OSM informal conference update Kopper Glo Fuel Refuse Area #2

James Kane provided the following write up:::::::

Here's the link to the pictures.

http://s423.photobucket.com/albums/pp311/laserjuice/Kopper%20Glo%20Fuel%20Minesite/

The conference was totally sweet! It was Me, Jeff Coker with OSM, James from Kopper Glo, and a court reporter which cost OSM $40.

I put together a slide show and showed it to James and Jeff on my laptop, it took about 35 minutes. I recommended that Kopper Glo do several things:

1. Continuously monitor the discharge from the site, since state rules say that at no time can the quality standards be exceeded.

2. Kopper Glo, in the permit revision, suggested the outflow wasn't a big deal because, and I quote, "The flow is just a couple of gallons per minute". I corrected them and demanded that OSM/TN test or force testing of the effluent for a huge list of metals, and then add these metals (if they showed up) back into the permit, forcing the mine to test specifically for these toxins.

3. I suggested that they clean up the big piles of coal debris hanging out near the streams. I mentioned that they looked like the ash from Kingston.

4. I brought up something cool I found in the state rules- TDS, or the dissolved solids, cannot be filtered out, and probably impair waters of the state. Nobody balked at this, so basically they conceded that, yeah, the effluent should be tested, and they should be accountable for whatever they find.

5. I told Kopper Glo that they should look into the MMSD (Mining, Minerals, Sustainable Development) recommendations.

Finally, I ended with a nice picture of intact mountains. I think they got the irony.

Through the whole process, Jeff Coker was leaning in and was totally absorbed. Afterwards he was really positive, said the presentation brought up good points and was very thorough. He was really impressed and shot the breeze for about 15 minutes afterwards- we might have something here, guys! The Kopper Glo guy was scowling, and he didn't refute anything- and it's on the record!

We'll get something in about two weeks or so back from OSM. Hopefully the permit'll go through, but cost the mine a lot more in testing/monitoring, if they buy our arguments. Maybe next time they'll bring a lawyer or something.

Be excellent,

James

James Kane took UMD's new digital water monitor on this mine site visit. He found a pH of 3 in one of the holding ponds of the refuse area. Jeff Coker of OSM was so impressed by UMD's new equipment he posed for a photo with the device and commented about how it was nicer than any OSM equipment. Thanks NRDC for the water monitor!!!!