File Code: 1950 - Montana Legislature · The Stillwater Mine and the East Boulder Mine are existing...

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File Code: 1950

Date: August 1, 2012

Dear Interested Party:

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), the Custer National Forest (CNF), and the Gallatin National Forest (GNF) have signed the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Stillwater Mining Company’s Revised Water Management Plans and Boe Ranch LAD. You may obtain electronic versions of these documents by accessing either the Montana DEQ’s web site at http://deq.mt.gov/eis.mcpx or by accessing the Custer (http://www.fs.usda.gov/custer ) or Gallatin (http://www.fs.usda.gov/gallatin ) National Forest’s web site. You may request a hard copy document or an electronic document by contacting either of the agency contacts below.

Kristi Ponozzo Montana Department of Environmental Quality P.O. Box 200901, Helena, MT 59601 [email protected]

Patrick Pierson Custer National Forest 1310 Main Street, Billings, MT 59105 or [email protected] ext. 213

The responsible officials for the Custer and Gallatin National Forests and Montana Department of Environmental Quality have decided to approve amendments of Stillwater Mining Company’s existing Plans of Operations. They have selected all Agency Mitigated Alternatives (Alternatives 3A, 3B, and 3C), except with regards to the tailing impoundment capping scenarios. Based on the analysis disclosed in the FEIS, the responsible officials have decided to approve tailing impoundment capping scenarios as described in the Proposed Action Alternatives.

The Stillwater Mine and the East Boulder Mine are existing underground mines located near Nye, Montana, and south of Big Timber, Montana, respectively. Both mines produce platinum group metals. The Stillwater Mining Company (SMC) submitted applications in late 2000 to the DEQ, CNF, and GNF to amend its operation permits for these two mines. The purpose of SMC’s proposed revisions are twofold: 1) to develop and implement closure and post-closure water management plans for adit water, tailings impoundments, and storm water for the Stillwater and East Boulder mines; and 2) to construct and operate a pipeline and land application disposal

United States Department of Agriculture

Forest Service

Custer National Forest 1310 Main Street Billings, MT 59105

Gallatin National Forest 10 E Babcock Avenue Bozeman, MT 59771

Montana Department of Environmental Quality

PO Box 200901 Helena, MT 59620-0901

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(LAD) system at SMC’s Boe Ranch property, if needed, to dispose of treated adit and tailings waters from the East Boulder Mine during operations and at closure.

Decisions based upon the Final EIS are described in the Record of Decision. The decision is subject to administrative review pursuant to the Notice, Comment and Appeal Procedures for National Forest System Projects and Activities found at 36 CFR 215. Timeframes for the administrative appeal period begins after publication of the legal notice of the decision in the papers of record for the Custer and Gallatin National Forests, the Billings Gazette and the Bozeman Chronicle, respectively.

Sincerely,

Mary C. Erickson, Forest Supervisor Gallatin and Custer National Forests

Richard H. Opper, Director Montana Department of Environmental Quality

enclosure

Stillwater Mining Company’s Revised Water Management Plans and Boe Ranch LAD 2012

Record of Decision 2

Introduction and Background

Stillwater Mining Company (SMC) operates two underground mines in Montana. The Stillwater Mine islocated near Nye, Montana, in Stillwater County, and the East Boulder Mine is located south of BigTimber, Montana, in Sweet Grass County. Mining at the Stillwater Mine began in 1985 and is conductedunder Operating Permit No. 00118. Mining at the East Boulder Mine began in 1998 and is conductedunder Operating Permit No. 00149.

Both mines produce platinum group ore. SMC upgrades the ore at each mine by crushing, grinding,flotation, and filtration to produce a concentrate. SMC then ships the concentrate by truck to theStillwater Smelter and Base Metal Refinery in Columbus, MT for further upgrading. SMC subsequentlyships the upgraded ore to New Jersey for final refining.

Every 100 tons of ore fed to the mill at each mine generates 99 tons of tailings. These tailings arepumped from the mill to underground sand and paste plants where the coarse sand fraction of tailings isseparated from the slimes fraction (finest sized particles). The coarse sand fraction is dewatered andcement may be added. About 58 percent of the tailings generated are used to backfill undergroundworkings. The remainder of the tailings are pumped to the respective tailings impoundments at theStillwater Mine and the East Boulder Mine. The tailings impoundment at the Stillwater Mine is used tobalance water storage among facilities.



In 2000, SMC submitted applications to the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), and the CusterNational Forest and the Gallatin National Forest (CNF/GNF) to amend the operating permits for theStillwater and East Boulder Mines. SMC’s applications include three separate proposals, one pertainingto the Stillwater Mine and two pertaining to the East Boulder Mine.

In its application to amend Operating Permit No. 00118 for the Stillwater Mine, SMC proposes a closureand post closure water management plans for adit water, tailings impoundments, and storm water.SMC proposes to discharge water into the Stillwater River once adit and tailings waters have metMontana state water quality standards or have met applicable Montana Pollution Discharge EliminationSystem (MPDES) permit limits. Similarly, in its application to amend Operating Permit No. 00149 for theEast Boulder Mine, SMC proposes closure and post closure water management plans for adit water,tailings impoundments, and storm water. SMC proposes to discharge water into the East Boulder Riveronce adit and tailings waters have met Montana state water quality standards or have met applicableMontana Pollution Discharge Elimination System (MPDES) permit limits. In addition, SMC also proposesto construct and operate a land application disposal (LAD) system, if needed, at its Boe Ranch Propertyto dispose of treated adit and tailings water from the East Boulder Mine during operations and atclosure.

DEQ and CNF/GNF determined that amendment of the operating permits might significantly affect thequality of the human environment. As joint lead agencies, DEQ and CNF/GNF prepared anEnvironmental Impact Statement (EIS) pursuant to the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) andthe National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The Montana Department of Natural Resources andConservation was a participating agency in preparation of the EIS. A draft EIS was issued in November of2010 and a final EIS was issued in May of 2012.

The EIS analyzed the following proposed modifications to the reclamation and water managementplans:

1. Changing reclamation cover requirements from an average of four to six feet to an averageof two feet for all tailings impoundments;

2. Changing the reclamation cap design on the Hertzler Ranch and East Boulder tailingsimpoundments from a domed or convex configuration to a concave configuration withpositive drainage following the deposited tailings gradient;

3. Evaluating the use of biological treatment systems for treatment of undiluted tailings watersat closure;

4. Evaluating the potential relocation of tailings slimes to alternative locations as necessary toexpedite and facilitate the capping process;

5. Evaluating changes in post closure water routing and channel design; and6. Evaluating time requirements for closure and impoundment capping.



Agencies’ Roles and Responsibilities

The DEQ and GNF/CNF are the lead agencies for this EIS. A December 11, 1989 Memorandum ofUnderstanding between the State of Montana and the CNF/GNF provides for preparation of jointenvironmental analyses and sharing of information, personnel, and funds.

The DEQ and GNF/CNF are also responsible for regulatory oversight of effects to surface resources andestablishing a reclamation bond. A reclamation bond is set and held jointly by the agencies. The bond isjointly determined by computing costs to the state and United Stated Forest Service (USFS) forreclaiming a site should the operator default. The joint bond can be used by either agency per theirregulations.

Decision authority pertaining to private lands involved in the respective proposed actions lies solely withthe Montana Department of Environmental Quality. Decision authority involving National Forest SystemLands is jointly shared between the Montana DEQ and the Supervisor of the GNF and CNF.

Purpose and Description of this Record of Decision (ROD)

This ROD contains DEQ’s and the CNF/GNF’s decision on SMC’s applications to amend its two existingoperating permits. The ROD states the agencies’ decisions, their rationale for the decisions, and allalternatives considered in reaching the decisions. The decisions are based on the environmental analysisset forth in the EIS and the applicable state laws and administrative rules, and federal laws, regulations,and policies.

Project Purpose and Need

The purpose and need for the proposed closure and post closure water management plans for theStillwater and East Boulder mines is to respond to the requirements of the Metal Mine Reclamation Act(MMRA), set forth in Section 82–4–301, et seq,MCA and to the requirements of the USFS regulations setforth in 36 CFR 228, Subpart A. These state and federal laws require each mine to have a reclamationplan that includes a water management plan that achieves water quality standards during and afterreclamation. The agencies concluded that earlier analyses did not address the type and duration ofwater management and treatment with enough specificity, nor were they detailed enough to use indetermining closure and post closure reclamation bond calculations.

Second, the purpose and need for the proposed East Boulder Mine Boe Ranch LAD System is to provideadditional operating flexibility, to provide options for treatment and disposal of adit and tailings watersduring operations and closure, and to potentially allow mine waste waters to be beneficially used in anagricultural setting during the life of the mine and at closure. SMC’s current WMP for the Stillwater Minewas approved on June 28, 1998, for land application disposal (LAD) of treated mine waters on NationalForest System lands. SMC has proposed the Boe Ranch LAD system as an enhancement of the approvedmine site LAD system, which will allow for storage of all mine discharge waters during the non growingseason with subsequent LAD of the water during the ensuing growing season.



Public Involvement

Scoping for the EIS began in July 2001 with distribution of a scoping document that informed readers ofthe agencies’ intent to conduct an environmental analysis of SMC’s Proposed Actions. The agenciesmailed approximately 400 copies of the scoping document to individuals, agencies, organizations, andbusinesses that might be interested in, or affected by, the Proposed Actions and subsequent decisions.The scoping document solicited comments to assist the agencies in identifying specific issues andconcerns to be addressed in the MEPA/NEPA environmental impact statement analysis.

The USFS published a notice of intent to prepare an EIS in the Federal Register. The DEQ and the USFSpublished public scoping notices in newspapers in the affected area, including the Stillwater CountyNews, Carbon County News, Billings Gazette, Big Timber Pioneer, Bozeman Daily Chronicle, and HelenaIndependent Record.

The agencies held two public scoping meetings to discuss the proposed actions and to receive publiccomments. The first meeting was held on July 18, 2001, in Absarokee, MT, and 13 participants attended.The second meeting was held on July 19, 2001, in Big Timber, MT, and 47 participants attended.Representatives from the DEQ and the USFS described the Proposed Actions, and attendees wereprovided an opportunity to ask questions and submit comments at both meetings.

After public scoping meetings, the agencies and SMC hosted field trips at the Stillwater Mine, the EastBoulder Mine, and Boe Ranch LAD area locations. Only one member of the public attended theStillwater Mine field trip, held on August 9, 2001, and 13 people attended the East Boulder Mine andBoe Ranch LAD area field trip held on August 11, 2001.

Public meetings were held on December 1, 2010 in Absarokee, MT, and on December 2, 2010 in BigTimber, MT, to accept comments on the accuracy and adequacy of the draft EIS. Two comments werereceived at these meetings, both requesting an extension of the public comment period. Seven letterswere received during the public comment period, which began on November 26, 2010 and wasadministratively extended for 45 days, ending on February 24, 2011. All public comments received onthe DEIS, and response to comments, are included in Chapter 5 of the final EIS.

Consultation Coordination with Others

The Department of Environmental Quality and the US Forest Service consulted and coordinated with thefollowing agencies and organizations throughout the MEPA/NEPA process: ACZ Laboratories, KnightPiésold Ltd. Consulting Engineers, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, MontanaDepartment of Natural Resources & Conservation, Montana Natural Heritage Program, Montana StateHistoric Preservation Office, Stillwater Mining Company, Sweet Grass County, US Fish and WildlifeService, and the US Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Consultation andcoordination included both formal and informal consultation requirements as well as coordination withtechnical experts. Readers are referenced to table 1 2 in the final EIS for a further explanation ofconsultation and coordination.



Issue Identification and Management

In addition to attending and commenting at the public scoping meetings and participating in projectrelated field trips, nine individuals submitted written comments identifying potential issues andconcerns.

Specific comments were arranged into groups of common concerns. The analysis of these commentsidentified 18 potential issues. Five issues were identified as significant or potentially significant becauseof the extent of their geographic distribution, the duration of their effects, or the intensity of interest orresource conflict. MEPA and NEPA direct agencies to focus environmental analyses on significant issuesand to dismiss nonsignificant issues [ARM 17.4.615(2) (b) and (c) and 40 CFR 1500.4(b), (c), and (g)]. Anissue’s significance is different than and separate from any determination of significance of anenvironmental consequence evaluated in subsequent MEPA/NEPA environmental impact analyses.

Significant Issues

The following section presents significant issues identified for each of the three proposed actions. Theseissues define the scope of the MEPA/NEPA analysis and alternatives considered.

Issue 1:Water Quality and Quantity Project scoping identified concerns that implementation of theProposed Actions might change the existing quality and quantity of water around the Stillwater Mine,the East Boulder Mine, and/or the East Boulder Boe Ranch LAD area.

Issue 2:Wildlife and Aquatic Resources Project scoping indicated that implementation of portions ofthe Proposed Actions might affect aquatic resources near both mines at closure and post closure, aswell as wildlife and aquatic resources on and near the Boe Ranch during operations and closure.

Issue 3: Irrigation Practices Concerns were identified related to implementation of the Boe Ranch LADsystem. These concerns included changes in plant community composition under the LAD system inresponse to the increase in water and nutrients available to the plants during operation, as well as whenthe water is turned off; The spread of noxious weeds would likely occur during operations, closure, andpost closure; And instability and the potential would increase for mass wasting beneath anddowngradient of the irrigation center pivots. LAD application disposal of mine waters could impact soilsdue to nitrogen and salt additions.

Issue 4: Cultural Resources Public and agency comments indicated that implementation of the BoeRanch LAD system Proposed Action might adversely affect cultural resources on the property.

Issue 5: Stability of Boe Ranch LAD Storage Pond Public scoping revealed concerns associated with theconstruction and long term use of the Boe Ranch LAD storage pond. Most of the comments questionedthe stability of the pond embankment due to site geologic and seismic conditions, embankment stabilityshould the pond liner fail, the ability of the pond to contain or pass a 100 year storm event and theeffect of such an event on the drainage below the pond; and damage to private property.



Detailed information pertaining to significant issue identification is found in Chapter 2, Section 2.2.1 ofthe final EIS.

Non Significant Issues

Twelve other preliminary issues identified during project scoping were not relevant to the ProposedActions. Issues that were considered but dismissed were either beyond the scope of this environmentalanalysis or have been previously addressed by federal or state law, regulation, or policy. As discussed infinal EIS Section 2.2, MEPA/NEPA analyses are intended to focus on potentially significant issues. Theissues which appear below were considered but dismissed from further analysis.

Issue 6: BondingIssue 7: Incorporation of Operational Stipulations/MitigationsIssue 8: Potential Water Quality Impacts from Boe Ranch LAD System Mist into the East Boulder RiverIssue 9: Water Quality Effects Caused by Phosphates in Treated Adit and Tailings WatersIssue 10: StormWater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP)Issue 11: Wetlands and Riparian ZonesIssue 12: Tailings Impoundment StabilityIssue 13: Public ParticipationIssue 14: MEPA/NEPA ProcessIssue 15: Effects of Nitrates and Trace Metal Bioaccumulation on RuminantsIssue 16: Effects of Nitrates and Trace Metals on WaterfowlIssue 17: Effects of Trace Metal Accumulation on Plants and SoilsIssue 18: Potential for acid generation from tailings and waste rock and mobility of metals to surface andground water

Detailed information pertaining to issues considered but dismissed is found in Chapter 2, Section 2.2.2of the final EIS.

Alternatives Formulation

Section 102 of NEPA and Part 2 of MEPA require agencies to consider alternatives to Proposed Actions(42 USC § 4332 and MCA 75 1 201(1)(b)(iv)(C), respectively). Significant issues were identified to helpthe agencies establish the scope and provide the basis for identifying changes (alternatives andmitigations) that would be needed to avoid, eliminate, reduce, or minimize impacts. The scoping processinvolved both agency and public concerns. It also considered environmental and project designelements.

The agencies developed alternatives that address one or more of the significant issues. A range ofalternatives must be considered (40 CFR 1508.25) and must provide a clear basis for choice among thealternatives for decision makers and the public (40 CFR 1508.14).

Preliminary alternatives were screened for reasonableness, as required by the MEPA/NEPA process. TheCouncil on Environmental Quality’s (CEQ) 40 Most Asked Questions about NEPA (Question 2a) states, inpart, “reasonable alternatives include those that are practical or feasible from the technical andeconomic standpoint and using common sense…” (CEQ 1981). MEPA regulations require state agencies



“to consider only alternatives that are realistic, technologically available, and represent a course ofaction that bears a logical relationship to the proposal being evaluated” (ARM 17.4.603(2)(b)).

Finally, the agencies screened alternatives to ensure that they met the project purpose and need andaddressed technical, environmental, and economic considerations. Each reasonable alternative mustmeet, at least partially, the purpose of and need for the project. Technical considerations include thefeasibility of facilities construction and operation. Environmental considerations include potential forsignificant impacts and the feasibility of successfully mitigating them.

Unreasonable alternatives were dropped from detailed consideration. If an alternative did not pass thetechnical, environmental, and economic screening for feasibility or did not at least partially address theproject’s purpose and need, it was not considered further in the analysis

Alternatives Considered in Detail

Nine alternatives were considered in this MEPA/NEPA analysis, including the following: three No ActionAlternatives, SMC’s three Proposed Actions, and three Agency Mitigated Alternatives. These alternativesare described below.

Table ROD 1 Alphanumeric Naming Convention of Alternatives

No Action Proposed Action Agency Mitigated

Stillwater Mine – Closure andPost Closure Water Management Plan 1A 2A 3A

East Boulder Mine – Closure andPost Closure Water Management Plan 1B 2B 3B

East Boulder Mine – Boe RanchLAD System 1C 2C 3C

Due to the degree of detailed narrative and tabular descriptions for all alternatives considered in detail,the reader is referenced to Chapter 2 of the FEIS as follows;

Section 2.4.1 describes No Action Alternative 1A (Stillwater Mine Closure and Post Closure WaterManagement Plan).

Section 2.4.2 describes Proposed Action Alternative 2A (Stillwater Mine Closure and Post Closure WaterManagement Plan).

Section 2.4.3 describes Agency Mitigated Alternative 3A (Stillwater Mine Closure and Post ClosureWater Management Plan).

Section 2.4.4 describes No Action Alternative 1B (East Boulder Mine Closure and Post Closure WaterManagement Plan).



Section 2.4.5 describes Proposed Action Alternative 2B (East Boulder Mine Closure and Post ClosureWater Management Plan).

Section 2.4.6 describes Agency Mitigated Alternative 3B (East Boulder Mine Closure and Post ClosureWater Management Plan).

Section 2.4.7 describes No Action Alternative 1C (East Boulder Mine Boe Ranch LAD System).

Section 2.4.8 describes Proposed Action Alternative 2C (East Boulder Mine Boe Ranch LAD System).

Section 2.4.9 describes Agency Mitigated Alternative 3C (East Boulder Mine Boe Ranch LAD System).

Alternatives Not Considered in Detail

Several preliminary alternatives were identified. Elements of some of these alternatives wereincorporated into the Agency Mitigated Alternatives. Others have been considered but dismissed aslisted below.

1. Adit Plugging (Plugging to Prevent Discharge of Water)2. Closure and Post Closure Water Treatment Evaluations3. Long term Treatment of Adit Water and Runoff from the Tailings Impoundments before

Discharge4. Alternative Waste Rock and Tailings Disposal Methods5. Boe Ranch LAD System MT Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (MPDES) Permit

Alternative6. Alternative Locations for the Proposed Boe Ranch LAD System

Rationale for not considering in detail these suggested preliminary alternatives is provided in Chapter 2,Section 2.4.10 the final EIS.

Decisions, Mitigation and Rationale

We, the Director of DEQ and the Forest Supervisor of CNF/GNF, have decided to approve amendment ofSMC’s operating permits for the Stillwater and East Boulder Mines. Specifically, we are selecting theAgency Mitigated Alternative 3A (Stillwater Mine – Closure and Post Closure Water Management Plan),Agency Mitigated Alternative 3B (East Boulder Mine – Closure and Post Closure Water ManagementPlan), and Agency Mitigated Alternative 3C (East Boulder Mine – Boe Ranch LAD System) forimplementation with one modification. Based on the analysis disclosed in the FEIS, we are modifying theAgency Mitigated Alternatives 3A and 3B to require the tailing impoundment capping measuresdescribed in the Proposed Action Alternative 2A and Proposed Action Alternative 2B.

Mitigation Measures/Stipulations



Mitigation measures (stipulations) intended to prevent unnecessary or undue degradation, to reduceenvironmental impacts, and to improve the potential for long term reclamation success have beenincorporated into Agency Mitigated Alternatives.

