Faro Mine Remediation Project News

Fall 2018 News

Upcoming Procurement Opportunities

Parsons Inc, the Interim Construction Manager for the Faro Mine Remediation Project, is responsible for the management of construction activities related to the project’s urgent works, including the North Fork Rose Creek diversion. All contracting opportunities procured by the Interim Construction Manager are posted publicly on MERX. We encourage all interested contractors to monitor the system for upcoming procurement opportunities. The project team is currently working with Parsons to organize an Industry Day to provide further information to local companies on upcoming procurement opportunities at the site. For more information about the event, please contact us.

First Step of NFRC Realignment Project Complete

The fish salvage operation concluded in September marking the successful completion of the first step of the North Fork Rose Creek (NFRC) realignment project.

It involved the installation of temporary fish barriers at two locations to capture and relocate fish outside of the construction area. The barriers continue to be monitored and inspected on a daily basis. Minnow Environmental, specialists in aquatic biology, were retained to develop the fish salvage approach and to put together a team to carry out the fish salvage operation. The team included specialists from Golder-AECOM, ELR Engineering as well as a number of individuals from Ross River and Pelly Crossing who received training in electrofishing techniques as part of this opportunity.

The Fisheries Act Authorization from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada was received on July 26, 2018 authorizing the work in the North Fork Rose Creek diversion channel to begin.

Water Levels in Faro Pit

Recent water treatment activities have decreased the elevation of the Faro Pit water to the lowest level since June 2013. The treatment plant’s output was 848,600 m3 in July, 959,773 m³ in August, and 826,460 m³ in September. These monthly totals represent an increase in the volume of water treated, compared to performance in the same month for 2016 and 2017.

X13 Sump and Pipeline Construction

A collection and pump-back system was designed last year to address the elevated levels of iron at monitoring station X13. Personnel from Matcon Environmental Ltd, who have joint ventured with Dena Nezzidi Corporation, were onsite in July and August installing the collection sump. Work began in September to construct the pipeline to move water from X13 to the Intermediate Pond. Work includes screening and hauling granular fill material, access road construction, preparing the new pipe bed area, and compaction testing.

Transporting Water Treatment

Plant Components to Faro Procurement of the components for the Cross Valley Pond water treatment plant is proceeding on schedule. The equipment being mobilized is very large and special permits are required to transport the oversize loads. Parsons is currently working with a transportation and logistics company to develop a shipping plan which considers the height of shipment, bridges, road width, etc. Equipment is expected to start arriving at the Faro Mine Site in November.

Rose Creek Diversion Interim Upgrade

Morgan Construction and Environmental Ltd, who have joint ventured with Dena Nezzidi Corporation, was awarded the contract for increasing the elevation of the Rose Creek diversion dyke. Once complete, this interim upgrade will increase the capacity of the dyke to withstand a one in two hundred year (1:200) storm event. Work onsite began in October and is scheduled to be completed in early November.

Fueling System Construction

Funded under Parsons Care & Maintenance contract, the installation of a new fuel dispensing system was completed in late September. The upgraded system is more efficient and will accommodate the greater volume of work occurring at the Faro Mine site moving forward. Fuel is being supplied by Tu Lidlini Petroleum, a Ross River Dena owned company.

Site Tour with Federal and Territorial Regulators

The project team hosted a tour of the Faro Mine site on September 19 to familiarize Federal and Territorial regulators with the site as well as to discuss details of the Faro Mine Remediation Project. Representatives from Environment and Climate Change Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Health Canada as well as Yukon Government’s Department of Environment, along with representatives from Selkirk First Nation spent the day on site with members of the project team including SRK, the Project’s design engineers.

The discussion was focused on the current site conditions, and proposed remediation activities. There was additional discussion on the fish salvage which was being completed in the North Fork Rose Creek during the tour, and upcoming urgent works. It was also an opportunity for the project team to learn about aspects of the Project that may be of concerns to government and First Nation representatives.

Finalizing Project Proposal for Submission to YESAB

The project team is working with Golder-AECOM to finalize the Project Proposal which documents the effects of the Faro Mine Remediation Project on several valued components, including, water quality, fish, wildlife, vegetation, economic opportunities, health, local and traditional land use, community well-being, and cultural and heritage resources. This document will propose several measures to mitigate the negative effects of the project as well as measures to enhance the positive effects of the remediation. An Environmental and Socio-Economic Management and Monitoring Framework will also be included with this submission.

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

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