Appendix E1 – TSF Management Plan

Seepage Recovery Bores

Seepage recovery bores will continue to function post-closure to mitigate the environmental impacts of
seepage. It is currently estimated that seepage reclamation will occur for at least 30 years after
decommissioning before the potentiometric head in the TSF is reduced sufficiently that seepage will not be
expressed at the surface. However, further seepage studies will be undertaken to verify and predict future
seepage rates.
There are a number of variables that may affect the period that the recovery bores will need to be operated
following decommissioning and an observational approach is proposed. This would include a series of
monitoring bores that would be installed within the TSF, the perimeter embankment and the area down-
gradient of the TSF to monitor the level and quality of groundwater.
The operation of the recovery bores for the period following site closure when power is no longer readily
available will be undertaken using renewable energy sources that could include either solar or wind powered
pumps. The groundwater monitoring data collected during the operation of the TSF will be used to evaluate
which system is most suitable. The recovery well system will be designed to have a much greater pumping
capacity than theoretically required and it may be acceptable to have intermittent pumping from the bores
particularly as the volume of seepage flows reduce with time. Monitoring of the performance of the recovery
bores using alternate power sources will be undertaken to confirm that satisfactory performance can be
provided.
After mining activities have ceased, seepage water collected from the recovery bores will no longer be able to
be reused in the concentrator. Instead it will be pumped to the open pit void. Based on previous modelling
results, the volume of seepage that will be collected in a typical year after the TSF is decommissioned is of the
order of 73,000 m3 (200 m3 per day) (URS 2005).
As discussed in Chapter 5 – Rehabilitation and Decommissioning and Appendix E4 – Mine Closure Plan, after
site closure the open pit void will be allowed to fill with groundwater inflow and surface water drainage.
Discharging the TSF seepage water into the open pit will increase the depth of water in the pit over a year by
less than 10 cm which will be insignificant in an open pit that will be over 400 m deep.

6.3 Final TSF Land Use

The final land use for the top of the TSF will be confirmed in the Life of Mine Completion Plan which will
include rehabilitation strategies developed from experience to be gained from the closure of the existing TSF
cell.

The current expectation is that it will be retained as an area of stable self-sustaining native vegetation. It is
not expected that the area will be used for cattle grazing due to the difficulty in providing access for cattle
and potential for disturbance and erosion.

6.4 TSF Rehabilitation Monitoring

Undertaking rehabilitation trials and monitoring of the early rehabilitation works for the existing TSF cell will
include the performance of capping materials and depth (such as using lysimeters), topsoil cover (i.e.
evidence of topsoil erosion and loss), vegetation cover species and resilience, integrity of constructed
drainage, erosion and silt accumulation in constructed drainages, net sediment loss rates (tonnes/ha/year),
sediment quality and runoff quality.
These monitoring data will be used to review the performance of the rehabilitation works implemented for
the existing cell and any deficiencies will be remediated including all relevant aspects and causes of poor
performance. For example, if erosion is identified due to insufficient vegetation growth indirectly caused by
inadequate topsoil cover, topsoil replenishment and protection against topsoil depletion would be key
requirements to remediate the TSF rehabilitation.
Progressive rehabilitation monitoring is a key requirement to adapt and implement remedial and contingency
works to achieve the objective of a stable and sustainable landform. The knowledge and experience gained
McArthur River Mine Phase 3 Development Project
Draft Environmental Impact Statement E1-42