Leak and company response Talvivaara Mining Company

the holding ponds in june 2013.

while winter repairs had been stabilized freezing temperatures, recent spring weather has allowed more contaminated liquid escape holding pond. talvivaara leaking waste water 7,000 cubic metres hour on 8 april 2013 leak noticed on sunday. before leak there 620,000 cubic meters of waste water in reservoir, , monday afternoon 370,000 cubic meters remained, 250,000 cubic meters of contaminated liquid released environment, again. in comparison, large oil tanker contains 100,000 cubic metres.

on 9 april 2013 announced recent leak has been plugged, , talvivaara mining company quick claim there no fear leak might resume again. not clear how company officials able predict future such confidence. harri natunen, talvivaara’s head of production, admitted ...less 400,000 cubic metres of waste water had escaped pond recently, considerably more 250,000 cubic meters suggested have leaked on 8.4.2013. fourth major discharge mine since 2008, 3 in last 6 months.

the troubled talvivaara mining company requested permission on 10 april 2013 release additional 820,000 cubic meters of waste water local environment, on top of 1.8 million cubic metres has permits. portion of additional 820,000 cubic meters (620,000 cubic meters) planned released leaking gypsum pond, contains high levels of uranium , other toxic metals. releasing such large amount of contaminated waste water environment take pressure off pond s containment structure, has softened consequence of recent spring thaw. freezing winter temperatures had kept waste water leaking during previous 4 months, renewed leak on 8 april 2013 has demonstrated temporary advantage has been lost. presently not clear if mining company wait integrity of pond fail in catastrophic way, or if move ahead unauthorized release of waste water. unlikely permit granted in time allow more managed response. regional office of finnish economic development, transport , environment (ely centre) has apparently adopted wait , see policy, mandate monitor both economic development in area , environmental concerns seem @ odds, , such internal confusion tends limit ability of ely make such important decisions. unclear if company s insurance policy cover cleanup if talvivaara company goes bankruptcy. on 12 april 2013, talvivaara mining company submitted application release additional quantities of waste water local environment.

after releasing more contaminated water surrounding environment spring, talvivaara mining company announced mining operations restarted on monday 13 may 2013. mine expected restart no sooner summer, amount of leaked liquid sufficient enough advance schedule several months. company eager recover serious financial losses came accidental leak began last year, , earlier restart should restore bottom line troubled fiscal year. according company, resumption of ore production improve overall water levels , site water management. apparently improvement come through dissolving contaminated waste water more clean water. additional waste water leaked spring relieve stress on walls of leaky holding pond repaired last winter, make room larger volumes of diluted waste water expected new waste management plan. there no public mention of creating larger or additional holding ponds @ point, nor possibility of cutting on production.

on 21 may 2013, talvivaara waste water colored river lumijoki near mine red , orange.