Project Case Study: Arizona
During December 2003, the entire mill superstructure, equipment, tanks, and waste concrete were removed using non-CHF funds. BLM then built an on-site tailings repository in FY06 using CHF funds. All mill tailings were moved from the north and eat tailing pile areas to the central tailings pile area. The surface was covered with the remnants of coal slurry that were spilled from a pipeline approximately 10 miles away from the Tyro Mill Site.
The site was recontoured to allow drainage to go to the south of the reposity and circumvent the site from north to west around the base of a rock formation were the original drainage had been. Natural revegetation and some seed will be applied to this site by volunteer assistance and the Bullhead city eagle scouts to complete the final revegetation of this site. This successful recountouring and repository was completed in April 2006.
More information on Arizona AML sites can be found by visiting the BLM Arizona State Office AML Web site or the BLM Arizona AML Strategic Plan.
Arizona Case Study: Tyro Mill
Location
The Tyro Mill is an abandoned mill site near Bullhead City, AZ in northwest Arizona. It is located at the confluence of two dry washes which drain seven miles to the west into the Colorado River at a residential area called Katherine’s Landing.
Type of Site
The site consisted of a cyanide mill complex formerly used for processing precious metal ores. Immediately downhill from the former processing area is a series of tailings ponds situated in the confluence of two dry washes. Three dam embankments provide containment for the tailings. Two of the tailings dam embankments are constructed entirely from tailings material and all three of these structures are actively eroding. These include the western pile along the north side of the east-west drainage, just below the conjunction of the north drainage; one upstream of the western pile and across the north drainage; and, one within the north drainage. The mill site was located adjacent to and upstream of the second tailings pile.
Estimated Cost
$700,000
Start Date
The EE/CA was completed during October 2002, and the Action Memorandum was signed April 1, 2004.
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