An additional stipulation will be attached to each Operating Permit/Plans of Operations which willrequire that within one year of the decision implementation date, SMC must submit to the agenciesconsolidated Plans of Operations. These Plans of Operations will incorporate and consolidate allprevious operating, reclamation, mitigation/stipulations, and monitoring requirements into a singledocument for each mine. All other mitigations/stipulations previously attached to the OperatingPermits/Plans of Operations remain in full force and effect. SMC is required to comply with all previousmitigations/ stipulations as they are enforceable provisions of the Operating Permits/Plans ofOperations.

The Agencies have included in Appendix 1, previous mitigations/stipulations resulting from pastenvironmental analyses and associated decisions, as well as new mitigations/stipulations resulting fromthis decision for the reader’s convenience. Please refer to Appendix 1, attached to this document, inorder to view the full suite of mitigations/stipulations required of each mining site.

Rationale for Decisions

Mine Closure and Post Closure Water Management Plans

As described in the final EIS, two of the five significant issues (Table 2 1, FEIS) formed the basis of thedocumented analysis associated with the mine closure and post closure water management plans forthe Stillwater Mine and East Boulder Mine. These significant issues included Water Quality and Quantityand Aquatic Resources.

Stillwater Mine Closure and Post Closure Water Management Plan

Water Quality and Quantity

Proposed Action Alternative 2A requires SMC to continue operating the Stillwater Mine treatmentfacilities during mine closure until water quality standards are met. The principle constituent of concernis nitrogen. There are also elevated levels of salts in both the adit and tailings waters. Adit and tailingswater treatment could take up to 12 months. Once the adit and tailings waters are treated, the waterswould be disposed of at the Hertzler Ranch LAD system, the east side percolation pond, the Stillwaterpercolation ponds or the underground workings. During post closure, no mine water treatment wouldbe required and water would be routed to the percolation pond and then the Stillwater River. AgencyMitigated Alternative 3A is the same, except adit and tailings water treatment could take up to 18months.

Applicable surface and groundwater standards for nitrogen and salts would be complied with underProposed Action Alternative 2A and Agency Mitigated Alternative 3A. While under both ProposedAction Alternative 2A and Agency Mitigated Alternative 3A a temporary exceedance of the Class 1ground water standard for EC concentrations (a measurement for salts) would occur in a limited area



near the Hertzler Ranch tailings impoundment because of the presence of the Colorado ShaleFormation, the EC concentration would be less than the ground water standard at the compliance point(HMW 10 monitoring well).

While applicable surface and groundwater standards would be complied with under Proposed ActionAlternative 2A and Agency Mitigated Alternative 3A, unforeseen circumstances could jeopardizetreatment of all adit and impoundment waters in a 12 month period. An unusually wet growing seasonmay prolong water treatment and disposal. In the event of bond forfeiture, treatment of all adit andimpoundment water may not be completed within 12 months due to procurement requirements forobtaining the services of a reclamation contractor. In addition, allowing disposal of treated mine watersat closure over an 18 month period would include two LAD seasons, providing SMC with additionalflexibility. Therefore, the Agencies are selecting Agency Mitigated Alternative 3A.

Wildlife and Aquatic Resources

Adverse effects to aquatic resources in the vicinity of the Stillwater Mine and the Hertzler Ranch LADsystem are not anticipated under any of the alternatives analyzed.

East Boulder Mine Closure and Post Closure Water Management Plan


Proposed Action Alternative 2B requires SMC to continue operating the East Boulder Mine watertreatment facilities during mine closure until applicable water quality standards are met. As at theStillwater Mine, the principle constituents of concern in the adit and tailings waters are nitrogen andsalts. Adit and tailings water treatment could take up to 12 months. Once the adit and tailings watersare treated, the waters would be disposed to the following sites listed in preferential order: mine sitepercolation pond; LAD Area 6; LAD Areas 2, 3 Upper and 4; and the East Boulder River. During postclosure, no mine water treatment would be required and water would be routed to the percolationpond and then to the East Boulder River.

Agency Mitigated Alternative 3B is the same except LAD Areas 2, 3 Upper, and 4 would be used prior tothe percolation pond if disposal of mine waters through the percolation pond potentially violatednitrogen standards. Additionally, adit and tailings water treatment could take up to 18 months.

Applicable surface and groundwater standards for nitrogen and salts would be complied with underProposed Alternative 2B and Agency Mitigated Alternative 3B. When mine water treatment is no longerneeded post closure, up to 737 gpm of adit water could be directly discharged to the East Boulder River.A discharge of this volume in the East Boulder River would cause an increase in stream flow greater than15 percent of the 7Q10 value. An increase in streamflow of this quantity would not be a nonsignificantchange under Montana nondegradation rule ARM 17.30.715(1)(a). A stipulation placed in SMC’soperating permit requires the adit water to be discharged to ground water if the adit flow rate wouldcause an increase in streamflow greater than 15 percent of the 7Q10 value.



While applicable surface and groundwater standards would be complied with under ProposedAlternative 2B and Agency Mitigated Alternative 3B, unforeseen circumstances, may jeopardizetreatment of all adit and impoundment waters in a 12 month period as discussed previously. In addition,disposal of mine waters at closure over an 18 month period could include two LAD seasons, providingadditional flexibility in the disposal of mine water. Therefore, the Agencies are selecting AgencyMitigated Alternative 3B.


Adverse effects to aquatic resources in the vicinity of the East Boulder Mine not anticipated under anyof the alternatives analyzed.

Boe Ranch LAD System

As described in the FEIS, effects to all five significant issues were pertinent to the Boe Ranch LAD system.These significant issues included Water Quantity and Quality, Wildlife, and Aquatic Resources, IrrigationPractices, Cultural Resources, and the Stability of the LAD storage Pond.


Under Propose Alternative 2C, SMC would be authorized to construct and use the Boe Ranch LADsystem, if needed, including a LAD storage pond, in conjunction with the East Boulder Mine. If it isconstructed, the Boe Ranch LAD system would be SMC’s preferred location for the disposal of treatedadit and tailings waters during operations and at closure. The Boe Ranch LAD system would be operatedsimilarly to the Hertzler Ranch LAD system in that it would maximize evaporation with about 70% of thewater reaching the soil. Under 2C, the treated waters would be applied at agronomic rates and the BoeRanch LAD system could be used for up to 12 months during closure to dispose of mixed treated aditand tailings waters.

Agency Mitigated Alternative 3C would also authorize construction and use of the Boe Ranch LADsystem, if needed, but with the following modifications. One of the center pivots would not be used andthe area of two other center pivots would be reduced due to mass wasting concerns. The height of theLAD storage pond embankment at post closure also would be reduced. SMC would be authorized toapply water at greater than agronomic rates, if needed, to flush salts from soil. Finally, the Boe RanchLAD system would be available for up to 18 months during closure, if needed.

Both Proposed Alternative 2C and Agency Mitigated Alternative 3C provide SMC with flexibility in thedisposal of treated adit and impoundment waters, providing SMC an addition disposal site, if it isneeded. Applicable surface and groundwater standards for nitrogen and salts would be complied withunder Proposed Alternative 2C and Agency Mitigated Alternative 3C. Agency Mitigated Alternative 3Cincorporates additional measures to minimize adverse effects associated with discharges of nitrogenand salts to soils, ground water and surface water. 3C also reduces the potential for mass wasting, LADstorage pond embankment instability, and high hazard dam failure during post closure. See also the



rationale stated for selecting an 18 month disposal period, rather than a 12 month disposal period, aspreviously discussed. Therefore, the Agencies select Agency Mitigated Alternative 3C.

SMC has many options available to manage water and the resultant nitrogen and salts loads as needed.It is not the Agencies’ intent to be prescriptive and stipulate what SMC must do to comply with waterquality and quantity standards. Rather, the Agencies’ analysis of additional options for treated watersdisposal was performance based, recognizing SMC’s need for flexibility in managing water to limitnitrogen and salts loads in surface and ground water and the resultant effects to soils and plantcommunities.


As documented in Chapter 4 of the final EIS, no adverse effects to wildlife resources were projected.Short term increases in forage availability for wildlife resources were predicted in the event that SMCbuilds and uses the Boe Ranch LAD system. Forage production would increase above baselineproduction during operations until facility closure when there would be a reduction of forage. Thefluctuation in forage availability is expected to change foraging patterns for big game species in the area.No adverse effects to species designated as Threatened or Endangered, or Species of Special Concernwere projected.

Adverse effects to aquatic resources in the vicinity of the Boe Ranch LAD system are not anticipatedunder any of the alternatives analyzed. Based on comments provided on the draft EIS (DEIS), theagencies reviewed total dissolved solids (TDS) values in the East Boulder River in the vicinity of the BoeRanch. Data indicate that current (no Boe Ranch LAD system) TDS values frequently exceed the value of250 mg/L used in the draft EIS. (Please see Final EIS Chapter 5, Response 1 4, for more information.)Providing for 18 months of mine water treatment and disposal during closure will ensure compliancewith TDS values.

Irrigation Practices

As discussed in Chapter 4 of the FEIS, implementation of the Boe Ranch LAD system would affect naturalresources (e.g., alterations of natural plant communities, the spread of noxious weeds, and potential formass wasting depending on the specific irrigation practices used during operations and closure). Longterm changes in plant composition and noxious weed populations would occur from applying adit andtailings waters over the life of the mine and at closure. Increased nitrogen and salts loads in soils wouldalso occur. Soil productivity would be maintained due to annual flushing of salts from increased LADapplication rates. Center pivot P10 would be eliminated, center pivots P4 and P9 would be operatedwith increased monitoring, and an 18 month closure period (to include two LAD seasons), would reducethe potential for mass wasting. Additional monitoring would be required to minimize effects to BoeRanch natural resources. No additional mine related effects would occur during post closure.

Cultural Resources



Both the Proposed Action 2C and the Agency Mitigated Alternative 3C would result in the same degreeof disturbance to known cultural resources located on private lands owned by the Stillwater MineCompany (Boe Ranch). Effects to these resources would result from construction of the Boe Ranch LADsystem access road and pipeline. Agency Mitigated Alternative 3C provides for on site monitoring by anagency approved archeologist during construction as required mitigation.

Stability of LAD Storage Pond

In evaluating the stability of the Boe Ranch LAD storage pond, the agencies looked at 1) the stability ofthe storage pond, 2) impacts from a failure of the facility, and 3) mitigations to ensure performance asdesigned.

The stability of the Boe Ranch LAD storage pond was evaluated using commonly accepted industrypractices and standards for the design of constructed embankments. The same design criteria and levelof analysis were used in evaluating the stability of the tailings impoundment at the East Boulder Mine.Stability analyses for the Boe Ranch LAD storage pond were performed for static conditions (no externalforces other than gravity) and for the effects from an earthquake. Under the loading conditionsexamined, the stability of the storage pond exceeds the minimum acceptable factors of safety used bythe US Army Corps of Engineers in evaluating water retaining structures. Based on the results of theseanalyses, the agencies believe the likelihood of a catastrophic failure of the Boe Ranch LAD storage pondis so remote as to be negligible.

Our decision would require SMC to manage and monitor the pond in a manner similar to itsmanagement of the East Boulder tailings impoundment. The operation of the Boe Ranch LAD storagepond would incorporate many of the same management procedures currently in place for the tailingsimpoundment such as visual inspection, down gradient well monitoring, and water balance calculations.These inspection and evaluation procedures will help assess whether the LAD storage pond isperforming as designed. The Agency Mitigated Alternative 3C has included an additional measure toensure safe management of the facility during operations by requiring SMC to submit an Operations andMaintenance Plan and Emergency Preparedness Plan that meets all DNRC dam safety requirements. Atclosure the dam embankment would be reduced in height to eliminate its classification as a high hazarddam.

Based on the results of the stability analyses, and the monitoring and management requirements duringoperations and at closure, we believe the stability of the Boe Ranch LAD storage pond has beenadequately addressed in the Agency Mitigated Alternative 3C.

Impoundment Capping

A comparison of the tailing impoundment capping measures required under the Proposed ActionAlternatives and the Agency Mitigated Alternatives is set forth in the following table.

Tailing Impoundment Facility Proposed Action AlternativeCapping Measures

Agency Mitigated AlternativeCapping Measures



Stillwater Impoundment Alternative 2A

Total of 32” consisting of;24” Waste or borrow8” Soil or borrow

Swale Configuration

Alternative 3A

Total of 50” consisting of;42” Soil or borrow8” Soil

Swale ConfigurationHertzler Impoundment Alternative 2A

Total of 48” consisting of;24” of borrow24” of soil or sub soils

Swale Configuration

Alternative 3A

Total of 60” consisting of;48” borrow24” of subsoil12” of soil

Swale ConfigurationEast Boulder Impoundment Alternative 2B

Total of 52” consisting of;24” of waste rock/borrow28” of soil or sub soils

Swale Configuration

Alternative 3B

Total of 76” consisting of;48” of waste rock/borrow28” of soil or sub soils

Swale Configuration

Our reclamation experience at the Stillwater Mine and the Hertzler Ranch LAD area indicates thatcapping (borrow and/or waste rock and soil) material identified for use under the Proposed Action 2Aand Proposed Action 2B will provide appropriate growth medium for the establishment of desirablereclamation species. Our testing of the tailings geochemistry (potential to generate acid, and ability toliberate metals in a near neutral environment) has shown the tailings to be non toxic. In the eventdifferential settlement within the tailings mass were to take place and the tailings surface was exposed,no toxic effects are anticipated to the revegetation.

A reduction in overall capping thicknesses under Proposed Action 2A and Proposed Action 2B will notonly provide an adequate growth medium (texture and depth) for sustaining vegetation, but will reducethe total volume of capping materials required. This minimizes additional new surface disturbancesneeded to develop capping material sources.

Implementation

These decisions are effective upon signing this ROD. SMC may implement surface disturbing activitiesafter administrative appeal requirements, described below, have been achieved. Additionally, SMC mustsubmit an acceptable reclamation bond to DEQ and USFS in the amount to be established by the



agencies. SMC must submit the required updated Plans of Operations and other final design plans withinone year of publishing this ROD.

Other Rights and Permits

Approval of the permit amendment does not convey or create any real property rights or use rights.

SMC’s Montana Pollution Discharge Elimination Permits were approved by DEQ for both mines: MTR–300017 for the Stillwater Mine and MTR–300226 for the East Boulder Mine. There are no changes toexisting MPDES permits as a result of these decisions.

Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation issued an easement to Stillwater MiningCompany for the purpose of an access road and buried waterline for activities associated with the EastBoulder Mine specifically upon Sections 20 and 21, Township 3 South, Range 13 East. This action waspursuant to approval by the Montana State Board of Land Commissioners. Any change to the existingapproved route of either the access road and pipeline as described in the easement, or expansion ofproperty served, will require an amended application request and will subsequently be subject to a newapproval by the State Board of Land Commissioners.

SMC holds Air Quality Permits #2459–13 for the Stillwater Mine and #2653–05 for the East Boulder Mineand must continue to comply with the permit requirements. No modifications to these permits haveresulted from these decisions.

SMC is responsible for obtaining any property rights, easements, mineral rights, or water rightsnecessary to implement the selected alternatives. SMC is responsible for obtaining any other local,state, or federal permits, licenses, or reviews that might be necessary to implement the selectedalternatives.

Any proposed change to the operating procedures, schedule, reclamation design, or mitigationmeasures will be reviewed by the agencies and accepted if the change would provide resourceprotection equal to or greater than the original requirement and would not result in significant impactsnot identified in the EIS. Proposed changes that would not achieve the same level of resourceprotection, or would result in previously undisclosed significant impacts, would require supplementalanalysis under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Montana Environmental Policy Act(MEPA) prior to determining their acceptability.

Findings Required by Laws, Regulations, and Policies

US Forest Service

National Environmental Policy Act

The NEPA declares a national environmental policy and promotes consideration of environmentalconcerns by federal agencies in decision making. Procedures and regulations issued by the CEQ, asauthorized under NEPA, direct implementation of NEPA by federal agencies. The CEQ’s regulations are



promulgated at 40 CFR Parts 1500–1508. Also, the USFS direction pertaining to implementation of NEPAand CEQ’s regulations is contained in Chapter 20 of USFS Handbook 1909.15 (Environmental Policy andProcedures). To meet the requirements under NEPA and their forest plans, the GNF and CNF haveprepared the Revised Waste Management Plans and Boe Ranch LAD FEIS jointly with the DEQ.

National Forest Management Act (Forest Plan)

On March 23, 2012 the Department of Agriculture issued a final planning rule for National Forest Systemland management planning (2012 Rule). For the Custer and Gallatin National Forests, where the ForestsPlans were developed under a prior planning rule, 36 CFR § 219.17 (c) of the 2012 Rule explains, “Thispart supersedes any prior planning regulation. No obligations remain from any prior planning regulation,except those that are specifically included in a unit’s existing plan. Existing plans will remain in effectuntil revised.” Except for the plan consistency provisions, none of the requirements of the 2012regulations apply to projects or activities (36 CFR § 219.2(c)).

NFMA requires that projects and activities be consistent with the governing Forest Plan (16 USC 1604(i)). SMC’s patented claim block extends some 28 miles and is bordered by portions of both forests (CNFand GNF). The current surface expression of the Stillwater Mine is surrounded by the CNF, while thesurface expression of the East Boulder Mine is surrounded by the GNF. This following discussion brieflydiscusses why the selected alternatives are consistent with management direction for both forests.

Custer National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan

The National Forest Management Act requires that all projects and activities be consistent with theForest Plan [16 U.S.C. 1604(I)]. According to its 1986 Land and Resource Management Plan (CNF ForestPlan), the CNF must consider how other resources and impacts from mining would be mitigated to theextent possible through standard operating procedures. Additionally, the CNF can prescribe mitigationmeasures to the Plan of Operations, as necessary, to manage key surface resources. Mineraldevelopment cannot be precluded by these resource concerns within legal constraints. Efforts must bemade to avoid or mitigate resource conflicts. If the responsible official determines that conflicts cannotbe adequately mitigated, the conflict will be resolved in accordance with the management goal, and, ifnecessary, in consultation with affected parties.

The area under consideration for SMC’s Stillwater Mine proposal falls within Management Area E, whichemphasizes exploration, development, and production of mineral resources. The CNF Forest Plan did notanalyze site specific actions, such as SMC’s current proposal. As an integrated management plan, itevaluated various alternatives for managing the CNF as a whole. The ROD for the CNF Forest Plan clearlystates that a site specific project, such as SMC’s current proposal, must undergo additional analysisunder NEPA. This FEIS documents the required analysis.

Decisions made in this ROD are consistent with both Forest wide and management area specificrequirements of the Custer National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan.

Gallatin National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan



According to its 1987 Land and Resource Management Plan (GNF Forest Plan) and the FEIS thataccompanied it, USFS’s responsibilities for minerals management includes the following: to makeavailable mineral resources from the GNF and to administer their exploration and development. Athorough environmental analysis must be completed for each proposed mineral activity before it isapproved.

The East Boulder Mine permit area falls within Management Area 8, which emphasizes production oftimber. The GNF Forest Plan did not analyze site specific actions, such as SMC’s East Boulder Mine. As anintegrated management plan, it evaluated various alternatives for managing the forest as a whole for a10 to 15 year period. The ROD for the GNF Forest Plan clearly states that a site specific project, such asSMC’s current proposal, must undergo additional analysis under NEPA. This FEIS documents the analysis.

Decisions made in this ROD are consistent with both Forest wide and management area specificrequirements of the Gallatin National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan.

Endangered Species Act

The US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) were consulted as required by the Endangered Species Act.The USFWS provided a current list of threatened and endangered species for consideration during theanalysis. Potential project effects on threatened and endangered species have been analyzed anddocumented in Chapter 4, Section 4.2.1.1 to 4.2.1.6 of the FEIS. Adverse effects to wildlife species listedas Threatened or Endangered are not anticipated.

National Historic Preservation Act

The National Historic Preservation Act’s Section 106 regulations require consultation with Indian tribesto identify and resolve adverse effects to historic properties resulting from a federal undertaking. TheMemorandum for the heads of executive departments and agencies entitled Government toGovernment Relations with Native American Tribal Governments, signed by President Clinton on April29, 1994, outlines principles that federal agencies must follow when interacting with federallyrecognized Native American tribes in deference to Native Americans’ rights to self governance.Specifically, federal agencies are directed to consult with tribal governments prior to taking actions thataffect federally recognized tribes and to ensure that Native American concerns receive considerationduring the development of federal projects and programs.

Compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act has previously been accomplished on landspreviously approved for mining activities. Effects to cultural resources as disclosed in the final EIS wouldoccur on private lands owned by the Stillwater Mining Company or managed in trust by the MontanaDepartment of Natural Resources and Conservation. These lands are not subject to federal landmanagement jurisdiction.

