Water Protection

Protecting Ground and Surface Water

A top environmental priority for Kennecott at the Eagle mine is ensuring that water associated with the mine and returned to the environment is safe and clean. Mine operations include an extensive water capture, management, and treatment system designed to achieve this goal. The state of art multi-phase water treatment plant is built, and currently in commissioning phase. The commissioning phase enables Kennecott to treat water associated with ongoing construction activities at the site and underground tunnel development to ensure compliance with permit standards.

The commissioning phase also is aimed at ‘testing’ the system(s), and ensuring the integrity and proper workings of it — troubleshooting, and identifying issues in need of attention, refining, and/or correction before full mining operations begin in 2013.

A regular and rigorous groundwater quality-monitoring program is instituted at and around the mine site. The program is designed to keep vigil on groundwater quality around the site, and for early identification of any potential issues that could require investigation and correction. The program also is installed to ensure compliance with permit requirements.

Testing and monitoring of the treated water will be overseen by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. The treated water will be so pure, it will be stored to avoid contact and contamination from rain water.

The treated water will be returned to the environment via a dispersion system that slowly releases water over a large area to accommodate effective infiltration back into the ground. Water may also be reused in the mining process for activities such as drill lubrication and truck washing.

By using this system, Kennecott safely and effectively returns purified water collected from the mining operation back into the environment.

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