Queenstake, NDEP sign agreement

Jerritt Canyon Mine to be
allowed to restart after court filing

CARSON CITY – The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) announces today the completion of an agreement with Yukon-Nevada Gold Corp.’s Queenstake Resources USA Ltd. (Queenstake) that addresses environmental compliance at the Jerritt Canyon Mine. The consent decree, signed by the NDEP and Yukon-Nevada Gold, was submitted to the Elko County District Court Monday, Oct. 12. Following the official court approval of the decree, the Jerritt Canyon Mine may resume operations.

The consent decree requires Queenstake to correct all environmental non-compliance issues and make extensive environmental improvements. It also requires provisions for stipulated penalties should the company not meet deadlines included in the decree. The decree consolidates all outstanding enforcement actions called for by the NDEP. Queenstake has also agreed to pay a $550,000 settlement.

“We are satisfied with the agreement that we’ve reached with Queenstake as it addresses our environmental concerns at the Jerritt Canyon Mine,” said Leo Drozdoff, NDEP Administrator. “NDEP staff will closely monitor activities to ensure the Jerritt Canyon Mine is in full compliance with the agreement and all appropriate regulatory requirements.”

The consent decree requires extensive operational monitoring of process and emissions controls, including monthly mercury emissions testing to ensure the systems are operating as designed. The decree also requires continued improvements of fluids management systems, implementation of environmental audits and compliance plans for air quality, and the addition of emissions controls on supporting process equipment.

On June 5, 2009 the NDEP ordered Queenstake to cease mill and roaster operations at the Jerritt Canyon Mine. Since then, Queenstake and the NDEP have worked closely to address all outstanding compliance issues that have accrued since 2006.

HISTORY
In December 2006, the NDEP issued violations to Queenstake for failure to properly maintain process equipment and air pollution control systems. This started a year-long investigation by NDEP to determine if the emissions control systems, including mercury emissions control equipment were operating properly. In February 2007, Queenstake was ordered to evaluate the air pollution control systems for the two roaster circuits and to verify their performance through emissions testing. Queenstake failed to fully conduct the required evaluations and in March 2008, the NDEP ordered Queenstake to cease operation of the roaster circuits.

In April 2008, NDEP worked with Queenstake on a restart plan that included additional operational changes and controls, and the installation of the calomel-based mercury control system. In August 2008, Queenstake independently shut down all operations and consequently failed to meet NDEP’s established conditions.

After the company installed a continuous emissions monitoring system, optimized the continuous roaster control systems and completed the design for the new mercury controls, the NDEP allowed Queenstake to restart ore processing operations in March 2009. As part of that NDEP order, Queenstake was required to commence operation of the new control system by May 30, 2009. Queenstake failed to meet this deadline and NDEP ordered Queenstake to cease operations in June 2009. The Jerritt Canyon Mine has remained shut down since that time.

Mercury dangers highlighted in new campaign

The U.S. EPA, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have launched a campaign to educate children about the dangers of mercury.

The campaign is asking Nevada television stations to play 30-second public service announcements for the next 16 weeks during children's programming, especially after mercury spill incidents.

Click here for more information and to view the video in English and Spanish.

The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection also has information on its website about mercury. Click here to view NDEP's comprehensive mercury information. To report hazardous spills, including mercury, call (in-state) 1-888-331-6337, or (out-of-state) 1-775-687-9485.

How to Handle a Small Mercury Spill:

• DO turn off ventilating or air conditioning system and open windows and doors that vent to the outdoors.
• DO set aside everything you think might be contaminated with mercury.
• DO immediately remove children from the area.
• DO make sure to avoid skin contact by wearing gloves when handling spill.
• DO clean up the silver mercury beads by using one sheet of paper to carefully roll them onto a second sheet of paper, or use an eye dropper to collect it all.
• DO place the mercury into a sealable container, such as a plastic bag or any available airtight container.

What Not To Do

• DON'T try to soak it up with a towel or rag to remove.
• DON'T vacuum carpeted floors contaminated with liquid mercury.

Carson River Snapshot Day set for Oct. 17

The public is invited to take part in the Fourth-Annual Carson River Snapshot Day Oct. 17, 2009. Volunteers, under the guidance of a water resource professional, will collect watershed information from 10 locations along the river at exactly the same time that morning, providing a “snapshot” of current environmental conditions at the Carson River.

During the event, volunteers will make visual observations of habitat and land uses, and measure physical and chemical characteristics. Participants will perform field tests to measure dissolved oxygen, conductivity, pH and temperature. Water samples also will be collected and analyzed at a laboratory for nutrients, sediment, and bacteria.