Executive Order 12898 (Environmental Justice)

No disproportionate impacts to minority and low income populations are anticipated. The project areadoes not contain minority and/or low income groups who were excluded from the environmental



analysis and/or decision making process, were not subject to a disproportionate impact from one ormore environmental hazards, and will not experience a disparate implementation of environmentalregulations, requirements, practices, and activities in their communities as a result of implementing anyof the action alternatives.

All alternatives proposed or analyzed were based on the existence of proven mineral resources andlands available within a reasonable distance from these mineral resources to accommodate themanagement of mine waste water.

Roadless Areas

Approval and implementation of the decisions contained in this ROD will have no effects to USFSdesignated roadless areas as defined by the 1986 Custer National Forest Land and ResourceManagement Plan, Appendix C. These decisions would take place on private land owned by theStillwater Mining Company or National Forest System Lands available for mineral development. Thereare no roadless areas involved or potentially affected by these decisions.

National Mineral Policy Act

The Mining and Minerals Policy Act of 1970 directs that public lands be managed in a manner thatrecognizes the Nation's need for domestic sources of mineral production. Under the Mining Law of1872, claimants have a statutory right to develop their mineral deposits consistent with applicableenvironmental laws.

The selected alternatives provide for continued domestic mineral production of platinum and palladiumresources from the Stillwater and East Boulder mines while complying with other applicable state andfederal laws.

Montana Department of Environmental Quality

Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA)

MEPA requires DEQ to conduct an environmental review prior to making a permitting decision that mayhave a significant impact on the environment. MEPA and its associated administrative rules define theprocedure to be followed when conducting the environmental review. In regard to SMC’s application toamend its operating permits for the Stillwater and East Boulder Mines, DEQ engaged in a jointenvironmental review with the GNF and CNV, culminating in the issuance of the final EIS. Theenvironmental review process that culminated in the final EIS complies with the proceduralrequirements of MEPA.

Metal Mine Reclamation Act

The MMRA requires lands disturbed by mining to be reclaimed consistent with the requirements andstandards set forth in Section 82 4 336(2), MCA. Those relevant to SMC’s application to amend itsoperating permits include the requirements that 1) disturbed land other than open pits and rock faces



be reclaimed to comparable utility and stability as that of adjacent areas; 2) a vegetative cover beestablished that is appropriate to the approved post mine land use; and 3) that the reclamation planprovide sufficient measures to ensure public safety and to prevent the pollution of water anddegradation of adjacent lands. As discussed in the rationale for the decision, the selected alternativesprovide for the treatment and disposal of adit and impoundment waters in compliance with theMontana Water Quality Act, provide for appropriate capping of mine features that will supportvegetation, and address public safety concerns.

Montana Water Quality Act

As discussed in the rationale for decision, the selected alternatives provide for the treatment anddisposal of adit and impoundment waters in compliance with the Montana Water Quality Act. Methodsof water routing, treatment, and disposal used in the selected alternatives are not prescriptive. That is,SMC can use any and all of its water management systems as needed to comply with water qualitystandards and limits set forth in its MPDES permits.

Montana Pollution Discharge Elimination System

An MPDES Permit is required for all discharges to surface water. Both mines hold site specific MPDESpermits for discharges to their respective streams (East Boulder MPDES Permit # MT 0026808; StillwaterMPDES Permit # MT 0024716). SMC holds two General Permit for Storm Water Discharge Associatedwith Mining (Permit MTR–300017and MTR–300226). SMC also has approved StormWater PollutionPrevention Plans for both mines. Selected alternatives will comply with provisions of the MontanaPollution Discharge Elimination System permitting requirements.

Clean Air Act of Montana

SMC holds Montana Air Quality Permits #OP2459 03, and #2653 05. SMC previous emissions have beenwithin air quality standards. Increased production of platinum and palladium ore is not proposed as apart of this Proposed Actions. Since the level of ore production and associated mining activity will notchange under the selected alternatives, emission levels will continue to be within ambient air qualitystandards.

Montana Hard Rock Impact Act

The Stillwater and East Boulder mines have approved Hard Rock Impact Plans. Implementation of theselected alternatives will not substantially increase employment at either mine. The selectedalternatives will comply with the existing SMC Hard Rock Impact Plans.

Private Property Assessment Act

Imposition of the Preferred Alternatives and the mitigations/stipulations described above will not have atakings or damaging implications. Any new disturbances which may result from these decisions willoccur on lands owned by the SMC or managed in trust by the Montana Department of Natural



Resources and Conservation. There are no adverse effects to private property resulting from thesedecisions.

Reclamation Financial Guarantee

SMC is required to post and maintain a reclamation bond that will be jointly held by DEQ and USFS. Thebond may not be less than the estimated cost to ensure compliance with SMC’s state operating permits,federal plans of operations, and applicable state and federal laws, regulations and administrative rules.

The need to modify to Stillwater’s operating permits was first identified during an annual bond reviewconducted by the agencies in February of 2000. The agencies determined that a ‘337’ review wasneeded to address water management issues. Section 82 4 337(4), MCA, provides, in part, that areclamation plan may be modified by the department, upon proper application of the permittee or aftertimely notice and opportunity for hearing when the previously adopted reclamation plan is impossibleor impracticable to maintain. SMC subsequently submitted the applications to amend its operatingplans to address closure and post closure issues that are the subject of this decision. Given themodifications to SMC’s operating permits reflected in this decision, DEQ has determined that anincrease in SMC’s bonding level may be necessary.

Therefore, DEQ is conducting a comprehensive bond review under Section 82 4 338(3)(a), MCA. Theamount of the bond will be determined according to the procedure set forth in that statutory provision.

The bond calculations and supporting details will be on file and available at the DEQ and USFS uponrequest.

ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW OR APPEAL OPPORTUNITIES

US Forest Service

Copies of the Stillwater Mining Company’s Revised Water Management Plan and Boe Ranch LAD FEISare available for review at Absarokee High School Library, Billings Parmly Library, Carnegie Public Libraryin Big Timber, Montana State Library in Helena, Montana Technical Library in Butte,, Stillwater CountyLibrary in Columbus,, University of Montana Mansfield Library in Missoula, and the Custer NationalForest offices in Billings and Red Lodge. It may also be accessed on the worldwide web through theMontana Department of Environmental Quality web page at http://deq.mt.gov/eis.mcpx ;the CusterNational Forest website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/custer; and the Gallatin National Forest website athttp://www/fs/usda.gov/gallatin

Additional printed or electronic (on compact disc) copies of this ROD and the FEIS and are available uponrequest. The supporting project record is available for review at the Forest Supervisor’s Office for theCuster National Forest, 1310 Main St., Billings, Montana 59105 or from the Montana Department ofEnvironmental Quality, Environmental Management Bureau located at 1520 East Sixth Avenue, PO Box200901, Helena, MT. 59620 0901.USFS decisions documented in this ROD are subject to appealpursuant to the regulations at 36 CFR 215. A written appeal must be submitted within 45 days followingthe publication date of the legal notice of these decisions in the Stillwater County News, Carbon County



News, Billings Gazette, Big Timber Pioneer, Bozeman Daily Chronicle, and Helena Independent Record. Itis the responsibility of the appellant to ensure their appeal meets the content requirements and isreceived in a timely manner. The publication date of the legal notice of these decisions in thenewspapers of record is the exclusive means for calculating the time to file an appeal. Appellants shouldnot rely on date or timeframe information provided by any other source.

Paper appeals must be submitted, or delivered in person between 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., to either ofthe following locations:

USDA Forest Service, Northern RegionATTN: Appeal Deciding OfficerP.O. Box 7669Missoula, Montana 59807

USDA Forest Service, Northern RegionATTN: Appeal Deciding Officer200 East BroadwayMissoula, Montana 59802

If an appellant chooses to file an electronic appeal, it must be submitted to appeals northern [email protected]. In electronic appeals, the subject line should contain the name of the project beingappealed, in this case, Stillwater Mining Company’s Revised Water Management Plans and Boe RanchLAD FEIS. An automated response will confirm your electronic appeal has been received. Electronicappeals must be submitted in MS Word, WordPerfect, or rich text format (RTF).It is the appellant’s responsibility to provide sufficient project or activity specific evidence and rationale,focusing on the decision, to show why my decision should be reversed. The appeal must be filed withthe Appeal Deciding Officer in writing. At a minimum, the appeal must meet the content requirementsof 36 CFR 215.14, and include the following information:

• The appellant’s name and address, with a telephone number, if available,

• A signature, or other verification of authorship upon request (a scanned signature for electronic mailmay be filed with the appeal),

• When multiple names are listed on an appeal, identification of the lead appellant and verification ofthe identity of the lead appellant upon request,

• The name of the project or activity for which the decision was made, the name and title of theResponsible Official, and the date of the decision,

•The regulation under which the appeal is being filed.

•Any specific change(s) in the decision that the appellant seeks and the rationale for those changes,

•Any portion(s) of the decision with which the appellant disagrees, and explanation for thedisagreement,



•Why the appellant believes the Responsible Official’s decision failed to consider the substantivecomments, and,

•How the appellant believes the decision specifically violates law, regulation, or policy.

Implementation

If no appeal is received, implementation of the decisions may occur on, but not before, five businessdays from the close of the appeal filing period. When appeals are filed, implementation may occur on,but not before, the fifteenth business day following the date of the last appeal disposition.

For additional information concerning these decisions or the USFS appeal process, contact Pat Pierson,Geologist, Supervisor’s Office, Custer National Forest, 1310 Main Street, Billings, MT, 59105, 406 2551441 or Peter Werner at the Gallatin National Forest, P.O. Box 130, Bozeman MT 59771, 406 587 6962.

DEQ

Under Montana state law, this record is subject to court appeal by the applicant and other parties for 90days after issuance of the operating permit amendment. An applicant for a permit amendment mayrequest an administrative hearing on a denial of the application within 30 days of written notice of thedenial. An action alleging failure to comply with the Montana Environmental Policy Act must be broughtwithin 60 days after issuance of this ROD. Notice of permit amendment issuance will be published inStillwater County News, Carbon County News, Billings Gazette, Big Timber Pioneer, Bozeman DailyChronicle, and Helena Independent Record.

For additional information concerning these decisions or the DEQ appeal process, contact Kristi,Ponozzo, Director’s Office, DEQ, 1520 E. Sixth Avenue, Helena, MT, 406 444 2813.

App

endix

Record

ofDecision1

Record

ofDecision

App

endix1–Stillwater

MiningCo

mpany’sRe

visedWater

Managem

entP

lanandBo

eRa

nchLAD

Stillwater

Mine

Mitigation/

Stipulation

Source

Mitigation/Stipulation

Status

Resource

1985

Stillwater

EIS

and19

86RO

D

SMCwillannu

allyrepo

rtto

theDEQ

andUSFStheresults

ofcrow

npillartestinginstop

esno

tmined

bycutandfill

stop

ing,includ

ingsuch

remed

ialactions

taken,if

necessary,to

providepo

stminingsupp

orttopreven

tsurfacesubsiden

ce.SMCwillsubm

itsuch

crow

npillar

data

toan

inde

pend

entcom

pany

forreview

and

commen

tifreq

uested

todo

soby

theAgencies.

Ongoing

Geo

Tech

Stability

1985

Stillwater

EIS

and19

86RO

D

SMCwillprovideUSFSspecificde

sign

inform

ationforthe

relocatedsections

ofFA

S41

9andFR

846forreview

and

approvalpriorto

unde

rtakingconstructio

nof

the

relocatedroadways.SM

CwillgrantU

SFSrightof

way

for

therelocatedsections.

Completed

Roads/Transportatio

n

1985

Stillwater

EIS

and19

86RO

D

SMCwillen

terinto

aroad

mainten

ance

agreem

entw

ithStillwater

Coun

tyforthat

portionof

FAS41

9which

isto

beused

byanyorehaulagetrucks

andwith

theUSFSfor

that

portionof

FR84

6similarlyused

.

Road

mainten

ance

agreem

ents

completed

.Mainten

ance

ongoing.

Roads/Transportatio

n

1985

Stillwater

EIS

and19

86RO

D

SMCwillprovideUSFSwith

engine

ered

plansandtypical

crosssections

forthede

sign

ofaditsite

yard

areasand

newaditsite

accessroadson

NFS

land

forreview

and

approvalpriorto

road

oryard

area

constructio

n.Ongoing

Roads/Transportatio

n

App

endix

Record

ofDecision2

1985

Stillwater

EIS

and19

86RO

D

SMCwillim

plem

enta

nem

ployee

busing

orvan/car

poolingprogram

with

atarget

ofredu

cing

thetraffic

onFA

S41

9by

1/3of

thenu

mbe

rof

vehicletripsthat

could

beexpe

cted

ifeach

workercommuted

individu

allyto

the

workplace.The

results

ofthisprogram

willbe

repo

rted

annu

allyto

theUSFSandtheDSL.Intheeven

tthatthe

targeted

redu

ctionintraffic

levelson

FAS41

9is

consistentlyno

tachievedby

thebu

sing

andcar/van

poolingprogram

foranyyear

ofmineop

erations,and

theDSL

andUSFSde

term

inethat

additio

nalm

itigatio

nmeasuresarene

cessary,SM

Cwillun

dertakeadditio

nal

mitigatio

ndirected

towardachievingthetargeted

traffic

redu

ctiongoal.

Employee

orvan/carpo

oling

program

was

develope

dbu

tfurthe

rreview

hasfoun

dthat

theAgenciesdo

noth

ave

administrativeauthority

torestrictuseby

SMC

employees.

Roads/Transportatio

n

1985

Stillwater

EIS

and19

86RO

D

SMCwillrefertilize

allseede

dareason

eyear

afterinitia

lseed

ing,ifne

cessary,andwillrestrictdo

mestic

anim

algrazingto

theextent

possibleon

land

sow

nedor

controlledby

SMCon

reclaimed

areasforat

leasttwo

yearsafterinitia

lrevegetation.

Ongoing

Soils/Re

clam

ation

1985

Stillwater

EIS

and19

86RO

D

SMCwilltake

measuresto

redu

cethevisibilityof

project

operations

byplantin

gmixed

conifershelterbeltsalon

gthewestsideof

FAS41

9andalon

gtheno

rthe

rnbo

undary

ofprojecto

peratio

ns.SMCwillusenatural

polesandinsulatorsinconstructin

gtheelectrical

transm

ission

linebe

tweenthemillsubstatio

nandthe

shaftsite

,and

paintm

inebu

ildings

earthtone

colors.

Allite

mscompleted

except

paintin

gminebu

ildings

Stillwater

Tan.

Visuals

1985

Stillwater

EIS

and19

86RO

D

SMCwillprep

areforDEQ

andUSFSapprovalawater

quality

compliancemon

itoring

plan.The

plan

willspecify

mon

itoring

sites,samplingfreq

uency,parameters,

samplingandanalyticalmetho

dsandrepo

rting

proced

ures

that

willbe

used

toanalyzegrou

ndand

surfacewater

potentially

affected

bytheproject.SM

Cwillim

plem

entthe

plan

inaccordance

with

asche

dule

outline

dintheplan.The

initialph

aseof

themon

itoring

Plan

completed

.Mon

itoring

andanalysissupe

rsed

edby

subseq

uent

decision

s.Im

plem

entatio

nOngoing

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

App

endix

Record

ofDecision3

program

willbe

implem

entedconcurrentlywith

the

beginn

ingof

minede

velopm

enta

ctivity

unde

rtaken

with

theOpe

ratin

gPe

rmitandapproved

Plan

ofOpe

ratio

ns.If

mon

itoring

show

sanychangesinwater

quality

,SMCis

requ

ired

bystatelawto

take

correctiv

eactio

n.

1985

Stillwater

EIS

and19

86RO

D

SMCwillprep

areforDEQ

andUSFSapprovalaspring

flowmon

itoring

program

tocollecthydrologicdata

designed

toascertaintheeffectsof

minede

velopm

ent

onne

arby

springsto

bemon

itored,mon

itoring

metho

d,andfreq

uencyof

mon

itoring

andrepo

rting

requ

irem

ents.The

initialph

aseof

themon

itoring

program

willbe

implem

entedconcurrentlywith

the

beginn

ingof

minede

velopm

enta

ctivity

unde

rtaken

with

theOpe

ratin

gPe

rmitandapproved

Plan

ofOpe

ratio

ns.

Plan

iscompleted

,Im

plem

entatio

nison

going

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

1985

Stillwater

EIS

and19

86RO

D

SMCwillsubm

itade

taileden

gine

eringrepo

rt,including

plansandspecificatio

nspe

rtaining

totheprop

osed

tailingsim

poun

dmen

t,to

theDEQ

andUSFSforreview

andapprovalpriorto

initiatingconstructio

nof

the

tailingsim

poun

dmen

t:a)fully

describe

SMCplansfor

constructio

nof

theminesite

tailingsdisposal

impo

undm

ent(Nye)for

theplanne

dlifeof

the

impo

undm

ent,includ

ingspecificde

sign

crite

riab)

demon

strate

theprop

ertie

sforavailablematerialsfor

embankmen

tcon

structionareadeq

uate

tomeetd

esign

requ

irem

ents

c)de

mon

strate

theprop

erconstructio

npractices

willbe

used

toen

sure:d

)Outlineatailings

impo

undm

ente

mbankmen

tand

foun

datio

nmon

itoring

program

toprovideforde

tectionof

potentialinstability

prob

lems.

e)Outlineatailing

impo

undm

entspillcontingencyplan

describing

leak

detectionandspillcontrolprocedu

res.

f)Dem

onstrate

that

thetailing

embankmen

tisbe

ing

built

tode

sign

standardsby

providingasche

dulefor

a)Co

mpleted

b)Co

mpleted

c)Co

mpleted

d)Ongoing

e)Ongoing

f)Co

mpleted

Geo

Tech

Stability

App

endix

Record

ofDecision4

performingregularinspe

ctions

ofthematerialtobe

used

inem

bankmen

tcon

structionandforrepo

rtingthe

results

oftheinspectio

nsannu

allyto

theDSL

andUSFS.

1985

Stillwater

EIS

and19

86RO

D

SMCwillsalvagesoils

from

thetailing

impo

undm

enta

rea

andothe

rdisturbe

dareasas

feasible,intw

oliftsand

stockpile

subsoiland

topsoilsep

aratelyto

theextent

practical.Twoliftsoilsalvageswillbe

unde

rtaken

whe

nthereisacleardistinctionbe

tweentopsoiland

subsoil.

Completed

Soils/Re

clam

ation

1985

Stillwater

EIS

and19

86RO

D

SMCwillcarryou

tanem

ployee

educationprogram

abou

tthe

adverseeffectsof

disturbanceon

bighorn

sheepanddiscou

rage

none

ssen

tialentry

into

bighorn

sheeprangedu

ring

wintermon

ths.

Ongoing

Wildlife

1985

Stillwater

EIS

and19

86RO

D

SMCwillpe

riod

icallysurvey

employeesas

totheir

recreatio

nusagepatterns

intheStillwater

Riverbasin

andprovidesuch

data

totheDep

artm

ento

fFish,

WildlifeandParksforassessmen

toffishing

pressure

and

useof

fishing

accesssites.

Completed

Discontinue

din

MR0

800

3Fisheries

1985

Stillwater

EIS

and19

86RO

D

SMCwillincrease

theseed

ingrate

specified

inthe

App

licationforOpe

ratin

gPe

rmitforpo

rtions

ofhigh

altitud

e(abo

ve53

00feet)landdisturbe

dby

mining.

Herbaceou

sgrou

ndcoverandwoo

dyplantsurvivalw

illbe

evaluatedandifexcessivebare

grou

ndor

erosionis

observed

,the

grou

ndwillbe

reseed

ed.

Ongoing

Soils/Re

clam

ation

1985

Stillwater

EIS

and19

86RO

D#6

andDEQ

Amen

dmen

t005

001

SMCwillprep

areforDEQ

andUSFSapprovalaplan

tomon

itortheeffectsof

minede

velopm

enta

ndop

eration

ontheStillwater

bighornsheephe

rd.The

plan

will

describe

theob

jectives,m

etho

ds,coo

perativ

ework

sche

dulesandrepo

rtingrequ

irem

entsforun

dertaking

such

stud

iesandwillou

tline

abighornsheepim

pact

mitigatio

ncontingencyplan.The

plan

shallbesubm

itted

foragen

cyreview

priorto

initiatingminede

velopm

ent

activ

ityun

dertaken

unde

rtheOpe

ratin

gPe

rmitand

approved

Plan

ofOpe

ratio

ns.Initia

lresearchactiv

ityspecified

intheplan

such

asvehiculartraffic

mon

itoring

Plan

iscompleted

,Im

plem

entatio

nisOngoing

Wildlife

App

endix

Record

ofDecision5

alon

gFA

S41

9inthearea

ofthebighornsheepwintering

rangewillbe

implem

entedpriorto

minede

velopm

ent.

