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5.1.3 Monitoring
RER initiated air quality monitoring to establish baseline conditions for assessment of potential
impacts to human health and the environment from mining operations. A meteorological station
has been installed to continuously monitor site weather conditions, and four hi-volume air
sampling stations have been installed at the locations shown on Map 5.1-1. These stations
monitor particulate matter at two particle size fractions (PM
10
and PM
2.5
). The air stations also
collect particulates for radiological and non-radiological chemical analysis. The results of
continuous, PM
10
and PM
2.5
monitoring are provided in Appendix G.
5.1.4 Design Features/Environmental Protection Measures
RER has identified the following design features/environmental protection measures to reduce
potential impacts to air quality:
The entire length of the Miller Creek Access Road, secondary road, and haul roads
as shown on Map 4.2-2 will be watered on a regular basis to control dust. If
necessary, additional chemicals will be used such as calcium or magnesium
chloride or other natural dust suppressant chemicals to provide longer term dust
suppression.
Maximum speed limits on haul roads will be 20 mph to reduce fugitive dust
generation and provide for safe travel.
The PUG Plant will be contained inside a building at the facilities area. A wet
suppression system comprised of standard water suppression sprays at the dump
hopper or transfer points will be installed to control fugitive dust.
Dust from the Low Grade Ore Stockpile and other ore stockpiles will be controlled
using water truck spray turrets on an as-needed basis.
Dust from placement of waste rock will be controlled by watering the roads and pile
areas where truck traffic occurs. If needed in particularly dusty conditions, turrets on
the water truck will be used to direct water sprays to dust-generating sources during
truck unloading.
Disturbed areas around the PUG Facility (fueling island, mine shop, truck wash
station, PUG Plant, guard house, and the explosives magazines) will be covered
with coarse gravel or crushed rock to control fugitive dust from vehicle traffic in the
area. Other disturbed areas will be revegetated as soon as practicable to assist in
dust control.
5.2
RADIOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION
5.2.1 Baseline Radiological Monitoring
RER has initiated baseline radiological investigations of air, surface/groundwater and soil within
the Project Area because the project will include potential sources of radionuclides from the
Mineable Pit, Waste Rock Facility, and the PUG Plant. Therefore, the objective of the
radiological monitoring program is to establish baseline concentrations of radionuclides in air
particulates, surface water, groundwater, and soil to assess impacts to human health and the
environment during construction, operation, and closure. It is anticipated that natural uranium
and thorium, radon-222, radon-220, radium-226, and radium-228 will be the primary sources of
potential exposure from air and soil exposure pathways. The results of the baseline radiological
monitoring to date are provided in Appendix G. The results indicate that the mineralized areas
exhibit higher levels of radioactivity due to near surface expressions of naturally occurring
radioactive material. In addition, Appendix G provides ambient radon concentrations collected at
the air monitoring station locations and stream gauging locations (Table 7.1); radionuclide
concentrations in filters (Table 8.1); radionuclide concentrations in air (Table 8.2); lanthanide
concentrations on filters and in air (Table 8.4); PM
10
concentrations at the air monitoring station
locations (Table 8.6) and PM
2.5
concentrations at the air monitoring station locations (Table 8.7).