The data collected will be used to screen for potential water quality problems, help to establish baseline conditions, and provide additional data for water resource agencies.

Local students, scout troops and interested citizens are invited to volunteer for this important event. Experience is not necessary. Training will be provided on the day of the event. The staging location on the day of the event will be the Carson Water Subconservancy District Office in Carson City.

Team Leaders are also needed. The number of sites to be sampled will depend on the number of team leaders who participate. Team Leaders will need to attend a Team Leader Training at 3 p.m. Oct. 7. Location information will be provided during signups.

For more information, or to sign up to volunteer or become a Team Leader, contact Mary Kay Wagner at the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Water Quality Planning, at 775-687-9454.

This event, modeled after the Truckee River Snapshot Day, is sponsored by the Carson Water Subconservancy District and the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection.

NDEP Deputy Administrator Tom Porta chosen to lead ASIWPCA

NDEP Deputy Administrator Tom Porta was recently selected to serve as national president for the Association of State and Interstate Water Pollution Control Administrators (ASIWPCA).

"As ASIWPCA moves forward into the coming year we have many challenges and opportunities ahead of us," Porta wrote to the Association members recently.

Click here to view the Association's web site.

According to ASWIPCA's site: "Founded in 1961, the ASIWPCA is a national, nonpartisan professional organization. ASIWPCA members are the State, Interstate and Territorial officials who are responsible for the implementation of surface water protection programs throughout the nation.

In addition to serving as a liaison among these officials, ASIWPCA facilitates their communication with the Federal government and promotes public education. Long before the enactment of the Clean Water Act, State and Interstate professionals were working to protect and improve water quality. They continue to lead the way in creating and realizing a vision for clean water in America."

Natives Impacted by Mining Conference to be held

The Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada Tribal-State Environmental Liaison Office will hold a "Natives Impacted by Mining" Conference from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sept. 22-24 at the Atlantis Casino and Resort in Reno.

The conference will allow representatives from government agencies, organizations and tribes to discuss issues and concerns regarding mining. Speakers will include representatives from the Western Shoshone Defense Project, Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, Yerington Paiute Tribe, Bureau of Land Management, Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California, Nevada Mining Association, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, and the Great Basin Resource Watch.

To attend the conference, contact Danielle Bouas at 775-687-9530 by Aug. 28. For information about the Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada Tribal-State Environmental Liaison Office, contact Liaison Officer Tansey Smith at 775-687-9483 or email her at tsmith(at)ndep.nv.gov.

New web page created for EDEN Research Facility proposed permit

On September 26, 2008, EDEN Research, LLC formally submitted application materials to the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) for the EDEN Research Facility to be located in an enclosed building within the Dayton Valley Air Park at 10 Air Park Vista Boulevard, Dayton, NV.

NDEP has developed a web page to help explain its role in the environmental permitting process for the EDEN Facility and to serve as a clearinghouse for NDEP public information about the proposed permit.

Please click here to visit the new web page.

$1M Available for Nonpoint Source Water Pollution Prevention Projects

CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) has more than $1 million in federal funding available to provide grant assistance for projects that prevent or control nonpoint source water pollution, the leading cause of water quality impairment in Nevada.

Nonpoint source (NPS) water pollution occurs when rain, snowmelt and irrigation water flows over developed or disturbed land, carrying with it contaminants including oil, sediment, pesticides, bacteria and nutrients. This contaminated water makes its way into Nevada’s waterways either directly or through storm drains.

“Pollution from nonpoint sources is a serious threat to Nevada’s water resources,” said Birgit Widegren, supervisor of NDEP’s Nonpoint Source Program. “We seek to reduce this threat by funding water quality protection projects throughout the state.”

Examples of projects eligible for funding include:
§ Water quality improvement projects;
§ Implementation of Best Management Practices to protect water quality;
§ Public education programs aimed at reducing NPS pollution;
§ Implementation of Low Impact Development practices, and,
§ Identified projects from an approved watershed implementation plan and/or Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) implementation plan.

Proposals will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Oct. 14, 2009. Selected proposals will be awarded federal funds available under Section 319(h) of the Clean Water Act, and will be administered by NDEP’s Nonpoint Source Program.

All proposals must follow the guidelines for application outlined in the Request for Proposals (RFP), which is available for download http://ndep.nv.gov/bwqp/index.htm. State, local and tribal governments, nonprofit organizations and educational institutions are eligible to apply. A non-federal match (cash and/or in-kind) of at least 50 percent of the total project cost is required.

Contact Birgit Widegren at 775-687-9550 or Jason Kuchnicki at 775-687-9450, or via email at bwidegren@ndep.nv.gov or jkuchnic@ndep.nv.gov, respectively, for more information.