Faro Mine Remediation Project News

Fall 2018 News

Care and Maintenance Updates:

CIRNAC and their care and maintenance constructor, Parsons, have continued to manage site access, safety and water management and at the Faro Mine Complex (FMC) in 2019. Water treatment and discharge to the environment continues and water elevations have been reduced by more than 2.2 m in Faro pit, and more than 1.6 m in Vangorda pit year to date and are on track to meet treatment targets for the year.

Faro Pit, Photo Courtesy of Rick Massie, CIRNAC

Faro IWTS, Photo Courtesy of Rick Massie, CIRNAC

Vangorda Booster, Photo Courtesy Parsons

There are also a number of care and maintenance projects that will improve site water management and treatment at the FMC. The key ones that are under way include:

Additional Treatment at the Interim Water Treatment System (IWTS)

An additional water treatment process step is being added to the IWTS. This will involve adjusting the pH of treated water through acid addition to reduce potential impacts of ammonia on the receiving environment. The treatment system components are on site and are in the final stages of assembly. It is expected to be operational later in July 2019.

New Tank for pH adjustment for the IWTS. Photo courtesy of Rick Massie, CIRNAC.

New (Additional) Water Treatment Plant for Cross Valley Pond

The Cross Valley Pond Water Treatment Plant (CVP TP) project began construction in May 2019. This new water treatment plant, once completed, will allow treatment of water directly from the CVP and will provide additional overall treatment capacity for water management on the Faro pit side of the FMC. The majority of the plant’s materials have been delivered to the site and a pad structure and mobile foundation system has been constructed to support the new facility (see photo below).

Temporary power has been brought to the pad to support the construction phase of the project prior to connection of the permanent feed planned to be constructed in September. The mechanical subcontractor will begin rigging and installing the mechanical equipment during the week of July 15th, and the electrical subcontractor will install plant electrical, instrumentation and controls equipment beginning mid-August. CVP TP construction is estimated to be completed by September 27th and will be winterized following testing for startup in April 2020.

Photo of new CVPTP Pad

Emergency Tailings Area – Water Capture and Piping to the Intermediate Pond

A new water collection feature has been installed in the area of the former Emergency Tailings Area (ETA). The capture system was designed and installed by Parsons in July 2019. This captures water at the ETA and sends it by pipe directly to the Intermediate Pond and then to the water treatment plant for treatment prior to discharge.

New ETA Capture system. Photo courtesy of Parsons

Urgent Works Updates:

CIRNAC, and their Interim Construction Manager (ICM), Parsons Inc. are carrying out Urgent Works projects.

North Fork of Rose Creek

The intent of the NFRC project is to relocate the channel conveying clean water of the North Fork of Rose Creek to remove it from and potential contaminated contact water seeping from the Faro waste rock piles. The design was completed by BGC Engineering for CIRNAC, and is being implemented by the ICM and their contractors who are selected through competitive processes. The first step of the project was the completion of the construction diversion channel which was completed by Pelly Construction over the winter of 2019, and was finished in early May 2019. An aerial UAV photo of the completed first phase of the project is below.

This overall work package 1 included construction of haul roads, a 1.2 km diversion channel, some storm water management features and an outwash pond.

UAV aerial photo of NFRC construction diversion channel. May 2019. Photo courtesy of Parsons.

Parsons Inc., has awarded a new contract for the North Fork Rose Creek realignment project to the Yukon company Pelly Construction Ltd. Valued at $44.4 million, this next phase of the project will realign the north fork of Rose Creek away from the contaminated areas of the site to keep the creek water clean. This work will include the construction of a new 1.9 km water channel (excavating, blasting, liners, aggregate production and placement), road construction, haul roads excavation, dam construction, multi-plate culvert, water management and other related works.

Pelly Construction is partnering with Dena Nezziddi Development Corporation, owned by Ross River Dena Council, to complete this project. Pelly will also be working with Yukon College to bring the college’s heavy equipment simulator to Ross River to provide training opportunities. It is estimated that Pelly will be employing approximately 70 people on this project over the next year.

Elders Tour:

On June 11, 2019 CIRNAC’s Care and Maintenance Contractor, Parsons hosted the Ross River Dena Council (RRDC) Elders Visit at the Faro Mine Complex (FMC). A group of 22 RRDC citizens including Chief Jack Caesar, some councilors, and Elders visited FMC for a sharing of stories and a discussion of past and present events at Faro Mine. A group tour of the Faro side was carried out. The group visited the Faro Pit viewpoint, the recently completed North Fork of Rose Creek construction diversion channel, the Interim Water Treatment Plant, and the X13 water recovery project. Parsons then served a BBQ lunch onsite and the tour group departed for Ross River.

RRDC Elders Tour – IWTS Control Room, Photo Courtesy Parsons

Faro Elders tour – X13 Area. Photo courtesy Parsons.

Faro 50 Tour:

The Town of Faro recently celebrated their 50th anniversary. As part of the 50th anniversary, tours of the Faro Mine Complex were provided to the public. These were facilitated by Parsons on behalf of CIRNAC. In total, 122 visitors toured the FMC between July 2nd and 6th. The toured followed the water management on the site, and the tour guides explained diversions of fresh water and the contact water capture and treatment. The new North Fork Rose Creek Diversion, Faro Pit, Rose Creek Tailings area were all visited.

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Faro Mine Remediation Project 415C - 300 Main Street Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2B5 Faromine.ca

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