Minnesota Administrative Rules

6132.2600 HEAP AND DUMP LEACHING FACILITIES.

Subpart 1.

Goals.

Heap and dump leaching facilities shall be designed and constructed to be structurally sound, minimize hydrologic impacts, minimize the release of substances that adversely impact other natural resources, and promote progressive reclamation.

Subp. 2.

Requirements.

Heap and dump leaching facilities must meet the requirements in items A to C.

A.

Heap and dump leaching facilities shall be designed by professional engineers, registered in this state, who are proficient in the design, construction, operation, neutralization, detoxification, and reclamation of heap and dump leaching facilities.

B.

The heap and dump leaching facility design shall:

(1)

provide rationale for site selection with regard to characteristics of the site that could affect, or be affected by, the heap and dump leaching facilities;

(2)

ensure that only leaching solutions that meet all state and federal water quality standards will be released to the environment;

(3)

include means of detecting and retrieving leaching solutions which might be released if leakage occurs;

(4)

describe all materials, construction, and operating performance specifications and limitations that must be maintained to ensure protection of other natural resources;

(5)

ensure that precipitation events do not result in overtopping ponds;

(6)

describe the specific steps that must be taken to neutralize and detoxify residual leaching solutions within leached ore and sediments;

(7)

identify monitoring locations to ensure compliance with the design; and

(8)

include a schedule for the design engineers to inspect the construction, operation, and reclamation of the facility, including closure and postclosure maintenance, to assure compliance with the design. In the event the design engineers become unable to perform the inspections, the engineers shall be replaced by persons who meet the qualifications of part 6132.2600, subpart 2, item A, and that can demonstrate an understanding of the design and an ability to perform the necessary inspections.

C.

Leached ore and sediments from leaching ponds shall be reclaimed according to part 6132.2200 or 6132.2400 based on the results of mine waste characterization.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 93.44 to 93.51; 103G.222

History:

17 SR 2207

Published Electronically:

June 11, 2008