App

rovalofthe

fullmon

itoring

andim

pactmitigatio

ncontingencyplan

willbe

obtained

from

theDSL

andUSFS

with

in90

days

ofthedate

ofapprovalof

thePlan

ofOpe

ratio

nsby

theUSFS.

1989

EA,FONSI&

DecisionNotice

EastSide

Amen

dmen

t00

5USFS

Traffic

Redu

ction.Thereliefreq

uested

bySM

Cin

meetin

gtraffic

redu

ctiongoalswillno

tbegranted,

however,veh

iclescomingfrom

2milesor

lesswillno

tbe

used

infigures

formon

itoring

thisrequ

irem

ent.The

intent

ofthismitigatio

nmeasure

isto

minim

izeconflicts

ofrecreatio

ntraffic

andprivatereside

nces

alon

gaccess

routes

tothemine.Co

mmuter

minetraffic

with

in2miles

oftheminewou

ldhave

little

effecton

recreatio

ntraffic

andprivatereside

nces.SMCwillcompletean

analysis

exploringadditio

nalopp

ortunitie

sforfurthe

ruseof

vans

fortheirem

ployees.Thisanalysiswillbe

subm

itted

totheAgenciesby

April1,19

89with

anactio

nplan

for

averagingthreeride

rs/veh

icleby

Janu

ary1,19

90.Ifthis

mitigatio

nmeasure

isno

treached

byJanu

ary1,19

90,

SMCwillim

plem

entm

andatory

measuresto

their

employeesto

averagethreeride

rs/veh

icleim

med

iately.

Furthe

rreview

hasfoun

dthat

theAgenciesdo

noth

ave


torestrictuseby

SMC

employees.

Roads/Transportatio

n

1989

EA,FONSI&

DecisionNotice

EastSide

Amen

dmen

t005

USFS

Ifanycultu

ralvalue

sareob

served

during

anyph

aseof

theconstructio

n/rehabilitationop

eration,they

willbe

leftintactandtheDistrictR

anger,Be

artoothRa

nger

District,andDEQ

,willbe

notified.Th

eAgencieswou

ldthen

cond

ucta

nevaluatio

nof

thecultu

ralvalue

sto

establishsuita

blemitigatio

nmeasures.

Supe

rsed

edby

1992

2000

TPD

EIS/RO

D;A

men

dmen

t008

012

Cultu

ralResou

rces

App

endix

Record

ofDecision6

1989

EA,FONSI&

DecisionNotice

EastSide

Amen

dmen

t005

USFSandDEQ

Amen

dmen

t005

002

Traffic

redu

ction.

SMCwillcompletean

analysis

exploringadditio

nalopp

ortunitie

sforfurthe

ruseof

vans

fortheirem

ployees.Thisanalysiswillbe

subm

itted

totheForestserviceandDEQ

byApril1,19

89with

anactio

nplan

foraveragingthreeride

rs/veh

icleby

Janu

ary

1,19

90.If

thismitigatio

nmeasure

isno

treached

byJanu

ary1,19

90,SMCmustimplem

entm

andatory

measuresto

theirem

ployeesto

averagethree

ride

rs/veh

icleim

med

iately.

Furthe

rreview

hasfoun

dthat

theAgenciesdo

noth

ave


torestrictuseby

SMC

employees.

Roads/Transportatio

n

1989

EA,FONSI&

DecisionNotice

EastSide

Amen

dmen

t005

USFS

Redu

ctionin

Visua

lImpa

ct.SMCwillbe

requ

ired

touse

earthtone

"Jersey"

barrierson

thesw

itchb

ackroad

which

leadsto

themineadits,w

here

earthtone

rock

berm

scann

otbe

constructed.

Ongoing

Visuals

1989

EA,FONSI&

DecisionNotice

EastSide

Amen

dmen

t005

USFS

Redu

ctionin

Visua

lImpa

ct.SMCwillbe

requ

ired

toelim

inatethe"adho

c"parkingarea

which

existson

the

eastside

ofCo

unty

Road

419andreclaim

that

area

toa

morenaturaltim

ber/grassarea.Itisrecognized

that

the

need

(exists)forsometype

ofparkingarea

near

the

mine/millchange

housebu

toutside

themillarea

prop

er.

TheForestServicewillworkwith

SMCto

relocate

asite

better

suite

dforthisne

ed.

Completed

Visuals

App

endix

Record

ofDecision7

1989

EA,FONSI&

DecisionNotice

EastSide

Amen

dmen

t005

USFS

Compe

nsationforlosses

ofbighornsheepha

bitat.SM

Cwillcoop

eratewith

fede

raland

stateagen

cies

and

privateland

owne

rsto

developandim

plem

enta

winter

rangemanagem

entp

lan,andby

othe

rmeans,if

necessary,to

compe

nsateforthewinterrangearea

lost

tode

velopm

ent.Thisplan

wou

lden

sure

coordinatio

n,im

plem

entatio

n,andlong

term

mon

itoring

ofmitigatio

nmeasureson

bighornsheep.Specificactio

nsto

betaken

areas

follows:a)TheForestServicewou

ldim

plem

enta

season

alroad

closureon

ForestServiceRo

ads#400

atForestBo

undary

andRo

ad#846

,and

anarea

closureon

iden

tifiedbighornsheepwinterrange.Th

isclosure

wou

ldbe

implem

entedfrom

Decem

ber15

April15

,and

wou

ldpreclude

anyuseof

theseroadsun

lessaccessis

need

edforan

existin

gpe

rmitted

use.Inadditio

n,Forest

Servicewou

ldworkwith

Stillwater

Coun

tyinob

taining

agreem

enttocloseForestServiceRo

ad#400

approxim

atelyon

emile

tothesouthor

road

junctio

n#846

and#41

9.Co

mpleted

.Roadclosure

attempted

anddiscon

tinue

d.Wildlife

1989

EA,FONSI&

DecisionNotice

EastSide

Amen

dmen

t005

USFS

Compe

nsationforlosses

ofbighornsheepha

bitat.Th

eStillwater

MiningCo

mpany

wou

ldbe

ginto

utilize

adirt

road

foraccessto

BeartoothRa

nchdu

ring

theclosure

period

.Thiswilllessen

theim

pactad

overalldisturbance

tobighornsheepsincethisroad

islocatedon

thebo

rder

ofthebighornwinterrange.Inadditio

n,SM

Cwilltake

measuresto

redu

ceoveralltrafficto

theBe

artooth

Ranchby

carpoo

lingwhe

neverp

ossible.

Completed

.Roadclosure

attempted

anddiscon

tinue

d.Wildlife

1989

EA,FONSI&

DecisionNotice

EastSide

Amen

dmen

t005

USFS

Compe

nsationforlosses

ofbighornsheepha

bitat.Th

eForestServiceandtheStillwater

MiningCo

mpany

will

institu

teaprogram

ofinterseeding

andfertilizatio

nof

ForestServiceandprivateland

ssurrou

ndingand

includ

ingtheBe

artoothRa

nchinorde

rto

improve

overallvegetativecond

ition

s.Fertilizatio

nand

interseeding

willbe

accomplishe

din19

89and19

90.

Completed

.Wildlife

App

endix

Record

ofDecision8

Fertilizatio

nwillcontinue

until

such

timeas

range

prod

uctio

n,tren

d,andvigorhave

improved

toalevel

acceptableby

theForestServiceandDEQ

.

1989

EA,FONSI&

DecisionNotice

EastSide

Amen

dmen

t005

USFS

Compe

nsationforlosses

ofbighornsheepha

bitat.SM

Cwilltake

actio

nto

redu

cetheam

ount

ofho

rseuseon

land

swhich

they

control.Thisredu

ctionwillam

ount

toapproxim

ately50

%andwillbe

implem

entedin

conjun

ctionwith

apasturerotatio

nplan.The

overall

numbe

rof

horses

willbe

redu

cedfrom

45to

25he

adon

rotatedpastures.

Completed

.Sup

ersede

dby

Ann

ualBigho

rnSheep

Mon

itoring

andMitigatio

nCo

mmittee.G

razing

ongoing.

Wildlife

1989

EA,FONSI&

DecisionNotice

EastSide

Amen

dmen

t005

USFS

Compe

nsationforlosses

ofbighornsheepha

bitat.SM

Cincoop

erationwith

Mon

tana

Fish,W

ildlifeandParks

Dep

artm

entw

illbe

ginamed

icated

feed

program

toredu

cethelungworm

diseaseprob

lem

inthesheep.

This

program

willbe

ashortterm

mitigatio

nmeasure

until

othe

rmitigatio

nactio

nshave

show

nto

bene

fitthe

sheeppo

pulatio

n.Co

mpleted

.Wildlife

1989

EA,FONSI&

DecisionNotice

EastSide

Amen

dmen

t005

USFS

Compe

nsationforlosses

ofbighornsheepha

bitat.SM

Cwillinitiatean

internalandexternaled

ucationprogram

toadvise

theirem

ployeesandthepu

blicabou

tthe

existin

gprob

lemswith

thebighornsheep.Aspartof

this

program,signing

willbe

done

alon

gHighw

ay#419

toed

ucatethepu

blicto

prob

lemsrelatin

gto

disturbanceof

bighornsheepwhileon

theirwinterrange.Inadditio

n,a

sign

explaining

thereason

forroad

closures

willbe

develope

d.Ongoing.

Wildlife

1989

EA,FONSI&

DecisionNotice

EastSide

Amen

dmen

t005

USFS

SMCalon

gwith

othe

rcoop

eratingagen

cies

willbe

requ

ired

topu

llanyroad

killfaun

aandremovefrom

the

road

surfacethecarcassfrom

Highw

ays41

9and42

0and

ForestServiceRo

ads84

6and40

0from

Novem

berto

Aprilof

each

year.

Ongoing

Wildlife

App

endix

Record

ofDecision9

1989

EA,FONSI&

DecisionNotice

EastSide

Amen

dmen

t005

USFS

SMCpe

rson

nelsho

uldbe

instructed

abou

tthe

nature

ofthevariou

swildlifespecies,espe

ciallyraptors,which

inhabitthe

area,and

thepo

tentialimpactsto

these

species.

Completed

.Wildlife

1989

EA,FONSI&

DecisionNotice

EastSide

Amen

dmen

t005

USFS

SMCwillbe

requ

ired

totake

measuresto

minim

izethe

disrup

tionof

unde

rgroun

dwater

flows.Thesemeasures

may

includ

egrou

tingandpackingof

fractures,or

othe

rmeasuresapplicableto

aspecificcond

ition

.Ongoing

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

1989

EA,FONSI&

DecisionNotice

EastSide

Amen

dmen

t005

USFS

SMChascommitted

toandismandatedun

dertheMetal

MineRe

clam

ationActto

replacelostwater

rightswith

water

ofcomparablequ

ality

andqu

antity.

Directedby

StateLaw,

Regulatio

n,andPo

licyandwill

notb

etrackedas

mitigatio

n.

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

1989

EA,FONSI&

DecisionNotice

EastSide

Amen

dmen

t005

USFS

Theon

goingwater

quality

mon

itoring

plan

willcontinue

tode

term

ineanyeffectsof

theminingop

erationon

water

quantitywith

inthearea.

Plan

developm

entcom

pleted

.Im

plem

entatio

non

going.

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

1989

EA,FONSI&

DecisionNotice

EastSide

Amen

dmen

t005

USFS

SMCwillbe

requ

ired

todrillaheadof

tunn

elconstructio

nsystem

s(eith

ertheTB

Mor

conven

tional

metho

ds)inorde

rto

attempt

tolocate

andavoid

unde

rgroun

dacqu

ired

system

s.Ongoing

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

1989

EA,FONSI&

DecisionNotice

EastSide

Amen

dmen

t005

USFS

Impactsto

water

resourcescouldbe

redu

cedby

minim

izingthearea

ofdisturbanceto

that

absolutely

necessaryfortheconstructio

nandop

erationof

mining

activ

ities

andreclaimingtheseareasas

soon

apo

ssible.A

detailederosioncontrol,revegetatio

n,andrehabilitation

plan

iscontaine

dintheapplicationforpe

rmit.

Ongoing

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

App

endix

Record

ofDecision10

1989

EA,FONSI&

DecisionNotice

EastSide

Amen

dmen

t005

USFS

Stateof

theartd

esignof

thedo

uble

pipe

system

and

emergencyspillcontainm

entp

ondwith

analarm

toinsure

detectionof

anyleakswillbe

utilizedredu

cing

chance

ofdischargeinto

theStillwater

River.This


entp

ondhasacapacity

of6

hoursof

maxim

umdischargefrom

pipe

lineleakage.(East

Side

Ope

ratio

nBridge

Crossing)

Plan

developm

entcom

pleted

.Im

plem

entatio

non

going.

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

1989

EA,FONSI&

DecisionNotice

EastSide

Amen

dmen

t005

USFS

Water

compliancemon

itoring

plan

inthepe

rmitwillbe

continue

dto

ensure

anychangesinwater

quality

canbe

detected

.SMCisrequ

ired

byStatelawto

take

immed

iate

correctiv

eactio

nifmon

itoring

show

sany

changesinwater

quality

.Plan

developm

entcom

pleted

.Im

plem

entatio

non

going.

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

1992

2000

TPDEIS

andRO

DAmen

dmen

t008

001

Thecompliancepo

intfor

grou

ndwater

quality

willbe

thelim

itsof

themixingzone

grantedby

theDHES.Ifa

mixingzone

isno

tgranted

,the

agen

cies

wou

ldusethe

perm

itbo

undary

asthegrou

ndwater

compliancepo

int.

Ongoing

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

1992

2000

TPDEIS

andRO

DAmen

dmen

t008

001

Nohazardou

swastesmay

begene

ratedfrom

this

treatm

enta

nddisposalof

waste

mustcom

plywith

all

applicablestateandfede

rallaw

.Ongoing

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

1992

2000

TPDEIS

andRO

DAmen

dmen

t008

001

SMCmustsub

mitan

updatedwater

managem

entp

lan,

foragen

cyreview

andapproval,w

hich

refle

ctsthe

standardsestablishe

dby

theBH

ES,w

ithin6mon

thsof

theBH

ESde

cision

.Ifsuchplansinvolvethedisturbance

ofadditio

nalacreage,the

nadditio

nalsoils,cultural

resource

andwetland

sinventoriesmustb

ecompleted

fortheprop

osed

disturbanceareasno

tpreviou

sly

surveyed

.

Plan

Completed

;Im

plem

entatio

non

going;

Supe

rsed

edby

2012

WMPEIS

/RO

D

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

1992

2000

TPDEIS

andRO

DAmen

dmen

t008

001

Thewater

managem

entp

lanmuste

xplain:h

owSM

Cwill

disposeof

excessaditwater;h

owthene

wanden

larged

source

willbe

treated;

andho

wthat

treatm

entw

illmeet

therequ

irem

entsof

ARM

16.20.63

1andtheWater

QualityAct.

Plan

Completed

;Im

plem

entatio

non

going;

Supe

rsed

edby

2012

WMPEIS

/RO

D

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

App

endix

Record

ofDecision11

1992

2000

TPDEIS

andRO

DAmen

dmen

t008

001

Implem

entatio

nof

theplan

throughconstructio

nof

water

treatm

entp

lants,em

ergencystorage

impo

undm

entsor

othe

rfacilitiesmay

notd

isturb

more

than

5additio

nalacres

andmustb

elocatedinan

area

westa

ndno

rthof

themillbu

ilding.

Completed

.

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

1992

2000

TPDEIS

andRO

DAmen

dmen

t008

002

Allwater

quality

data

mustb

esubm

itted

totheagen

cies

ashard

copy

andinan

electron

icform

atcompatib

lewith

theagen

cies

data

managem

entsystem,aspe

reach

individu

alagen

cy’sne

eds.

Ongoing

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

1992

2000

TPDEIS

andRO

DAmen

dmen

t008

002

Thewater

resourcesmon

itoring

plan

mustb

eup

dated

andsubm

itted

foragen

cyapprovalwith

in6mon

thsof

theBH

ESde

cision

to:incorporatelower

detectionlim

its,

whe

reapprop

riateandachievable.The

curren

tpractice

ofusingEPAapproved

analyticalproced

ures

mustb

emaintaine

d;am

pleStillwater

ValleyRa

nch(SVR

)mon

itoring

wells(M

W12

A,13A

,14A

,and

15A)m

onthly

during

thepe

riod

oftheyear

whe

nthepe

rcolation

pond

sareinuse.Th

eparametersto

besampled

mon

thly

includ

enitrite

plus

nitrite

,ammon

ia,and

totaldissolved

solids(TDS);add

additio

nalsurface

water

andgrou

ndwater

mon

itoring

locatio

nswith

inallm

ajor

land

applicationareas,do

wngradient

oftheSV

Rpe

rcolation

pond

s,ne

arthecompliancebo

undary

(see

preced

ing

mod

ificatio

n),and

whe

rethegrou

ndwater

intercep

tstheriver.Th

eselocatio

nsmustb

eapproved

bythe

agen

cies;d

esignthegrou

ndwater

plan

toassure

that

theeffectof

theexistin

ganden

larged

westsidedrain

fieldismon

itored.Anannu

alevaluatio

nof

mon

itoring

data

mustinclude

analysisof

phosph

orus

andnitrogen

loading;subm

itan

updatedgrou

ndwater

map

includ

ing

theeastandwestside,up

oncompletionof

additio

nal

wellsandcollectionof

data.The

freq

uencyof

mon

itoring

andthenu

mbe

rof

parametersanalyzed

may

beredu

ced

if,aftercon

sulta

tionwith

theagen

cies,the

separameters

Plan

Completed

;Im

plem

entatio

non

going;

Supe

rsed

edby

2012

WMPEIS

/RO

D

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

App

endix

Record

ofDecision12

areconsidered

redu

ndant.Thenu

mbe

rof

curren

tlyexistin

gsiteswhich

aremon

itoredmay

also

beredu

ced

if,aftercon

sulta

tionwith

theagen

cies,the

sesitesare

considered

redu

ndant.Allwater

quality

data

mustb

esubm

itted

totheagen

cies

ashard

copy

andinan

electron

icform

atcompatib

lewith

theagen

cies

data

managem

entsystem,aspe

reach

individu

alagen

cy’s

need

s.

1992

2000

TPDEIS

andRO

DAmen

dmen

t008

004

SMCmustsub

mitan

updatedmap

delineatin

gLADareas

foragen

cyapproval.Thiswillbe

includ

edwith

the

updatedwater

managem

entp

lans

asde

scribe

din

stipulation1above.Thismap

mustinclude

theLAD

grou

ndwater

mon

itoring

welllocations

andsoiltype

sbasedon

themostrecen

tsoilsurveyinform

ation.Each

soiltype

mustb

esampled

attw

olocatio

nsannu

allyfor

soilpH

,cationexchange

capacity

(CEC

),andapprop

riate

traceelem

ents.Sam

ples

mustb

etaken0to

6inches,6

to12

inches

andgreater1

2inches.SMCmustm

aintain

soilpH

greaterthan6.5.Add

ition

alsiteswith

the

capacity

forSM

Cto

land

applyminedischargemustb

eincorporated

into

SMC’spe

rmitarea.R

esultsof

thesoils

samplingmustb

einclud

edinSM

C’sannu

alrepo

rt.

Supe

rsed

edby

1998

Hertzler

EIS/RO

D;A

men

dmen

t010

004

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

1992

2000

TPDEIS

andRO

DAmen

dmen

t008

005

Mainten

ance

ofthepe

rcolationpo

ndsisne

cessaryun

tilminedischargemeetsacceptablewater

quality

limits.

Oncethewater

quality

reache

sacceptablelim

its,the

pond

smustb

ebreached

andreclaimed

andmine

drainage

mustb

echanne

ledthroughape

renn

ialstream

toreachanaturaldrainagecourse.For

bond

ing

purposes,SMCmustsub

mita5year

mainten

ance

plan

forthepo

nds.Ape

renn

ialstream

channe

ldesignmust

besubm

itted

12mon

thspriorto

closure.

Completed

.Sup

ersede

dby

2012

WMPEISandRO

DSoils/Re

clam

ation

App

endix

Record

ofDecision13

1992

2000

TPDEIS

andRO

DAmen

dmen

t008

006

TailingsIm

poun

dmen

tReclamation.

