMEC, Earth & Environmental Limited. He joins the AMEC Calgary office as part of their Geological Engineering Team.

Robertson GeoConsultants and staff said 'goodbye' to Sebastien last May and wished him well in his new position. Sebastien had been with RGC since March 2000 and he will be missed as a good friend and colleague.

EnviroMine

Editors:    S. Shaw   and   L. Findlater

EnviroMine  is a technology website created as an information centre for environmental issues related to the mining industry. Sponsored by Robertson GeoConsultants and edited by Shannon Shaw and Laura Findlater, the site is one of several technology sites hosted by the much larger Infomine website.

Technical web pages hosted by EnviroMine illustrating an impact assessment theme tool are:

• Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA)
• Multiple Accounts Analysis (MAA)
• Audits and Reviews

Risk Management for Major Geotechnical Structures on Mines

by:    Robertson, A. MacG., and Shaw, S.  ,   (2003)

published in: In proceedings of Computer Applications in the Mineral Industries (CAMI), Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 8-10 September 2003.

Any performance of a geotechnical structure that is outside the expected and design intent for that structure, which results in consequences that are undesirable to the owner or stakeholders of the mine, is considered to be a failure. The potential for failure together with the severity of the consequences determine the risk of such failure. Risk management for major geotechnical structures is a process that involves:
a) assessments off the risk of failure, and
b) implementation of a program of risk mitigation and risk control.
more...

"Use of Waterloo Barrier in Progressive Reclamation of Hydrocarbon Plume"

by:    Wels, C.   ,   (2002)

published in: Proceedings of the 55th Canadian Geotechnical Conference, Niagara Falls, Ontario, October 20-23, 2002.

Historic leaks of diesel fuel had resulted in hydrocarbon contamination of soil and groundwater on several neighbouring properties in North Vancouver, B.C. requiring remediation by separate parties.

A Waterloo Barrier® cutoff wall was installed over a length of 270m and a maximum depth of 12m effectively splitting the contaminant plume into two separate entities. On one side of the barrier, extraction wells and a shallow drain were installed and operated to prevent overtopping and/or movement of contaminated groundwater around the barrier. On the other side, the contaminated soil was excavated and replaced with clean fill.   more...

"Use Of The Multiple Accounts Analysis Process For Sustainability Optimization"

by:    Robertson, A. MacG., and Shaw, S.  ,   (2004)

Presented at:  SME Annual Meeting February 23-25, 2004, Denver, Colorado

There is an increasing requirement for mines to meet a certain minimum criteria for sustainability within the context of the physical environment, ecosystem and socio-economic system in which they are located. The mining industry has wrestled to develop methods for assessing the ‘sustainability’ value of a mining project and indicators of ‘sustainability success’.   more...

Search RGC Papers

Field Investigations

The RGC Image Library contains thousands of mining related technical photographs from projects located around the world.

Several hundred photographs are available for viewing on the web site, categorized into several technical themes.

This month we showcase Field Investigations. Projects included drilling and well installation, hydraulic testing, sampling and materials testing, and test pit investigations.  more...

Multiple Accounts Analysis

by:   Dr. A. Robertson   ,   S. Shaw   and   S. Houlding

We have provided the MAA tool as a on-line course with interactive tool capabilities. The MAA course provides a management decision theory tool for multiple stakeholder decision-making and conflict resolution. For information regarding usage and availability of the MAA tool refer to the EduMine course "Multiple Accounts Analysis".

The following MAA Management Tools are currently available:

Access to these tools require Edumine Enrollment or registration for a Free Trial.

Quality to Scalar Conversions

Tool determines integer scalar values, on a scale of 1 to N, for up to 7 arbitrary quality values. This tool was originally designed for use with the Multiple Accounts Analysis decision theory tool.

Quantity to Scalar Conversions

Tool determines integer scalar values, on a scale of 1 to N, for up to 7 arbitrary quantity values. This tool was also originally designed for use with the Multiple Accounts Analysis decision theory tool.

For help on how to use the MAA Tools, please contact Shannon.

We also welcome any suggestions for new MAA Managment Tools.

Some Comments on our Inaugural Newsletter

Volume #1     April, 2003

"This newsletter is a really valuable addition to my reading matter. Your only problem will be to keep up the standard of intellectual stimulation this provides."

Many thanks, Phil Tanner

--
Phil Tanner
Environmental Manager,
Anglo Base Metals

"A very neat newsletter. The changing photographs are quite spiffy!"

Cheers, Tony Diering

--
Tony Diering, Ph.D.,
Vice President and Principal Consultant
Gemcom Software International Inc.

"Andy, congratulations for the RGC e-newsletter. It looks great !"

Regards, Paulo Franca

--
Paulo Franca
Departamento de Geotecnia e Hidrogeologia
MBR - Minerações Brasileiras Reunidas SA