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Montana Resources Conceptual Plans for Permitting Continued Mining September 15, 2015.

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Presentation on theme: "Montana Resources Conceptual Plans for Permitting Continued Mining September 15, 2015."— Presentation transcript:

1 Montana Resources Conceptual Plans for Permitting Continued Mining September 15, 2015

2 Existing Permit Open pit currently permitted to produce ore in excess of 20 years; Sufficient non-ore (waste) rock storage available for 20-year mine plan; Tailings impoundment embankment permitted to 6400 elevation (AMC datum); Maximum operating tailing impoundment water level is 6360 elevation;

3 Current Conditions Tailings impoundment; – Current water level elevation 6332; – Tailings rise is approximately 6-feet per year; – Permitted impoundment water level reached in 2020; – Must start embankment construction above 6400 in 2019. – Amendment 10 to Operating Permit 030A for Continued Mining must be in effect in 2019. – Amendment will provide for an additional 20 years of mining.

4 YDTI Embankment Construction: Concepts

5 Existing 6400 Embankment 5 General Arrangement Moulton Road Montana Resources Berkeley Pit Reclaim Pond Tailings beach East- West Embankment Aerial Photograph: June 2013 North-South Embankment West Embankment

6 Embankment Raise Concepts Typical North-South Embankment Construction Section Existing Tailings Existing downstream construction: Free draining waste rock zone Downstream Construction: Free draining waste rock 6400 6600 6200 6000 5800

7 Embankment Raise Concepts Embankment Configuration – Typical East – West Section 6500 elevation crest NEW Waste Rock (free draining) EXISTING Waste Rock (free draining) EXISTING Tailings NEW Tailings Water drains to pond ~ 2500 ft Seepage through embankment

8 Embankment Design Concepts 8 West Embankment – Construction Section Montana Resources NEW Tailings NEW Waste Rock (free draining) NEW Waste Rock (low permeability) 6500 ft elevation crest Moulton Road > 800 ft Water drains to pond ~ 2500 ft Toe Drain

9 Embankment Design Concepts 9 Embankment Extension – General Arrangement Montana Resources Toe Drain Embankment Crest Moulton Road Water pumps back into TSF

10 Proposed 6500 Embankment – Configuration 10 Multiple Spigot Points Montana Resources Existing Embankment

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14 Current Activities  Topsoil and overburden stripping and stockpiling; – Stockpiles located adjacent to Mouton Reservoir Road to block the view and noise.  Site investigation: – 14 drillholes – SPT and core – foundation for west embankment; – 3 deep angle core holes in area around low point in west ridge water table to understand geologic structure at depth; – 7 sonic drill holes through east-west embankment to verify foundation strengths; – 8 cone penetration holes to verify tailings characteristics.  Preparation for construction of toe drain.

15 Tailings Impoundment Permitting Applicant must submit a design document detailing how the facility design will address over 30 specific requirements, including: Analysis showing that the TSF will withstand a 1 in 10,000 year earthquake event or maximum credible earthquake, whichever is larger; Design criteria to manage the probable maximum flood event; Design document must be reviewed by a panel of three independent experts.

16 Tailings Impoundment Permitting The independent experts have been selected and approved by MDEQ: – Dr. Dirk van Zyl, PE – Professor Geotechnical Engineering, UBC – Dr. Leslie Smith – Professor Hydrogeology, UBC – James R. Swaisgood, PE, PG All three experts must sign design document prior to submittal to MDEQ. MR’s Engineer of Record is Ken Brouwer, Knight Piésold Ltd.

17 Permit Schedule Submit permit application - Q1 2016 Submit design document – Q2 2016 MDEQ declare the application complete and compliant and issue draft permit – Q4 2016 Initiate MEPA review – Q1 2017 – Select MEPA contractor – Public scoping – comments - public meeting – Draft MEPA document – Public comment – public meeting – Final MEPA document Issue Record of Decision and final permit – Q2 2018

18 Questions ?


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