Anup

dated

reclam

ationplan

mustb

esubm

itted

with

in12

mon

ths

foragen

cyreview

andapproval.The

updatedplan

must

includ

e:reclam

ationof

thetailing

embankmen

tslope

to2:1;

placem

ento

famosaicof

rock

armor

asym

metrically

acrosstheslop

eto

breakslop

elength

to15

0feet

orlessandto

increase

soilto

rock

ratio

s;an

evaluatio

nof

volumes

ofglacialtilland

alluvium

with

acoarse

fragmen

tcon

tent

of50

percen

torless,using

existin

gsoilsurvey

inform

ation,and;

incorporationof

tilland

alluvium

asasubsoil

layerintherevegetatio

nplan

sothat

soil

replacem

entd

epthson

alldisturbed

acres

approxim

atepreminingde

pths;

revision

oftherevegetatio

nplan

forfin

alreclam

ationwhich

incorporates

forbs,shrubs,

andtreesinto

theexistin

gnativ

egrasslandmix.

Theob

jectiveof

themixisto

increase

biological

andvisualdiversity

andmaxim

izevisual

screen

ing.

Completed

.Sup

ersede

dby

2012

WMPEISandRO

DSoils/Re

clam

ation

1992

2000

TPDEIS

andRO

DAmen

dmen

t008

007

Tailing

Capp

ingPlan

.SMCmustcon

ductfie

ldtestprior

toclosureof

thein

placetailing,atsufficient

gridspacing

andde

pthto

defin

etherangeof

impo

unde

dtailing

materialsprop

ertie

sandsubm

ittheresults

tothe

agen

cies

forreview

andapproval.A

saresultof

thefie

ldandlabtesting,SM

Cmustd

eterminethede

gree

ofconsolidationandsettlemen

t,includ

ing:

anestim

ationof

theam

ount

ofsettlemen

tthat

may

results

from

prim

aryconsolidation;

Completed

.Sup

ersede

dby

2012

WMPEISandRO

DSoils/Re

clam

ation

App

endix

Record

ofDecision14

anestim

ationof

theam

ount

ofsettlemen

tthat

wou

ldoccurdu

eto

theadditio

nof

thewaste

rock

andsoils

atthetim

eof

reclam

ations,and

;Anestim

ationof

thelong

term

second

ary

consolidation.

Theinform

ationacqu

ired

from

thetestingmustthe

nbe

used

toplan

thede

pths

andvolumes

ofreclam

ationcap

fillthatw

illbe

requ

ired

toachievepo

stsettlemen

tgradients.Co

nsolidationdata

andplansforfillm

ustb

esubm

itted

foragen

cyapprovalpriorto

completionof

capp

ing.

1992

2000

TPDEIS

andRO

DAmen

dmen

t008

008

Waste

Rock

andTailing

Mon

itoring.SM

Cmustsam

ple

thewaste

rock

from

geologicstructures

with

significant

quantitiesof

iron

sulfide

sandtailing

andmustcon

duct

acidbase

analysison

ceayear

totestto

verifythelack

ofacid

prod

ucingpo

tentialinthewaste

rock

andtailing

mass.Re

sults

mustb

esubm

itted

totheagen

cies

annu

allywith

volumes

ofmaterialthate

achtestis

represen

ting.

Ongoing

Soils/Re

clam

ation

1992

2000

TPDEIS

andRO

DAmen

dmen

t008

009

Wild

life.SM

Cmustu

setheinform

ationfrom

the

coop

erativepalatabilitystud

iesto

unde

rtakeoffsite

habitatimprovem

entsde

signed

toen

couragebighorn

sheepto

grazeareasothe

rthan

thetoedike.H

abita

tim

provem

entsmustb

eun

dertaken

inconsultatio

nwith

theCo

ordinatedBighornSheepManagem

ent

Committee.Plans

mustb

esubm

itted

foragen

cyapprovalandtheresults

oftheseeffortsmustb

emon

itoredan

nuallyandsubm

itted

totheagen

cies

and

thesheepcommittee.

Completed

.Sup

ersede

dby

Ann

ualBigho

rnSheep

Mon

itoring

andMitigatio

nCo

mmittee.

Wildlife

1992

2000

TPDEIS

andRO

DAmen

dmen

t008

010

Aesthetics.SM

Cmustsub

mitforagen

cyapprovala

visualmanagem

entp

lan,with

in6mon

thsof

this

decision

,which

addressesthefollowing:

theestablishm

ento

facomplex

land

form

onthe

Plan

iscompleted

.Im

poun

dmen

treclamation

plan

issupe

rsed

ed20

12WMP

EISandRO

DVisuals

App

endix

Record

ofDecision15

tailingsem

bankmen

tbased

onavailable

constructio

nmaterialsandsite

characteristicsat

thetim

eof

finalreclam

ation;

useof

boulde

rs(singlyor

ingrou

ps),andrand

ommassing

oflargeandsm

allnativeshrubs,and

largeandsm

allnativetree

specim

ensto

interrup

tthe

flatlineform

edby

thetopof

the

dam.Establishm

ento

fshrub

sor

treeson

the

impo

undm

entsho

uldon

lybe

unde

rtaken

atfin

alreclam

ation.

1992

2000

TPDEIS

andRO

DAmen

dmen

t008

011

Traffic.Employeeslivingwith

in10

milesof

themineare

exem

ptfrom

the3.0passen

gerspe

rvehiclebu

ssing

mitigatio

nmeasure

establishe

dun

derpriorapprovals.

Datacollectionandrepo

rtingto

DSL

andtheCN

Ffor

verificationof

achievem

ento

fthismeasure

arerequ

ired

inMarch

andSeptem

berof

each

year.

Furthe

rreview

hasfoun

dthat

theAgenciesdo

noth

ave


torestrictuseby

SMC

employees.

Roads/Transportatio

n

1992

2000

TPDEIS

andRO

DAmen

dmen

t008

012

CulturalRe

sources.Ifanypreviouslyun

iden

tified

cultu

ralresou

rcesite

isen

coun

tered,SM

Cmustn

otify

theDistrictR

anger,theDEQ

'sHardRo

ckBu

reau,and

the

StateHistoricPreservatio

nOfficeandno

tproceed

until

theagen

cies

give

approval.

Ongoing

Cultu

ralResou

rces

1992

2000

TPDEIS

andRO

DAmen

dmen

t008

013

Wetland

s.Th

eEPA,the

DEQ

,and

theCN

F,mustb

eno

tifiedifim

pactsto

wetland

sor

riparian

areasno

tothe

rwisepred

ictedintheEISarelikelyto

occurand

obtainapprop

riatepe

rmits.

Completed

.Directedby

Fede

raland

StateLaw,

Regulatio

n,andPo

licyandwill

notb

etrackedas

mitigatio

n.

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

App

endix

Record

ofDecision16

1992

2000

TPDEIS

andRO

DAmen

dmen

t008

014

Docum

entation

.Whe

neverintheStipulations,SMCis

requ

ired

tode

velopastud

y,plan,spe

cification,de

sign,

orothe

rdo

cumen

t,that

stud

y,plan,design,

specificatio

n,or

othe

rdo

cumen

tmustb

esubm

itted

totheDEQ

andCN

Fforapproval.ifapp

rovalisno

tgranted

,thestud

y,plan,design,specificatio

nor

othe

rdo

cumen

tmay

notb

eim

plem

entedandno

othe

ractio

n,aside

from

revision

andresubm

itted

,may

beun

dertaken

pursuant

tothestud


nor

othe

rdo

cumen

t,or

ifapproval,orapprovalwith

mod

ificatio

nisgranted,SM

Cmustcon

ductits

operations

inaccordance

with

thestud


nor

othe

rdo

cumen

tasapproved

andam

ende

d.

Whe

reverinSM

C'sapplicationor

mitigatio

nmeasures,

size,volum

e,he

ight,ton

nage,orothe

rmeasurableun

itsor

rateshave

been

used

asabasisforen

vironm

ental

analysis,suchmeasurableun

itsor

ratesareconsidered

,to

theextent

practicable,the

maxim

umallowableun

der

thispe

rmit.

Exceptions

willbe

grantedon

lyafterwritten

documen

tatio

nto

theagen

cies

that

theexceed

ancesare

with

intheintent

andun

derstand

ingof

theoriginal

approxim

ations

andanalyses.

Ongoing

Compliance

1992

2000

TPDEIS

andRO

DAmen

dmen

t008

015DEQ

Perm

itCo

nsolidation.

With

in12

mon

thsof

theBH

ESDecision,SM

Cmustsub

mitaconsolidated

perm

itrefle

cting,inon

eseto

fvolum

es,the

curren

tlyapproved

plansandactiv

ities

forOpe

ratin

gPe

rmit00

118.Th

ismeans

that

theapproved

portions

ofthepe

rmit

documen

tfor

thisam

endm

ent,forpreced

ing

amen

dmen

ts,and

fortheoriginalpe

rmitmustb

econsolidated

.Co

mpleted

.Sup

ersede

dby

2012

WMPEISandRO

DCo

mpliance

App

endix

Record

ofDecision17

1992

2000

TPDEIS

andRO

DAmen

dmen

t008

016DEQ

IncreasedBo

nd.Prior

toim

plem

entatio

nof

anywater

managem

entp

lanapproved

bytheagen

cies,SMCmust

subm

itadditio

nalbon

dam

ount

intheam

ount

setb

yDEQ

.

Directedby

Fede

raland

State

Law,R

egulation,andPo

licy

andwillno

tbetrackedas

mitigatio

n.Co

mpliance

1992

2000

TPDEIS

andRO

DAmen

dmen

t008

003

Land

App

licationDispo

sal(LA

D)a

ndMon

itoring.SM

Cmustsub

mitan

updatedmap

delineatin

gLADareasfor

agen

cyapproval.Thiswillbe

includ

edwith

theup

dated

water

managem

entp

lans

asde

scribe

dinstipulation1

above.Thismap

mustinclude

theLADgrou

ndwater

mon

itoring

welllocations

andsoiltype

sbasedon

the

mostrecen

tsoilsurveyinform

ation.Each

soiltype

must

besampled

attw

olocatio

nsannu

allyforsoilpH

,cation

exchange

capacity

(CEC

),andapprop

riatetrace

elem

ents.Sam

ples

mustb

etaken0to

6inches,6

to12

inches

andgreater1

2inches.SMCmustm

aintainsoilpH

greaterthan

6.5.Add

ition

alsiteswith

thecapacity

for

SMCto

land

applyminedischargemustb

eincorporated

into

SMC’spe

rmitarea.R

esultsof

thesoils

sampling

mustb

einclud

edinSM

C’sannu

alrepo

rt.

Completed

.LADon

east

side

discon

tinue

d.

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

1996

DEQ

EISRO

DUnd

ergrou

ndVa

lleyCrossing,

Amen

dmen

t009

002

SMCmusta

dopt

comparablecrow

npillarde

sign

standards,mon

itoring,and

mitigatio

nforallore

recovery

which

occursun

deranyarea

overlainby

orcrossedby

theWestF

orkof

theStillwater

River,

Cathed

ralCreek,and

Nye

Creek.

Replacem

entp

ages,

refle

ctingthisstandard

mustb

eincorporated

into

SMC’s

plan

ofop

erations

onfileat

theDEQ

andtheCN

Fwith

in30

days

ofpe

rmit(amen

dmen

t)issuance

Ongoing

Geo

Tech

Stability

App

endix

Record

ofDecision18

1996

DEQ

EISand

RODUnd

ergrou

ndVa

lleyCrossing

Amen

dmen

t009

001

SMCmay

not,at

anytim

e,removerock

from

thecrow

npillarun

dertheStillwater

River.

Ongoing

Geo

Tech

Stability

1998

HertzlerEIS

andRO

D#A

men

dmen

t010

009

SMCshallexten

dthefirstlifto

fthe

approved

Hertzler

tailing

impo

undm

enttothefullfootprintsothat

the

outerslop

escanbe

reclaimed

once

andno

tbe

redisturbe

ddu

ring

constructio

nof

thesecond

lift.SM

Cshallberequ

ired

tosubm

itareplacem

entp

ageforthe

MineWaste

Managem

entP

lanshow

ingtherevised

stageI,II,andIIIem

bankmen

tinthene

xtannu

alrepo

rt.

Completed

Soils/Re

clam

ation

1998

HertzlerEIS

andRO

DAmen

dmen

t010

#10

SMCshalllim

itrevegetatedslop

esto

150feet

inlength

orlessbe

fore

beingintercep

tedby

arockyzone

.This

rockyzone

orarmor

shallbeplaced

toprod

uceanatural

appe

aringslop

eandredu

cepo

tentialsoilerosion

.Supe

rsed

edSoils/Re

clam

ation

1998

HertzlerEIS

andRO

DAmen

dmen

t010

001

Und

ertheMetalMinereclam

ationAct(M

MRA

)and

USFSapproval,SMCshallsub

mitaQuality

Assurance/Q

ualityCo

ntrol(QA/Q

C)Plan

toen

sure

that

theHertzlerimpo

undm

entfou

ndationmeetsthe

minim

umpe

rmeabilityrequ

irem

ento

f1x106cm

/sec.

Thisplan

shallbesubm

itted

foragen

cyreview

and

approvalat

least6

0days

priorto

commen

cing

constructio

nandshallinclude

testingprotocols.SM

Cshallalsosubm

itmon

thlyconstructio

nQA/Q

Crepo

rts

which

includ

eliner

testresults

nolaterthan

30days

afterthe

endof

themon

th.Iftestin

gshow

sthat

the

materialdoe

sno

tmeetthe

minim

umpe

rmeability

requ

irem

ento

f1x106cm

/sec,SMCshallrem

oveand

replacethein

placematerialw

ithmaterialw

hich

meets

Completed

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

App

endix

Record

ofDecision19

theseconstructio

nspecificatio

ns.

1998

HertzlerEIS

andRO

DAmen

dmen

t010

002

Und

ertheMMRA

andUSFSapproval,SMCshallcon

duct

additio

nalstabilitymod

elingandanalysison

the

Colorado

ShaleUnitfor

deep

foun

datio

nfailures.This

analysismustthe

nbe

incorporated

into

SMC’sfin

alde

sign

work.Inadditio

n,SM

Cshallutilizeaprofession

alen

gine

eringgeologista

nd/orapprop

riatespecialistto

observetheexcavatio

nof

theHertzlerRa

nch

impo

undm

entfou

ndationandbo

rrow

areasto

determ

ineifanygeom

orph

ologicfeatures

wereexpo

sed

that

wou

ldindicate

ancien

tmassfailure.A

repo

rton

the

geom

orph

ologicfeatures

shallbesubm

itted

with

in30

days

ofthecompletionof

impo

undm

ente

xcavations.If

ancien

tmassfailure

features

areob

served

,the

nSM

Cshalldevelop

aplan

andsche

duleforade

taileddrilling

program

andanalysispriorto

completionof

the

impo

undm

entstructure.The

drillingandanalysisplan

issubjecttoagen

cyreview

andapprovalpriorto

implem

entatio

n.Iftheanalysisindicatesitisne

cessary.

SMCshalldevelop

changesto

thede

sign

ofthe

impo

undm

enta

ndsubm

ittherevisedde

sign

tothe

agen

cies

forreview

andapproval.

Completed

Geo

Tech

Stability

1998

HertzlerEIS

andRO

DAmen

dmen

t010

003

Und

ertheMMRA

andUSFSapproval,SMCshallsub

mit

anen

gine

eringrepo

rtto

theagen

cies

reevaluatin

gthe

applicability

ofpastetechno

logy,ide

ntifyingecon

omic

andtechno

logicfeasibility

foruseintails

disposalat

the

Stillwater

mineafter5yearsof

operations

ofthepilot

pastplant.Th

erepo

rtshallrecom

men

dwhe

ther

orno

tpastetechno

logy

canbe

reason

ablyandfeasiblyapplied

totheSM

Cop

erationto

redu

cethevolumeof

tails

stored

onthesurfaceforthelong

term

orredu

ceothe

rim

pacts.Th

erepo

rtshallbesubm

itted

totheDEQ

and

Completed

Soils/Re

clam

ation

App

endix

Record

ofDecision20

CNFno

morethan

6yearsafterp

aste

pilotp

lant

operations

have

been

initiated

.With

in1year

ofsubm

ittal,the

agen

cies

willreview

therepo

rtand

determ

inewhe

ther

orno

tSMCshou

ldapplypaste

techno

logy.

1998

HertzlerEIS

andRO

DAmen

dmen

t010

005

SMCshallpurchase,andhave

inplace,abackup

gene

ratora

dequ

atelysizedto

ensure

thepipe

lineleak

detectionsensor

continue

sto

operateeffectivelydu

ring

power

failuresor

partialpow

erou

tages.

Ongoing

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

1998

HertzlerEIS

andRO

DAmen

dmen

t010

006

SMCshallsub

mitthetailing

slurry

pipe

lineweardata

itcollects,as

aspecified

intheapproved

plan

ofop

eration,

with

itsannu

alrepo

rt.A

fter

2years,theagen

cies

will,

basedon

theirreview

ofpipe

linemon

itoring

data,

determ

ineapprop

riatefuture

pipe

linetestingne

edsin

orde

rto

ensure

theintegrity

ofthetailing

slurry

and

water

pipe

linesystem

.Ongoing

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

1998

HertzlerEIS

andRO

DAmen

dmen

t010

007

SMCshallw

orkwith

theStillwater

ValleyBighornSheep

Managem

entC

ommittee

toexploretheuseof

prescribed

fireinorde

rto

improvethequ

ality

and

quantityof

forage

intheprojecta

rea,thereb

yminim

izingforage

compe

titionbe

tweenbighornsheep

andmulede

er.

Completed

.Sup

ersede

dby

Ann

ualBigho

rnSheep

Mon

itoring

andMitigatio

nCo

mmittee.

Wildlife

1998

HertzlerEIS

andRO

DAmen

dmen

t010

008

SMCshall,with

in2yearsof

perm

itam

endm

ent

approval,ide

ntify

grassspecies,ifthey

exist,to

potentially

replacecreeping

meado

wfoxtailw

ithamore

palatablenativ

especies,as

effectiveintheup

take

ofnitrates,inthereclam

ationseed

mixfortheLADs.SM

Cshallthe

nmod

ifyits

seed

mixforthene

xtplantin

gseason

.Co

mpleted

Wildlife

App

endix

Record

ofDecision21

1998

HertzlerEIS

andRO

DAmen

dmen

t010

011

Theagen

cies

willen

courageSM

Cto

developincentives

forem

ployee

carpo

olingwith

in5mon

thsof

perm

itissuance.

Completed

Roads/Transportatio

n

1998

HertzlerEIS

andRO

DAmen

dmen

t010

012

SMCshallhaveaprofession

alarcheo

logistpresen

tdu

ring

constructio

nof

thepipe

lineandem

bankmen

tsfor

thefirstlifto

fthe

Hertzlerim

poun

dmen

tinareasof

know

nor

suspectedcultu

ralresou

rces

orwhe

nne

aring

adjacent

iden

tifiedandpo

tentialculturalsite

s.The

archeo

logistshallberespon

sibleforiden

tifying

any

cultu

ralm

aterialsthat

might

beexpo

seddu

ring

constructio

n.Intheeven

tasite

isexpo

sed,SM

Cshall

ceaseop

erations

until

theagen

cies

have

been

contacted

andan

approp

riateevaluatio

nandmitigatio

nplan

develope

dandim

plem

ented.

Completed

Cultu

ralResou

rces

1998

HertzlerEIS

andRO

DAmen

dmen

t010

013

SMCshallabate

dustprob

lemswhe

nevero

neor

both

oftheim

poun

dmen

tsisno

tinuseor

isinactiv

e.

Directedby

Fede

raland

State

Law,R

egulation,andPo

licy

andwillno

tbetrackedas

mitigatio

n.AirQuality

1998

HertzlerEIS

andRO

DAmen

dmen

t010

004

Und

ertheMMRA

andUSFSapproval,SMCshallsub

mit,

with

itsne

xtannu

alrepo

rt,a

biologicalmon

itoring

plan

foragen

cyreview

andapproval.

Ifgrou

ndwater

quality

data

atdo

wngradien

tmon

itoring

wellsat

theHertzlersite

show

increasesinnitrate+

nitrite

above2mg/L,or

show

thepresen

ceof

constitue

ntsindicativ

eof

tailingswater

seep

age,then

SMCshallcon

ductbiologicalmon

itoring

ofpe

riph

yton

andmacroinverteb

ratesintheStillwater

Riveraboveand

belowthesite

inaccordance

with

theapproved

mon

itoring

plan.SMCshallalsoinitiatemon

itoring

ofne

arby

downgradien

tresiden

tialw

ellsiftheow

ner

wishe

s,that

couldpo

tentially

beaffected

byfacility

discharges.SMCshallsub

mitaplan

foragen

cyreview

Plan

Completed

and

Implem

entedOngoing

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

App

endix

Record

ofDecision22

andapprovalwith

in60

days

ofits

iden

tificationof

elevated

constitue

ntsto

take

approp

riateop

erational

measuresto

redu

cenitrateconcen

trations

ingrou

ndwater

below2mg/Lor

take

approp

riateremed

ial

measuresto

ensure

itremains

incompliancewith

itspe

rmits.

