Category: Monitoring the Buckhorn Mine

Crown submits Shotcrete and Grouting Plan (almost one year after Ecology’s request); Ecology deems that it does not meet mine’s management requirements

NPDES 5 year permit expires; administrative extension is issued

Mining company withdraws Cost Recovery Agreement that would have helped cover Ecology’s expenses for mine-related administration

Mining company appeals the enforcement

Ecology enforces the Clean Water Act, issuing $395,000 in fines for some of the water quality violations

OHA participates in annual mine coordination meeting; presents concerns and recommendations

OHA issues Action Alert, encouraging public to push for consequences for permit violations

Back pressure in the Mine Water line causes flooding of the chlorination building via the floor drain, releasing an estimated maximum of 15,300 gallons into the ground and surface water

Mine violates water quality permit: Water quality in Gold Bowl Creek exceeds standards for nitrates from blasting and sulfates from acid generating rocks; mine-related contaminants continue to increase in Bolster Creek and in Wells East of the mine.

Large slope failure, just below the mine facilities and one of the treated mine water discharge areas, sends mud cascading thousands of feet, uprooting large trees and scouring the Gold Bowl creek drainage of all vegetation