Gypsum pond leak Talvivaara Mining Company

1 gypsum pond leak

1.1 leak , company response

1.1.1 leaking resumes in april 2013


1.2 government response
1.3 public response

gypsum pond leak

gypsum pond in june 2013.

in november 2012, there major leak gypsum waste pond, contaminated nickel, uranium , other toxic metals. finland s environment minister visited site, after calling serious environmental crime . mining firm posted 4.3 million euro loss in third quarter of 2012, blaming weak output , low nickel prices. on same day, finland s largest newspaper, helsingin sanomat, published editorial column labeled company large-scale failure, casts shadow on efficiency of finnish society whole , criticizing finnish officials not taking administrative action against mining company environmental problems. warmer spring weather, holding pond leaked estimated 250,000 cubic meters of contaminated liquid environment, again.

leak , company response

the talvivaara waste water pond leaked uranium , other toxic metals environment. earlier normal winter conditions provide additional challenge manage problem. freezing temperatures should solidify dams being built winter, temporary advantage lost in spring. teams of army conscripts , local volunteer firefighters worked company around clock. helicopters in use, in addition large-scale earth-moving equipment. 200 people involved in hasty repair effort. according company, leak has been stopped.

the mining company s ceo harri natunen stated have [a] legally mandated liability insurance covers expenses if we’re unable pay . not clear, however, if cleanup expenses still covered if company went bankruptcy. natunen stated risk future leaks eliminated. further promised leak @ mine last. local weather conditions have continued improve, should allow work crews inspect repairs, , provide evidence based evaluations of current situation. preventative aerial application of lime has commenced, curtail spread of toxic metal plume in naturally acidic soil of region.

on 15 november 2012, original ceo, pekka perä, returned post stabilize situation, , pledged cover damages caused leak, , not sell own stock in mine. analysis exceptionally high rainfall ultimate cause leak. forced workers pump acidic overflowing water gypsum pond, intended neutralized tailings. thus, effect of leak more severe acidic water dissolved more metals. mr. perä apologized emotional , potential environmental harm.

leaking resumes in april 2013

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.

government response

finland s permanent secretary @ ministry of employment , economy informed company s operations cannot continue before further studies completed. said results waste water samples indicate environmental permits issued not in line current operations. safety investigation authority, government agency responsible investigation of major accidents, has started investigation talvivaara.

the government agency finnish environment institute (syke) determined individual metal plumes released lumijoki concentrated enough potentially cause local fish kills far downstream. largest problem accumulation of aluminum gills, nickel, zinc, cadmium , uranium expected cause ichtyotoxicity. however, no prohibitions of fishing have been imposed, because aluminum , cadmium accumulate in parts discarded offal (gills , livers, respectively). however, aggressive liming, acidification has been limited , no fish kills have materialized. finnish national institute health , welfare (thl) has declared waste water leaked talvivaara mining has no immediate serious effects on human health . finnish radiation , nuclear authority (stuk) reported uranium levels 3.5 times higher recommended limit of 100 micrograms per liter, not high enough acutely dangerous humans. in march 2012, concentration of uranium 600 micrograms of uranium per litre in pond near talvivaara mine @ sotkamo. upper limit drinking water 100 µg/l.

talvivaara allowed pump 300.000 m metal-containing wastewaters natural lakes outside mine area in november 2012.

environmental officials @ local ely-keskus requested in january 2013 opinions on proposal finnish safety , chemicals agency tukes , radiation , nuclear safety authority (stuk).

finland s minister international development, heidi hautala (green party) has criticized government s state-run investment company solidium quietly doubling share holdings in beleaguered talvivaara mining company. solidium controls 17 percent of talvivaara shares, making company’s largest single shareholder. on monday 15 april, hautala criticised solidium’s actions in talvivaara case, saying government investor (solidium) should have engaged in serious reflection, since talvivaara not means considered investment. apparently decision made without discussion within government.

in october 2013, vaasa administrative court ruled company must limit waste water discharges.

in september 2014, 4 directors including current , former ceo charged aggravated environmental offense, carries sentence of 4 months 6 years imprisonment. prosecutor seeks fine of 850,000 €, legal maximum, imposed on talvivaara mining company. court process begin in kainuu district court. nevertheless, board unanimously decided continue ceo s tenure; company denies charges of criminal offense. plaintiffs 3 partition units, 2 property owners , 2 state agencies.

public response

demonstration against talvivaara in helsinki, finland on november 14th, 2012.

finnish association nature conservation , greenpeace nordic have informed of damage. there demonstration in 15.11.2012 in helsinki. finnish association nature conservation reminded environmental law demands immediate corrective action , restoration. in november 2012, greenpeace demanded close talvivaara mining operations. journalists have not been permitted enter area acquaint situation. in november 2012, finland’s largest environmental ngo, finnish association nature conservation, called government intervention in matter.

about 100 claims damages have been lodged property owners, more expected.

janne i. hukkinen, professor of environmental policy @ university of helsinki, criticized new environmental administration of finland. previous government established local ely centres, responsible employment , economic policy, transport , environmental monitoring. thus, local environmental agencies, governed independently, placed under jurisdiction of officer responsible ministry of employment , economy. indeed, ministers responsible, paula lehtomäki , jyri häkämies, gave responsibility environmental permits , regulation of talvivaara mine single official. häkämies, minister of economic affairs, resigned shortly after event. prof. hukkinen demands independent environmental administration should re-established such openly critical of business interests.

the finnish association nature conservation (sll) demanded closing of talvivaara mine in may 2013.