Ifgrou

ndwater

quality

atdo

wngradien

tmon

itoring

wells

attheStratton

site

show

increasesinnitrate+nitrite

above2mg/L,then

SMCshallinitia

temon

itoring

ofne

arby

downgradien

tresiden

tialw

ellsiftheow

ner

wishe

s,that

couldpo

tentially

beaffected

byfacility

discharges.SMCshallsub

mitaplan

foragen

cyreview

andapprovalwith

in60

days

ofits

iden

tificationof

elevated

constitue

ntsto

take

approp

riateop

eration

measuresto

redu

cenitrateconcen

trations

ingrou

ndwater

below2mg/L,or

take

approp

riateremed

ial

measuresto

ensure

itremains

incompliant

with

itspe

rmits.

2012

WMPEISand

RODAmen

dmen

t01

1

SMCshallberespon

sibleformon

itoring

ofgrou

ndwater

andsurfacewater

quality

accordingto

approved

water

mon

itoring

plansandas

long

asMPD

ESpe

rmitwou

ldbe

inplacedu

ring

post

closure

Pend

ing

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

2012

WMPEISand

RODAmen

dmen

t01

1

SMCwou

ldbe

requ

ired

toannu

allymon

itorandrepo

rtto

theagen

cies

thevolumeof

tailingssupe

rnatantw

ater.

Ann

ualm

onito

ring

wou

ldaddressestim

ated

densities,

tailingsgrade,andvolumeof

supe

rnatantw

ater.Formal

tailingsconsolidationstud

ywou

ldbe

cond

uctedevery5

years.Ann

ualm

onito

ring

oftailingsgradewou

ldbe

used

tode

term

inetheexactlocationof

seep

ageou

tlet

structure.

Pend

ing

Soils/Re

clam

ation

App

endix

Record

ofDecision23

2012

WMPEISand

RODAmen

dmen

t01

1

SMCwou

ldbe

requ

ired

tosubm

itallfinalstorm

water

channe

land

shaftm

inewater

dischargechanne

ldesigns

bythedate

ofthefirstannu

alrepo

rtifam

endm

entis

approved

.Pe

nding

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

2012

WMPEISand

RODAmen

dmen

t01

1

SMCshallberequ

ired

tocond

ucto

peratio

naland

closuremon

itoring

oftailingsim

poun

dmen

tsfunctio

nandstructuralintegrity

.Pe

nding

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

2012

WMPEISand

RODAmen

dmen

t01

1

SMCshallsub

mitarevisedwater

mon

itoring

plan

for

HertzlerRa

nchLADsystem

which

shallinclude

sampling

fornu

trients,salts,and

biom

onito

ring.

Pend

ing

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

2012

WMPEISand

RODAmen

dmen

t01

1

SMCshallberespon

sibleformon

itoring

ofshaftw

ater

quality

andelevationstartin

gat

closure(three

times

per

year)and

annu

allythereafter.A

tpostclosure,SM

Cshall

berespon

sibleformon

itoring

shaftw

ater

elevation,

twiceayear

until

minewater

exits

theshaft.

Pend

ing

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

2012

WMPEISand

RODAmen

dmen

t01

1

SMCshallberespon

sibleformon

itoring

grou

ndwater

andsurfacewater

quality

accordingto

curren

tapp

roved

water

mon

itoring

plansandas

long

asMPD

ESpe

rmit

wou

ldbe

inplacedu

ring

post

closure.

Pend

ing

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

2012

WMPEISand

RODAmen

dmen

t01

1

SMCshallberespon

sibleformon

itoring

ofpo

stclosure

tailingsim

poun

dmen

tfun

ctionandstructuralintegrity

.Thiswou

ldoccurannu

allyforthefirst5yearsandthen

once

every5years.Seep

ageou

tletstructuresand

dischargechanne

lsfunctio

nwou

ldbe

mon

itored

annu

allyforthefirst5yearsandthen

once

every5

years.

Pend

ing

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

2012

WMPEISand

RODAmen

dmen

t01

1

SMCshallberespon

sibleforpo

stclosuremon

itoring

ofHertzlerRa

nchsurfaceandgrou

ndwater

resourceswith

regardsto

nitrogen

,nutrien

ts,and

salts

concen

tration

tren

ds.

Pend

ing

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

2012

WMPEISand

RODAmen

dmen

t01

1

SMCshallcon

ductqu

arterlymon

itoring

ofwater

quality

atHertzlerRa

nchim

poun

dmen

tund

erdrainou

tlets

during

operations

andclosure.

Pend

ing

App

endix

Record

ofDecision24

Amen

dmen

t002

0019/3/86

;Sand

Borrow

Area

Perm

anen

tben

chmarks

mustb

eestablishe

dto

iden

tify

whe

reandho

wmuchtopsoilisstockpiled.

Completed

.

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

Amen

dmen

t002

0029/3/86

;Sand

Borrow

Area

Thetopsoilstockpilecanbe

slightlymou

nded

above

grou

ndlevel.

Completed

.Soils/Re

clam

ation

Amen

dmen

t002

0039/3/86

;Sand

Borrow

Area

Whe

nthesand

hasbe

enremoved

andthebo

rrow

area

filledwith

topsoil,itwillbe

seed

edas

perseed

ing

recommen

datio

nsintheDecem

ber1

985EIS.

Completed

.Soils/Re

clam

ation

Amen

dmen

t003

001Second

Sand

Borrow

Area

1/8/87

Bond

shallnot

bereleased

until

thebo

rrow

area

has

attained

thesamequ

ality

andqu

antityof

vegetatio

nas

iscurren

tlypresen

t.Co

mpleted

.Soils/Re

clam

ation

Amen

dmen

t006

,Tempo

rary

Sand

Pipe

line

Installatio

nof

anautomaticflu

shsystem

inorde

rto

preven

tthe

linefrom

sand

ingup

.Co

mpleted

andDiscontinue

d.

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

Amen

dmen

t006

,Tempo

rary

Sand

Pipe

line

A36

"diam

eter

sleeve

inthepo

rtionof

thelinethat

crossestheStillwater

Riverat

thepresen

tbridge

locatio

n.Theintent

ofthesleeve

isto

containanyspill

anddirecttheflo

wto

theEastSide

EmergencySpill

Containm

entP

ond.

Completed

andOpe

ratio

nsDiscontinue

d.

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

Amen

dmen

t006

,Tempo

rary

Sand

Pipe

line

Installatio

nof

aleak

detectionsystem

asspecified

and

approved

intheEn

vironm

entalA

ssessm

entfor

theEast

Side

Adit.Th

iswillconsisto

fpressuretransm

ittersan

dcapacitanceprob

esconn

ectedto

anelectriccontrol

mod

ulewhich

shallbetie

dto

analarm

system

locatedin

variou

spo

rtions

oftheminingop

eration.

Completed

andDiscontinue

d.

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

Amen

dmen

t006

,Tempo

rary

Sand

Pipe

line

Constructio

nof


entp

onds

locatedon

theeastside

oftheStillwater

River.Th

ecapacity

ofthispo

ndwillbe

designed

toho

ldaminim

umof

250,00

0gallons

ofmaterial,which

translates

to6

hoursof

containm

entcapacity

atprojectedpu

mping

Completed

andDiscontinue

d.

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

App

endix

Record

ofDecision25

levels.

Amen

dmen

t006

,Tempo

rary

Sand

Pipe

line

Stillwater

MiningCo

mpany

willen

sure

that

thisSand

fill

lineispe

riod

icallyinspectedto

insure

safe

operation.

Completed

andDiscontinue

d.

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

MR9

700

200

1

SMCmustsub

mitade

tailedprogram

forim

poun

dmen

twater

draw

down,taking

care

toou

tline

andiden

tify

proced

ures,processes,and

equipm

entu

sedin

impo

undm

entd

rawdo

wn.Existin

gland

applicationisto

beutilized.Plan

foruseintheeven

tthattailings

water

wou

ldrise

abovethe51

07level.

Completed

andsupe

rsed

edby

MR0

0800

3.

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

MR9

700

200

2

Ifwater

inflo

wfrom

amajor

storm

even

tcausesthe

water

levelintheim

poun

dmen

ttorise

abovethe51

07'

levelfasterthan

pumps

canaccommod

ate,SM

Cmust

draw

downtheim

poun

dmen

ttobe

low51

07'w

ithin30

days

Completed

andsupe

rsed

edby

MR0

0800

3.

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

MR9

700

200

3

SMCmustsub

mittheapprop

riatereplacem

entp

ages

anddiagramsrefle

ctingthesechangesintheop

erating

plan

with

in30

days

ofreceipto

fthisletter.

Completed

andsupe

rsed

edby

MR0

0800

3.

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

MR0

400

300

1

SMCrequ

estsa4foot

freebo

ardon

theNye

impo

undm

entyearrou

ndforthreeyearsun

tilthe

tailingslevelcan

belowered

bydred

ging.SMCmust

maintaina6foot

freebo

ardlevelduringtheno

nwindy

mon

thsof

May

throughSeptem

berforthosethree

years.

Completed

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

MR0

500

1

Upgrade

totheDom

estic

Wastewater

Treatm

ent

System

.July5,20

06letter:The

Environm

ental

Managem

entB

ureauwillrequ

irecertainanalyses

tobe

performed

onaqu

arterlybasis.

Cann

otinserttable

Ongoing

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

MR0

600

100

1Thevent

raise(W

etFork

Breakout)w

illne

edto

bebackfilled12

0feet

insteadof

the50

feet

beingprop

osed

.Ongoing

Geo

technicalStability

MR0

600

100

2

TheDow

claim

boun

dary

(17.97

acres)willbe

includ

edin

thepe

rmitarea.A

bout

oneacre

with

inthisbo

undary

willbe

disturbe

dwith

constructio

nof

thevent

raise

Completed

.Dep

ictedon

Ann

ualrep

ortm

apping

Compliance

App

endix

Record

ofDecision26

(WestF

orkBreakout).Th

ene

warea

willne

edto

beinclud

edinfuture

maps(aninsertinalarger

map

wou

ldbe

acceptable).

MR0

600

100

3

Topreclude

mostw

ildlifepo

tentially

inthearea

from

entering

theadit,

open

ings

inthesecurity

structure

shou

ldbe

aminim

umof

2inch

square.Ifthissize

does

notserve

SMC'sne

eds,4inch

square

open

ings

wou

ldbe

acceptable.The

Forestwishe

dto

preclude

preven

ting

entrance

tothemineforwildlifeor

avianspecies.

Completed

.2"security

wire

installed

Wildlife

MR0

600

100

4

Priorto

plugging

theWestF

orkBreakout

atmine

closure,please

survey

theaditto

ensure

that

nowildlife

oravianspeciesarepresen

t.Ongoing

Wildlife

MR0

900

1SM

Cmustp

rovide

,with

in30

days,a

plan

forsoiltesting

ofHertzlerRa

nchto

evaluate

saltloading.

Completed

;Sup

ersede

dby

2012

WMPEIS/RO

DSoils/Reclamation

MR0

900

3

HertzlerStageIIUnd

erdrainMod

ification

.Please

providesemia

nnualm

onito

ring

oftheHertzlerRa

nch

tailingsim

poun

dmen

tund

erdrainTD

S,EC

,and

nitrogen

.Co

mpleted

;Sup

ersede

dby

2012

WMPEIS/RO

DSoils/Re

clam

ation

MR1

000

1

HertzlerNitrogen

Correctiv

eActionPlan

(UIC

Injection

Wells).SM

Cwillcond

ucta

nalysisfornitrite

asde

nitrificatio

nform

snitrite

asan

interm

ediate

prod

uct.

IfSM

Cwou

ldprefer

toanalyzefornitrite

N+nitrateN,

that

wou

ldalso

beacceptable.

Completed

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

EastBo

ulde

rMine

Mitigation/Sti

pulation

Source


Status

Resource

App

endix

Record

ofDecision27

2012

EISandRO

D

SMCshallberespon

sibleforon

goinggrou

ndwater

and

surfacewater

quality

mon

itoring

during

operations,

closureandpo

stclosureaccordingto

approved

water

mon

itoring

plan

until

bond

isreleased

.For

theadit

mon

itoring

freq

uencyof

mon

itoring

during

closureshall

occur3tim

espe

ryear.Atp

ostclosureaditmon

itoring

shalloccur

twiceayear.Forthetailingsim

poun

dmen

tun

derdrainmon

itoring

shalloccur

quarterlydu

ring

operations

andclosure.

Fortailingsim

poun

dmen

tseep

agethroughthecover,mon

itoring

shalloccur

quarterlydu

ring

closure.

Pend

ing

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

2012

EISandRO

D

Duringop

erations

andclosureSM

Cshallann

ually

mon

itorandrepo

rtto

theagen

cies

thetailings

impo

undm

entsup

ernatant

water

volume,estim

ated

tailingsde

nsity

,and

tailingsgrade.Ann

ualm

onito

ring

oftailingsgradewou

ldbe

used

tode

term

inetheexact

locatio

nof

seep

ageou

tletstructure

during

closure.

Pend

ing

Soils/Re

clam

ation

2012

EISandRO

D

SMCshallberequ

ired

tocontinue

ongoingop

erational

mon

itoring

oftailingsim

poun

dmen

tfun

ctionand

structuralintegrity

.For

fiveyearsafterclosureavisual

inspectio

nof

theim

poun

dmen

tshallbe

cond

ucted

annu

ally,and

afterfiveyearsthen

once

everyfifth

year.

Pend

ing

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

2012

WMPEIS

andRO

D

SMCmustd

ischargedaditwater

togrou

ndwater

ifthe

aditflo

wrate

wou

ldcausean

increase

instream

flow

greaterthan

15pe

rcen

tofthe

7Q10value.

Pend

ing

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

1992

EIsand19

93RO

D

a)SPGMRmustsub

mitplansandspecificatio

nsforthe

sewagetreatm

entfacilitie

sto

theDHES,W

ater

Quality

Bureau,for

approval,prior

toinitiationof

anymine

relatedconstructio

n.Thesewagetreatm

entsystem

and

anyothe

rrelateddisturbances

mustb

ereclaimed

inaccordance

with

thestandardsestablishe

dintheplan

ofop

erations.

b)SPGMRmustsub

mitplans,specificatio

ns,and

design

crite

riaforthewater

treatm

entp

lant

totheDHES,

a)Co

mpleted

b)Co

mpleted

c)Ongoing

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

App

endix

Record

ofDecision28

Water

QualityBu

reau,for

approvalpriorto

initiationof

minerelateddisturbance.

c)Nohazardou

swastes,as

defin

edun

dertheRe

sources

Conservatio

nandRe

covery

Act(RCR

A),may

begene

ratedfrom

thistreatm

entfacility

anddisposalof

waste

mustcom

plywith

allapp

licablestateandfede

ral

rules.

1992

EIsand19

93RO

D

a)Finalportalclosure

forthemainaditmustp

rovide

for

drainage

throughtheplug,directin

gthedrainage

tothe

percolationpo

ndsor

othe

rfacilitiesapproved

bythe

agen

cies.

b)Th

epe

rcolationpo

ndsmustb

emaintaine

dun

tilthe

aditdischargemeetsstateandfede

ralw

ater

quality

standards.SPGMRmustsub

mitarevisedplan,based

onthedata

collected

during

mon

itoring,todirect

discharges

totheEastBo

ulde

rRiverthrou

ghan

establishe

dstream

channe

l(or

throughwetland

sif

approp

riate),oncethesewater

quality

standardsare

met.The

serevisedplansmustb

esubm

itted

totheGNF,

DHES

andtheDSL

forapprovalat

least1

2mon

thsprior

toclosure.

a)Co

mpleted

b)Supe

rsed

edby

2012

WMP

EISandRO

D

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

1992

EIsand19

93RO

D

Atleast12

mon

thspriorto

closure,SPGMRmustsub

mit

thefin

alde

sign

forestablishe

dstream

channe

lsfor

perm

anen

tminedrainage,thattakeinto

consideration

theflo

wdata

collected

during

mining.Th

efin

alde

signs

mustd

irectsurface

runo

ffaw

ayfrom

thetailing

impo

undm

ent.

Supe

rsed

edby

2012

WMPEIS

andRO

DWater

Qualityand

Quantity

1992

EIsand19

93RO

D

Allfin

alde

signsforsurfacewater

controlm

ustinclude

thesite

specificop

erationalbestm

anagem

entp

ractices

tobe

used

forsedimen

tcon

trolandinclud

easupp

ortin

gnarrativewhich

describe

sho

wbe

stmanagem

ent

practices

wou

ldbe

implem

entedto

controlrun

offa

ndruno

nwith

inandadjacent

todisturbe

dareas.

Completed

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

1992

EIsand19

93SPGMRmustleave

a20

0foot

crow

npillar/bu

ffer

Ongoing

Water

Qualityand

App

endix

Record

ofDecision29

ROD

betw

eenstop

esandsurfacewater

resources.The

agen

cies

may

redu

cethisbu

ffer

ifSPGMRde

mon

strates

that

flowsof

surfacewater

resourceswou

ldbe

minim

allyaffected

.

Quantity

1992

EIsand19

93RO

DSPGMRmay

notred

ucewater

levelsintheEastBo

ulde

rRiverbe

lowthe5cfsminim

umhistoriclowflo

ws.

Ongoing

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

1992

EIsand19

93RO

D

a)Thefin

alde

signsforthetailing

impo

undm

ent

reclam

ationmustinclude

2:1slop

esandmustb

esubm

itted

foragen

cyreview

andapprovalat

least6

mon

thspriorto

theprop

osed

date

ofinitiationof

constructio

n.b)

Acombinatio

nof

rock

armor/resoiledandvegetated

slop

esmust b

eplanne

dforreclam

ation.Ve

getatio

nmustb

ereestablishe

dby

developm

ento

frando

m,

soiledslop

elengthsno

tgreater

than

150feet,w

hich

are

supp

ortedby

rock

armor

slop

es.Thisrevision

mustb

esubm

itted

with

thefin

alim

poun

dmen

tdesigniden

tified

abovein7a.

c)SPGMRmustcon

ductfie

ldtestspriorto

closureof

thein

placetailings,at

sufficient

gridspacingandde

pth,

tode

finetherangeof

impo

unde

dtailing

material

prop

ertie

sandmustsub

mittheresults

totheagen

cies.

Asaresultof

fieldandlabtesting,SPGMRmust

determ

inethede

gree

ofconsolidationandsettlemen

t,includ

ing:

anestim

ationof

theam

ount

ofsettlemen

tthat

may

resultfrom

prim

aryconsolidation;

anestim

ationof

theam

ount

ofsettlemen

tthatw

ould

occurdu

eto

theadditio

nof

waste

rock

andsoils

atthe

timeof

reclam

ation,and;

anestim

ationof

theam

ount

ofthelong

term

second

aryconsolidation.

a&b)

Completed

c)Supe

rced

edby

2012

WMP

EISandRO

DSoils/Re

clam

ation

App

endix

Record

ofDecision30

1992

EIsand19

93RO

D

a)Finalsiting

ofbreakouts(adits,ven

ts,raises,and

shafts)m

ustb

eapproved

byGNFandDSL

before

their

constructio

n.Thefin

alsitin

gof

vents,adits

andraises

musta

voidcultu

ralresou

rces

andthreaten

edand

endangered

speciesun

less

asurvey

iscompleted

providingdo

cumen

tatio

nthat

significant

impactwou

ldno

toccur

andprovidingapprop

riatemitigatio

nplansfor

agen

cyapproval.

b)SPGMR’sprop

osed

reclam

ationplan

foradits,ven

tsandraises

sitedinthePlacer

Basinarea

mustb

eup

datedat

thetim

eafin

alsitin

gde

cision

foreach

structureismade.Upd

ated

plansmustb

ede

velope

dbasedon

fieldassessmen

tscond

uctedincoop

eration

with

theagen

cies.The

seindividu

alplansmustreassess

keyeffortsinclud

ing;soilsavage,storage,red

istribution,

andrevegetatio

nparticularlyapprop

riateseed

mix

selection

a&b)

Ongoing

Visuals

1992

EIsand19

93RO

D

Theplacem

ento

fpow

erlinetowersan

dminebreakouts

musta

voidwetland

sandriparian

areasof

possible.If

SPGMRcann

otavoidwetland

sand/or

riparian

areas,

SPGMRmustcon

tacttheagen

cies

(DSL,G

NF,

Environm

entalProtectionAgency[EPA

],andtheCo

rps

ofEn

gine

ers,[COE])and

developandreceiveapproval

fordisturbanceandmitigatio

nplansincompliancewith

ExecutiveOrder

1199

0be

fore

anywetland

s/riparian

areasaredisturbe

d.Nodred

ging

orfillingof

wetland

sor

riparian

areasisallowed

with

outfirstob

taining

perm

ission

andpe

rmits

from

theapprop

riateagen

cies.

Ongoing

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

App

endix

Record

ofDecision31

1992

EIsand19

93RO

D

a)Astheavailabilityto

revegetate

with

nativ

especies

increases,revegetatio

nandplantin

gmixes

mustb

eup

datedat

thetim

eof

reclam

ationto

usecommercially

availablesite

adaptednativ

especies;includ

ingnu

rsery

develope

ddo

minanta

ndsubd

ominantg

rasses,forbs,

shrubs

andtreesavailableto

that

time.Themixmustb

ebasedon

availabilityof

nativ

eseed

andmustcon

tinue

tobalancerapidestablishm

enta

nderosioncontrolw

ithlong

term

reclam

ationob

jectives.Spe

cies

selectionmust

prom

otebiologicaldiversity

andvisualscreen

ingability.

Plantin

gmixes

mustb

esubm

itted

forapprovalby

the

agen

cies.

b)Th

eseed

mixused

forfin

alreclam

ation,as

approved

above,musta

lsobe

used

oninterim

reclam

ationof

disturbances,suchas

soilstockpiles,inorde

rto

test

mixes

forapprop

riaten

essandto

developdata

tomod

ifyfin

alrevegetatio

nmixes

over

thelifeof

themine.c)

With

inthepe

rmitarea

andalon

gFS

Road

205,disturbe

dareasne

arroadsmustb

eseed

edwith

plantspe

cies

which

arelargelyun

palatableto

biggame.

a&b)

Ongoing

c)Co

mpleted

Soils/Re

clam

ationand

Wildlife

1992

EISand19

93RO

D

a)SPGMRmustlocatestagingareasforworkersand

materialsat

areason

abledistance

from

thereside

nces

ontheEastBo

ulde

rRo

adandiden

tifythesestaging

locatio

nswhe

ninform

ationbe

comes

available.

b)Deliveriesto

theminearerestricted

todaylight

hours,

except

forem

ergencycond

ition

s.

a&b)

Ongoing

Road

Use

App

endix

Record

ofDecision32

1992

EISand19

93RO

D

a)Ro

adsconstructedor

upgraded

with

inthepe

rmit

area,w

hich

serveno

bene

ficialpostminingpu

rpose,

mustb

eripp

ed,recon

toured

,soiled,andseed

edusing

updatedseed

mixes

iden

tifiedabove.

b)Use

ofun

improved

roadsforpo

wer

lines

developm

entisproh

ibite

ddu

ring

wet

period

swhe

nsoils

aresubjectedto

ruttinganderosion.Such

tempo

rary

roadsmustb

eprom

ptlyrevegetatedwhe

nconstructio

niscomplete.

c)SPGMRshallprevent

onshift

employee

parking

outsidetheEastBo

ulde

rpe

rmitarea

boun

dary

onUSFS

managed

land

sandroads.

d)Ifchem

icaldu

stsupp

ressantsareto

beused

onpe

rmitarea

roads,SPGMRmustp

rovide

alisto

fthe

dust

retardantsto

beused

.App

licationof

dustsupp

ressants

mustb

emadeon

lyinam

ountssufficient

tosupp

ress

dust,and

theapplicationmustb

emadeby

atraine

dapplicator

meetin

gallState

ofMon

tana

requ

irem

ents

forapplicationof

thetype

ofdu

stsupp

ressantsbe

ing

used

.e)

Atfulldevelop

men

t,ForestServiceRo

ad20

5willbe

improved

toado

uble

lane

graveltravelway.Ifsite

specificde

sign

survey

indicatesane

ed,right

ofway

toaccommod

ateroad

improvem

entswou

ldbe

acqu

ired

during

thede

velopm

entstage

ofthemineop

eration.

Actualfinalde

sign

andspecificatio

nsof

theroad

wou

ldbe

approved

bytheForestServicepriorto

constructio

n.

a,c&d)

Ongoing

b&e)

Completed

Engine

ering

App

endix

Record

ofDecision33

1992

EISand19

93RO

D

a)SPGMRmusta

lignaccessroads,po

wer

lines,and

othe

rcomparablefacilitiesas

farfrom

establishe

drecreatio

nalfacilitie

sas

practicable.b)SPGMRmust

cond

ucte

mployee

surveys,be

ginn

ingthefirstyear

ofconstructio

nactiv

ities

andcontinuing

everythirdyear

until

maxim

umem

ploymen

tisreache

d,of

recreatio

nusepatterns

andsubm

ittheresults

totheDSL

andthe

GNF.Th

eagen

cies

may

authorizearedu

cedor

increased

freq

uencyof

surveysifanalysisof

thedata

indicatesthe

need

forchange.

c)SPGMRwillprovidea35vehicleparkingarea

near

theDry

Forksforpu

blicrecreatio

nistsandwillalso

providesnow

plow

ingof

thisparkingarea

asne

eded

inthewinter.Site

selectionandde

sign

ofthisparkingarea

willbe

approved

byGNFpriorto

anyconstructio

nof

the

facility.

d)TheGNFwillbe

grantedatraileasem

entfor

the

existin

gGraham

Creektrailacrossexistin

gpatented

miningclaimsbe

longingto

SPGMR.

a,b,c&d)

Completed

Recreatio

n

1992

EISand19

93RO

D

a)SPGMRmustcon

ductgeotechn

icaltestingun

derthe

southcorner

oftheim

poun

dmen

tand

makean

assessmen

twhich

addressesthepo

tentialfor

water

from

theadjacent

percolationpo

ndsto

lique

fyor

“grease”

impo

undm

entb

asematerialsandthereb

yredu

cestability.Ifthe

data

indicatesthepo

tentialfor

redu

cestability

exists,SPG

MRmuste

ither

revise

itspe

rmitto

relocate

thepe

rcolationpo

ndor

must

augm

entthe

impo

undm

entd

esignto

compe

nsatefor

theleakagefrom

thepe

rcolationpo

nd.Thisassessmen

tmustb

eprovided

foragen

cyreview

andapprovalwith

thefin

alim

poun

dmen

tdesignat

least6

mon

thspriorto

theprop

osed

date

ofconstructio

nof

that

phaseof

the

impo

undm

entw

hich

wou

lden

croach

onthearea

ofconcern(FEIS,pages224

to226

,443

).Groun

dwater

a)Co

mpleted

b)Ongoing

Geo

Tech

Stability

App

endix

Record

ofDecision34

levelsmustb

emon

itoredintheup

gradient

tailing

dam.

Ifmon

itoring

indicatesaflo

wpath

betw

eenthe

percolationpo

ndandthetailing

impo

undm

entthat

couldcreate

afailure

boun

dary,barriersor

grou

ndwater

drains

mustb

einstalledto

redirectflo

warou

ndor

well

unde

rtheim

poun

dmen

t,thepe

rcolationpo

ndmustb

emoved

,ortheim

poun

dmen

tred

esigne

dto

avoidfailure.

b)Ifatailingsim

poun

dmen

tfailure

occurs,SPG

MRmust

immed

iatelyim

plem

entb

esta

vailabletechno

logy

tomitigate

impactsto

water

quality

,fishe

ries,and

downstream

usersfrom

impactsattributed

to,or

increasedby,the

failure

oftheim

poun

dmen

t.

1992

EISand19

93RO

D

a)SPGMRmustn

otify

theagen

cies

atleast4

8ho

ursin

advanceof

perm

itted

constructio

nactiv

ities

that

wou

ldresultinsignificant

surfacedisturbanceor

that

may

have

atempo

rary

orpe

rmanen

timpacton

wildlifeor

aquatic

resources.

b)SPGMRmustcon

ductacreelsurveyof

theEast

Boulde

rRiver,usingMDFW

Pstandards,thethirdyear

ofprod

uctio

nandsubm

ittheresults

totheagen

cies

andto

MDFW

P.c)

Afenceadeq

uate

topreven

tintrusion

ofbiggame

mustb

einstalledarou

ndthetailing

impo

undm

entp

rior

toop

eration.

Detailsof

thefencede

sign

willbe

subm

itted

andapproved

bytheagen

cies.

d)SPGMRmay

notcon

ductlow

levelhelicop

terflights

inthespring

andsummer

alon

gareasinuseby

peregrinefalcon

sno

rinwinteralon

gbaldeaglefeed

ing

orroostin

gareasof

theEastBo

ulde

rRiver.Th

eseareas

andmon

thsof

avoidancemustb

eiden

tifiedin

coordinatio

nwith

GNFandMDFW

Pbiologists.SPG

MR

muste

nsurehe

licop

terpilotsarefully

inform

edof

unacceptableflightp

aths.

e)Ro

adside

carrionwillbe

removed

topreven

tany

a&e)

Ongoing

b,c,d&e)

Completed

Aqu

aticsandWildlife

App

endix

Record

ofDecision35

mortalityof

baldeagles.Thisprogram

willbe

coordinatedwith

theMDFW

P.f)Allpo

wer

lines

willbe

designed

andinstalledusingthe

“RuralElectricAssociatio

nApp

rovedRa

ptor

Proo

fDesign.”

1992

EISand19

93RO

D

SPGMRmustinsurethat

colortextureandlineof

developm

entswillblen

d,to

theextent

possible,w

ithnaturalfeaturesandmustinsurethat

terrainfeatures

andvisualscreen

ingwillbe

used

toredu

cevisual

impactswhe

repracticable.Site

specificplansformine

facilitieswillbe

review

edandapproved

byGNFstaff

traine

dinvisualresource

managem

ent.

Theseplanswill

bereview

edinrelatio

nto

theirability

tomeetvisual

quality

parameterslistedabovepriorto

constructio

n.

Ongoing

Visuals

1992

EISand19

93RO

D

SPGMRmustinstallandmaintainmuffling

system

son

all

dedicatedfacilitiesconstructio

nandop

eration

equipm

enttominim

izeno

iselevels.Ve

ntilatio

nfans

ontheEastBo

ulde

rPlateaumustb

einstalledinno

ise

insulateden

closures

orat

depths

that

providea

comparablede

gree

ofmuffling.R

adar

detector

back

upbe

epersmustb

eused

oncompany

orlong

term

contracteq

uipm

entu

sedon

theEastBo

ulde

rPlateauto

minim

izetheeffectsof

noiseon

wilderne

ssareas.

Ongoing

Noise

1992

EIsand19

93RO

D

SPGMRmusta

ssurethat

ifthetailing

impo

undm

ent

wereto

fail,theEastBo

ulde

rRiverwou

ldno

tbe

dammed

,creatingahazard

fordo

wnstream

reside

nts.

Ongoing

Health

andSafety

1992

EISand19

93RO

D

Ifpreviouslyun

discovered

cultu

ralresou

rces

are

encoun

tered,SPGMRmustn

otify

thedistrictranger,

SHPO

andtheDSL

immed

iatelyandmustn

otfurthe

rdisturbtheresource

until

theagen

cies

give

perm

ission

.Sites24

SW11

3,22

3,22

7,23

1,23

7,and24

8mustb

eavoide

ddu

ring

powerlineandroad

constructio

n.Ifthese

sitescann

otbe

avoide

d,SPGMRmustsub

mitforagen

cyreview

andapprovaladditio

nalprotectivemeasures.

Ongoing

Cultu

ral

App

endix

Record

ofDecision36

1992

EISand19

93RO

D

a)Whe

neverintherequ

irem

entsSPGMRisrequ

ired

tode

velopastud

y,plan,spe

cification,de

sign,orothe

rdo

cumen

t,that

documen

tmustb

esubm

itted

toDSL

andGNF,with

copies

toDHES,asapprop

riate,for

approval.W

herevera

pprovalisrequ

ired

,thisapproval

requ

irem

entm

eans:

(1)Ifapprovalisno

tgranted

,the

stud

y,plan,design,

specificatio

n,or

othe

rdo

cumen

tmay

notb

eim

plem

entedandno

othe

ractio

n,asidefrom

revision

andresubm

ittal,m

aybe

unde

rtaken

pursuant

tothe

stud


nor

othe

rdo

cumen

t.(2)Ifapp

roval,or

approvalwith

mod

ificatio

n,isgranted,

SPGMRmustcon

ductits

operations

inaccordance

with

thestud


nor

othe

rdo

cumen

t,as

approved

andam

ende

d.b)

Whe

rever,inSPGMR’sapplicationor

theabove

mitigatio

ns,size,volume,he

ight,ton

nage,orothe

rmeasurableun

itsor

rateshave

been

used

asabasisfor

environm

entalanalysis,such

measurableun

itsor

rates

areconsidered

themaxim

umallowableun

derthis

perm

it,except

whe

resuch

numbe

rsapplyto

estim

ations

ofnaturalcon

ditio

ns.Excep

tions

willbe

grantedon

lyafterw

ritten

documen

tatio

nto

theagen

cies

that

the

exceed

ancesarewith

intheintent

andun

derstand

ingof

theoriginalapproxim

ations

andanalyses.

c)Theagen

cies

mustb

eno

tifiedandapproveof

any

change

inreagen

tsor

concen

trations

employed

inthe

millingprocess.

d)Whe

reverintheaboverequ

irem

entsSPGMRis

requ

ired

tosubm

itafin

alde

sign,itm

ustincorpo

rate

the

prelim

inaryde

sign

andprovideon

lyadditio

naldetail.If

thefin

alde

sign,w

hich

incorporates

additio

nalsite

specificinform

ation,de

viates

from

theprelim

inary

design,a

requ

estfor

approvalof

thefin

alde

sign

must

a,b,c&d)

Ongoing

Adm

incond

ition

s

App

endix

Record

ofDecision37

besubm

itted

andSPGMRmay

notimplem

entthe

final

design

until

theagen

cies

have

approved

it.

1992

EISand19

93RO

D

Asstated

intheMon

tana

Dep

artm

ento

fState

Land

sRe

cord

ofDecision,SPGMRmay

notcom

men

ceactiv

ities

until

theEastBo

ulde

rIm

pactPlan

isapproved

pursuant

to90

630

7,MCA

.

Completed

HardRo

ckIm

pactPlan

1992

EISand19

93RO

D

SPGMRwillbe

requ

ired

toapo

streclam

ationbo

ndwith

theMon

tana

Dep

artm

ento

fState

Land

spriorto

any

constructio

nactiv

ities.The

bond

amou

ntwillbe

determ

ined

jointly

bytheagen

cies

andwillbe

payable

tobo

thagen

cies.

Ongoing

Bond

ing

1992

EISand19

93RO

D

a)Thecompany

willrestrictandmon

itoraccessto

the

projectsite

24ho

urspe

rday.

Alocked

gate

orsecurity

mon

itoring

willbe

suita

bleto

restrictaccess.

b)Allfood

onsite

willbe

madeun

availableto

bears,

andgarbagewillbe

stored

inbe

arresistantcon

tainers

until

removed

from

thearea.

c)Thecompany

willcontinue

itspo

licyof

nota

llowing

firearm

son

theprojectsite

.d)

Afireplan

willbe

requ

ired

that

followsallstate

laws

andmeetsallreq

uiremen

tsas

determ

ined

bythestate

fireseason

.e)

Use

ofprescribed

fires

fordisposalof

slashor

othe

rde

briswillbe

coordinatedthroughtheBigTimbe

rRa

nger

District.

a)Co

mpleted

b,c,d&e)

Ongoing

Health

andSafety

1992

EISand19

93RO

D

SPGMRmustm

onito

rthevolumeof

mineinflo

wsand

seep

agefrom

themineon

amon

thlybasisandsubm

itthat

data

toGNF,DHES

andDSL

quarterly.Finalclosure

plansmusttakeinto

accoun

tthe

volumeof

mine

inflo

ws.

Supe

rsed

edby

2012

WMPEIS

andRO

DWater

Qualityand

Quantity

App

endix

Record

ofDecision38

SPGMR19

92and

1993

ROD

Allwater

quality

andqu

antitydata

mustb

esubm

itted

ashard

copy

andinan

electron

icform

atcompatib

lewith

theDHES/DSL

data

managem

entsystem.A

ppropriate

detectionlim

itsmustb

eused

andadata

analysis

protocolmustb

einstitu

tedto

testforseason

ality

and

serialcorrelation.Re

sults

mustb

esubm

itted

tothe

agen

cies

quarterlyun

less

mon

itoring

results

indicate,

andtheagen

cies

concur,thatitisapprop

riateto

decrease

thefreq

uency.

Anannu

alevaluatio

nof

the

quarterlydata

mustb

esubm

itted

with

theannu

alrepo

rt.Water

quality

mon

itoring

andrepo

rting

discon

tinue

ddu

ring

thecurren

tinactiveph

aseof

operations

mustb

ereinstated

atleast6

mon

thspriorto

projectinitia

tion.

Add

ition

alspecificsurfaceandgrou

ndwater

mon

itoring

requ

irem

entsarede

scribe

dbe

lowand

mustb

eincorporated

into

SPGMR'swater

mon

itoring

plan.Th

erevisedplan

mustb

esubm

itted

6mon

ths

priorto

initiationof

minerelatedconstructio

n.a)

Atlease

6mon

thspriorto

theprop

osed

date

ofinitiationof

constructio

n,SPGMRmustsub

mitarevised

surfacewater

quality

mon

itoring

plan

which

incorporates

therequ

irem

entsbe

low(b

d)foragen

cyreview

andapproval.Th

eplan

mustb

ede

signed

tode

tectpo

tentialchanges

inwater

quality

andqu

antityin

both

timeandspaceinastatisticallyrobu

stmanne

r.Samplestations

mustb

elocatedat

historicmon

itoring

pointsun

less

logisticsmakethem

impo

ssibleto

reach.

Add

ition

almon

itoring

pointsmustb

elocatedup

stream

anddo

wnstream

ofanysignificant

tributaryand

downstream

ofanycompliancepo

inta

pprovedby

the

BHES.Mon

itoring

musta

lsobe

cond

uctedinthe

tributaryitself.Mon

itoring

musta

lsobe

performed

onthewaste

stream

onbo

thside

sof

anytreatm

entfacility.

Results

mustb

einclud

edinthemon

thlyrepo

rt.All

a&e)

Ongoing

b&f

k)Co

mpleted

c&d)

Supe

rsed

edby

2012

WMPEISandRO

D

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

App

endix

Record

ofDecision39

constitue

ntspresen

tlybe

ingtested

inthebaseline

stud

iesmustcon

tinue

tobe

mon

itored.

Indicator

parametersmustb

emeasuredmon

thly,w

hilethe

remaining

constitue

ntsmustb

etested

onaseason

albasis.

Indicatorparametersinclud

e,bu

tare

notlim

ited

to,pH,spe

cific

cond

uctiv

ity,totaldissolvedsolids,

sulfate, ortho

phosph

ate,nitrate+nitrite

,and

chromium

(FEIS,pages34to

313

).Seealso

(c)b

elow

.Iffuture

mon

itoring

indicatessomeconstitue

ntsareno

longer

approp

riateto

mon

itor,SPGMRmay

providewritten

documen

tatio

nandrequ

estp

aram

etersbe

drop

ped.

b)Duringthe5year

constructio

npe

riod

suspen

ded

sedimen

t,turbidity

,and

bedloadsedimen

tinvestigations

mustb

epe

rformed

everyothe

ryear

beginn

ingthefirstyear

ofsite

disturbanceand

subm

itted

totheagen

cies

forreview

with

the

approp

riateannu

alrepo

rt.Theseinvestigations

willbe

cond

uctedaboveandbe

lowtheminesite

intheEast

Boulde

rRiverandat

thede

positio

nalareaintheEast

Boulde

rRiverne

artheForestBo

undary.Intheyearsin

which

they

arecond

ucted;

measuremen

tswillbe

taken

weeklyfrom

April15

toJuly15

with

thefreq

uency

increasing

totw

iceweeklydu

ring

thetw

oweekpe

riod

ofpe

aksnow

meltrun

off,which

usually

occursinearly

June

.Samplingintensity

shou

ldbe

sufficient

toprovide

astatisticallyusablecorrelationbe

tweensedimen

tand

discharge,to

compare

preandpo

stprojectw

ater

quality

cond

ition

s.Th

isdata

willbe

review

edby

agen

cywater

quality

specialiststo

mon

itortheeffectiven

essof

mitigatio

nmeasuresto

insure

compliancewith

applicablestandards.

c)Surfacewater

flowmon

itoring

must b

econd

ucted

concurrent

with

surfacewater

quality

sampling,

mon

thly,ata

lllocatio

ns.Inadditio

n,data

mustb

e

App

endix

Record

ofDecision40

collected

from

acalibratedcontinuo

usstream

gage

installedat

EBR5.2.Re

sults

mustb

einclud

edinthe

quarterlyrepo

rts.

d)Inadditio

nto

naturalsurface

waters,SPGMRmust

sampleandanalyzethequ

ality

ofthetailing

decant

water

onaqu

arterlybasis.

Given

thelow

concen

trations

ofinorganicconstitue

ntsfoun

dinbo

thaditwater

and"backgroun

d"locatio

ns,procedu

resusing

thelowesta

chievablede

tectionlim

itsforthese

parametersmustb

eused

forallanalysis(FEIS,pages4

33to

434

).Re

sults

mustb

esubm

itted

annu

allyto

GNF,

DHES,and

theDSL.

e)SPGMRmustm

aintainpe

rcolationpo

ndsto

preven

tor

minim

izeclogging

andto

maxim

izetheutility

ofthe

pond

s.Ifmainten

ance

cann

otpreven

tcloggingand

infiltrationisthereforeno

tpossible,ne

wpo

ndsmustb

econstructedinalocatio

napproved

byGNF,DHES

and

theDSL.

f)Atleast6mon

thspriorto

theprop

osed

date

ofinitiationof

constructio

n,SPGMRmustsub

mitarevised

grou

ndwater

mon

itoring

plan

which

incorporates

the

requ

irem

entsbe

low(g

j)foragen

cyreview

and

approval.Th

eplan

mustb

ede

signed

tode

tectpo

tential

changesingrou

ndwater

quality

inbo

thtim

eandspace

inastatisticallyrobu

stmanne

r.g)

Groun

dwater

mon

itoring

mustinclude

thepaired

wellapp

roachto

assessstatisticallysignificant

differen

cesbe

tweenup

gradient

anddo

wngradien

twells

atthepe

rcolationpo

nds,thesewagesystem

,and

the

tailing

facility.

h)Groun

dwater

mustb

eanalyzed

forallw

ater

quality

variablessampled

inbaselinemon

itoring

aswellas

nitrates

andothe

rop

erationalpollutants.Iffuture

mon

itoring

indicatessomeconstitue

ntsareno

longer

App

endix

Record

ofDecision41

approp

riateto

mon

itor,SPGMRmay

providewritten

documen

tatio

nandrequ

estp

aram

etersbe

drop

ped.

i)Samples

mustb

etakenqu

arterlyto

ensure

samples

arerepresen

tativ

eandthedata

gene

ratedmustb

esubm

itted

inthequ

arterlyrepo

rt.

j)Tailing

impo

undm

entleachatemustb

ecollected

from

theun

derdrainsandleachate

quantityandqu

ality

must

bemon

itoredqu

arterly.

Mon

itoring

results

mustb

esubm

itted

quarterlyand,ifconcen

trations

ofcompo

unds

intheleachate

wou

ldresultinviolationof

standardssetb

ytheBH

ESat

thecompliancebo

undary,

theleachate

mustb

epu

mpe

dfrom

thecollectionsump

toatreatm

entsystem

orrecycled

intheminingand

millingprocessun

tilsuch

timeas

itcanmeeta

pplicable

water

quality

standards.

k)Springsandseep

sthat

couldreason

ablebe

effected

bymineworkingsandminefacilitiesmustcon

tinue

tobe

mon

itoredforqu

antityandqu

ality

during

constructio

nandop

erations.The

area

ofsurvey

mustb

erepo

rted

totheagen

cies.

SPGMR19

92and

1993

ROD

SPGMRmustsam

pleandanalyze,annu

ally,the

acid

prod

ucingpo

tentialofw

aste

rock

from

high

sulfu

rconten

tzon

esandothe

rgeologiczone

swhe

remob

ilizatio

nof

metals,increasedTD

S,or

redu

cedpH

ofstormwater

andsnow

meltrun

offfrom

thewaste

rock

pilescouldresult.

Samplingmusttakeplacedu

ring

developm

enta

ndop

erations

andmusto

ccur

priorto

placem

ento

fmaterialson

thewaste

rock

piles.

particular

attentionmustb

egivento

waste

rock

from

faultsandlitho

logiccontactzon

es.A

neffortmustb

emadeto

correlatetheacid

prod

ucingpo

tentialofall

geoche

micalrock

type

swith

atotalsulfurvalue.The

data

andcorrelations

mustb

esubm

itted

with

the

annu

alrepo

rtandmustinclude

therock

type

ssampled

.

Ongoing

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

App

endix

Record

ofDecision42

Ifwaste

rock

that

may

gene

rate

aciddrainage

isen

coun

tered,SPGMRmustsub

mitaplan

with

in6

mon

thsof

receipto

fthe

labdata,w

hich

assuresthat

metalsareno

treleasedto

theen

vironm

ent.

SPGMR19

92and

1993

ROD

SPGMRmustm

onito

rfishandwildlifeas

describe

dbe

lowandmon

itoring

repo

rtsmustb

esubm

itted

tothe

DSL,G

NFandMDFW

Pannu

allyun

lessothe

rwise

specified

.Ch

angesinthemon

itoring

program

willbe

madeas

requ

ired

toaccommod

atechangedcond

ition

sdu

ring

theprojectlife

.a)Fine

stream

sedimen

t(<6.3mm)w

illbe

mon

itored

during

thebase

flowpe

riod

everyyear

beginn

ingthe

firstyear

ofsite

disturbancethroughthe5year

constructio

npe

riod

.Mon

itoring

sitesto

besampled

includ

espaw

ning

gravelsinareasrepresen

tingtypical

trou

tspawning

habitat,such

aspo

oltailoutsintheEast

Boulde

rRiver.Th

ecore

sedimen

tdatawillbe

subm

itted

totheagen

cies

annu

allyto

beused

inconjun

ctionwith

thewater

quality

mon

itoring

(see

SurfaceWater

Quality

Mon

itoring

Plan)o

fsuspe

nded

andbe

dloadsedimen

tto

determ

inewhe

ther

pred

ictio

nsof

sedimen

tdeliveryare

correcta

ndto

calculatetheactualam

ountsof

delivered

androuted

sedimen

t.Co

resamples

willbe

collected

throughtheconstructio

nph

asedu

ring

thesummer/fall

lowflo

wpe

riod

atsiteson

theEastBo

ulde

rRivera

bove

andbe

lowtheminefacilities(EBR

3.2andEB

R5.2,as

show

nintheEISon

page

36)

andat

theForest

Boun

dary.

b)Be

nthicmacroinverteb

rate

speciesdiversity

and

relativ

eabun

dancewillbe

measuredinstream

reache

sof

theEastBo

ulde

rRiverof

similarhabitattypeabove

a,b&c)Co

mpleted

;di)

Ongoing

Aqu

aticsandWildlife

App

endix

Record

ofDecision43

andbe

lowtheminesite

throughthe5

year

constructio

npe

riod

.Samplingwillbe

twiceayear

(prior

tosnow

meltrun

offand

during

fallbaseflo

w)and

incombinatio

nwith

surfacewater

mon

itoring

using

protocolseq

uivalent

toEPARa

pidBioassessm

ent

techniqu

e.Samples

willbe

collected

inthesame

locatio

nseach

year.Datacollected

bythismon

itoring

willbe

review

edby

GNFfishe

ries

biologistson

anannu

albasisto

determ

inewhat,ifany,effectstheprojectis

having

onaq

uatic

lifeandto

makeadjustmen

tsin

mitigatio

nsor

mon

itoring

measuresas

approp

riate.

c)Inorde

rto

establishabaselinecond

ition

ofmetals

concen

trations

inEastBo

ulde

rRiverfishaboveand

downstream

from

theminesite

area,SPG

MRwill

cond

ucta

samplingandanalysisof

selectspeciesof

fish.

Fish

speciesto

bemon

itoredinclud

ethefollowing

salm

onoids:b

rown,rainbo

w,brook,and

/orcutthroa

ttrou

tand

mou

ntainwhitefish.

Fish

tissueanalysiswou

ldbe

preformed

toassesslevelsof

certainmetalspecies,

includ

ingmercury,prior

tomineop

eration,andevery

othe

ryear

thereafter,unlesstheagen

cies

determ

ine

that

amoreor

lessfreq

uent

program

iswarranted

.d)

SPGMRwillbe

requ

ired

toed

ucateallemployeeson

theiden

tificationof

baldeagles,graywolf,pe

regrine

falcon

,and

grizzlybe

ar.New

employeesthat

arehired

atanytim

edu

ring

theminelifewillalso

receiveprom

pttraining

ontheiden

tificationof

theabovespecies.

Observatio

nsof

anyof

thesespecies,madedu

ring

daily

worksituations,w

illbe

forw

arde

dto

theBigTimbe

rRa

nger

District.

e)Ba

ldeagles

willbe

mon

itoredby

SPGMRto

determ

inedistribu

tiontren

dsintheEastBo

ulde

rRiver

drainage.The

area

tobe

mon

itoredwillinclud

efrom

onehalfmile

upstream

from

theEastBo

ulde

rMinesite

App

endix

Record

ofDecision44

downstream

totheconfluen

ceof

theEastBo

ulde

rand

MainBo

ulde

rRiver.

Througho

uttheyear,new

observations

ofbaldeagles

willbe

documen

tedand

forw

arde

dto

theBigTimbe

rRa

nger

Districtw

ithin48

hours.

Inadditio

n,thewinterpriorto

initiatingany

grou

nddisturbing

activ

ities, SPG

MRmustm

onito

rbald

eaglewintering

popu

latio

nsandcontinue

mon

itoring

annu

allyto

determ

inetheirdistribu

tionintheabove

men

tione

darea.Metho

dsformon

itoring

willfollowthe

"Mon

tana

Mid

WinterBa

ldEagleSurvey"establishe

dby

theNationalW

ildlifeFede

ratio

nandtheU.S.Fishand

WildlifeService.

TheMid

WinterSurvey

isno

rmallyhe

ldbe

tweenJanu

ary1andJanu

ary15

,with

target

datesof

Janu

ary8an

d9.

SPGMRwillbe

requ

ired

toselectaday

during

thispe

riod

inwhich

torunthesurvey.These

mon

itoring

effortswillbe

coordinatedwith

theBig

Timbe

rRa

nger

Districta

ndresults

subm

itted

byJanu

ary

21of

each

year.

f)Pe

regrinefalcon

swillbe

mon

itoredby

SPGMRdu

ring

AprilandMay

with

intheEastBo

ulde

rprojecta

rea

whe

resuita

blene

stinghabitat(cliffs)exists.M

onito

ring

willbe

cond

uctedinconjun

ctionwith

regularly

sche

duledflightsof

SPGMR.

Mon

itoring

oftheoriginal

hack

site

andothe

rpo

tentialnestin

gsitesbo

thinand

outo

fthe

projecta

reawillbe

cond

uctedby

Forest

Servicepe

rson

nel.Flight

pathsused

bySPGMRwillbe

locatedat

leasto

nemile

away

from

thepe

regrinehack

site.B

ecause

nestsite

disturbancecouldresult,

nospecialattem

ptwillbe

madeby

apilottogetclose

toanysuspectedne

stsite

forpo

sitiv

eiden

tification.

Any

employee

seeing

ape

regrinefalcon

anyw

here

inthe

area

shou

ldrepo

rtob

servation.

Allinform

ationshou

ldbe

subm

itted

totheBigTimbe

rRa

nger

Districtw

ithin48

hoursof

arepo

rted

sightin

g.Inadditio

nto

theabove,

App

endix

Record

ofDecision45

ForestServicepe

rson

nel,traine

dintherecognition

ofpe

regrinefalcon

s,willpe

riod

icallymon

itorbo

thinan

dou

tsidetheprojecta

reaforestablishm

ento

fnew

nestingsitesandothe

rpe

regrineactiv

ity.

g)Grizzlybe

arob

servations

madeby

SPGMRinthe

projecta

reashou

ldbe

repo

rted

totheBigTimbe

rRa

nger

Districtw

ithin48

hours.

Thiswillen

ableDistrict

person

neltocontactthe

InteragencyGrizzlyBe

arStud

yTeam

inatim

elymanne

r.Inadditio

n,ForestService

person

nelw

illpe

riod

icallymon

itorbo

thinandou

tside

oftheprojecta

reaforthepresen

ceof

grizzlybe

ar.

h)Greywolfo

bservatio

nsmadeby

SPGMRem

ployeesin

theprojecta

reashou

ldbe

repo

rted

totheBigTimbe

rRa

nger

Districtw

ithin48

hours.

Inadditio

n,Forest

Servicepe

rson

nelw

illpe

riod

icallymon

itorbo

thinan

dou

tsideof

theprojecta

reaforthepresen

ceof

thegray

wolf.

i)Any

encoun

terswith

athreaten

edor

endangered

speciesthat

resultininjury

toape

rson

,prope

rty,or

totheanim

almustb

erepo

rted

totheBigTimbe

rRa

nger

Districta

ssoon

aspo

ssible.

Amen

dmen

tMR

0800

11

Establishapproved

seed

lingat

similarstocking

density

,to

replacethesaplings

that

areremoved

from

thesite,

atfin

alreclam

ation.

Ongoing

Soils/Re

clam

ation

Amen

dmen

tMR

0800

12

Limittheuseof

theLewisGulch

road

foraccessof

equipm

enttothisproject.

They

shou

ldgo

throughthe

existin

glaydow

narea

belowthetopsoilpiles.

Ongoing

Roads/Transportatio

n

Amen

dmen

tMR

0800

13

Postapprop

riatewarning

signson

theLewisGulch

road,

ifthepu

blicisindanger

from

traffic

orde

brisrolling

onto

it.Ongoing

Soils/Re

clam

ation

Amen

dmen

tMR

0800

14

Preserve

thetreesou

tsideof

thedisturbe

darea

boun

dary

towards

theLewisGulch

road

andEast

Boulde

rroad

tomitigate

visualim

pactsof

theproject.

Ongoing

Visual

App

endix

Record

ofDecision46

Amen

dmen

tMR

0600

1&00

200

1

07/25/20

06(M

R0600

1&00

200

1):Segm

ent1

ofthe

prop

osed

tailingsstoragefacilitywildlifefenceisde

fined

asstartin

gat

theGatelocatedon

thevery

northen

dof

thestage2tailingsfacilityandgoingsouthw

esta

long

theLewisGulch

Road

andfin

ishing

whe

rethefenceline

leaves

theLewisGulch

Road

andtravelssouththrougha

plantatio

n.

Completed

Wildlife

Amen

dmen

tMR

0600

1&00

200

2

07/25/20

06(M

R0600

1&00

200

2):Segm

ent2

isde

fined

atthearea

betw

eenwhe

rethefencelineleaves

theLewisGulch

Road

andtravelssouthto

theGate

adjacent

totheconcen

trator

facility.

Completed

Visuals

Amen

dmen

tMR

0600

1&00

200

3

07/25/20

06(M

R0600

1&00

200

3)Alltreesto

becut

alon

gthefencelinecorridor

willbe

designated

byauthorized

ForestServicepe

rson

nelprior

tocutting.

Completed

Visuals

Amen

dmen

tMR

0600

1&00

200

4

07/25/20

06(M

R0600

1&00

200

4)Forthepo

rtionof

segm

ent1

,trees

willbe

who

letree

yarded

toaland

ing

designated

byan

authorized

ForestServiceofficial.At

thede

signated

land

ingalllim

bswillthen

beremoved

from

thebo

lesof

thetree. Lim

bswillbe

piledseparately

from

thebo

lesof

thetrees.Bo

leswillbe

stackedina

pileinthesamedirection

Completed

Visuals

Amen

dmen

tMR

0600

1&00

200

5

07/25/20

06(M

R0600

1&00

200

5):Forthepo

rtionof

segm

ent2

,trees

willbe

felledandlim

bedou

tsideof

the

fencelinecorridor.Bo

leswillbe

cutintolengthsof

nogreaterthan

6feet

long.Whe

reexistin

gslashor

created

slashexceed

s2feet

inde

pththen

materialw

illbe

either

hand

piledor

scatteredto

ade

pthno

greaterthan2feet

inhe

ight.Ifslash

ispiledthen

piledimen

sion

swillbe

nogreaterthan

6feet

tallan

d10

feet

wide.Pileswillbe

locatedno

closer

than

10feet

from

residu

altim

ber.

Completed

Visuals

Amen

dmen

tMR

0400

1Brow

nlee

Vent

Raiseconstructio

nweedandfire

inspectio

nsforeq

uipm

ent,androuteauthorization.

Completed

Roads/Transportatio

n

App

endix

Record

ofDecision47

Amen

dmen

tMR

0000

300

1

The63

50be

nchtempo

rary

explosives

laydo

wnarea

cut

slop

emustb

ereclaimed

assoon

asitiscompleted

.Soil

mustb

esalvaged

from

theen

tire3.5acresandmustb

eplaced

onthecutslope

assoon

asitiscompleted

.It

mustb

ecoveredwith

thetotalsub

soilandtopsoil

depths

aspe

rtheapproved

reclam

ationplan

and

seed

edas

soon

ascompleted

.Any

timbe

rslashcutin

thesalvageop

erations

shou

ldbe

used

tohe

lpcontrol

erosionon

thesteepslop

e.

Completed

Soils/Reclamation

Amen

dmen

tMR

0000

1

Reclaim

BoeRa

nchpipe

linemanho

lespe

rForestService

andSw

eetgrassCo

unty

standardsinFS

Road

205up

onabando

nmen

t.Ongoing

Roads/Transportatio

n

Amen

dmen

t001

1.Land

applicationof

excessaditwater

through

irrigatio

n,snow

making,or

percolationpo

ndsare

restricted

towater

that

does

notcon

tainnitrateun

less

thedischargeisauthorized

throughan

approved

MPD

ESpe

rmit.

Land

applicationof

nitrateen

riched

water

from

incide

ntalblastin

gassociated

with

thetunn

elbo

ring

machine

isallowed

aslong

asthenitrateconcen

tration

ingrou

ndwater

does

notb

ecom

eelevated

above

backgrou

ndlevels.

2.Whilepivot#

1isinuse,spring

SP11

mustb

emon

itoredon

amon

thlybasisIfchangesinwater

quality

arede

tected

inthespring,use

ofpivot1

mustb

ediscon

tinue

dun

lessthedischargeisauthorized

through

anapproved

MPD

ESpe

rmit.

1&2Ongoing

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

BoeRa

nchLAD


Source


Status

Resource

App

endix

Record

ofDecision48

2012

WMPEISandRO

D

SMCmustsub

mitan

updatedwater

managem

entp

lan,foragen

cyreview

and

approval,w

hich

incorporates

additio

nallysim

eters,soilmoistureprob

esto

beinstalledun

dereach

center

pivota

nddo

wngradient

ofthesnow

makers.

SMC

wou

ldusethisgrou

ndwater

mon

itoring

data

toverifyminewater

application

ratesso

that

grou

ndwater

wou

ldno

texceedthenitrogen

andsalts

actio

nlevel.

Pend

ing

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

2012

WMPEISandRO

D

SMCmustcon

ductmon

thlymon

itoring

ofdo

wngradien

tseeps

andsprings

abovetheMason

Ditchdu

ring

irrigatio

nseason

until

flowceases.This

inform

ationmustb

esubm

itted

totheagen

cies

intheannu

alrepo

rt.

Pend

ing

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

2012

WMPEISandRO

D

SMCshalldevelop

andsubm

itto

theagen

cies,a

plan

that

incorporates

expand

edsoils

andvegetatio

nsamplingto

assessfate

andtransporto

fnitrogen

andsalts.Th

eplan

musta

ccou

ntforactio

nlim

itsrelatedto

totalcon

centratio

nof

nitrogen

andsalts

andiden

tifyanysubseq

uent

actio

nsSM

Cwou

ldtake

shou

ldthoselevelsbe

reache

d.Pe

nding

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

2012

WMPEISandRO

D

SMCshallm

onito

rtheflo

wrate

oftheEastBo

ulde

rRiverd

uringtheirrigatio

nseason

sothat

theLADapplicationrate

couldbe

adjusted

asne

eded

topreven

tnitrogen

exceed

ancesinsurfacewater.

Pend

ing

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

2012

WMPEISandRO

D

Slop

estability

during

operations

andclosure,SM

Cshallcon

ductmon

thly

mon

itoring

ofsoils

suscep

tibleto

slum

ping

ormasswastin

garou

ndcenter

pivots.

Pend

ing

Irrigatio

nPractices

2012

WMPEISandRO

D

Duringop

erations,SMCmuste

xpandBo

eRa

nchclim

atic/w

eather

mon

itoring.

Thisinform

ationisessentialtoapprop

riateLADapplications.A

llmon

itoring

equipm

entm

ustb

eprotectedfrom

grazingcattle

Pend

ing

Water

Qualityand

Quantity

File Code: 1950 - Montana Legislature · The Stillwater Mine and the East Boulder Mine are existing...

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Transcript of File Code: 1950 - Montana Legislature · The Stillwater Mine and the East Boulder Mine are existing...