Groundwater Modeling Study in Support of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) – Kearny, AZ

2015 - 2017: Chris, under a former employer, was the Project Manager & Lead Groundwater Modeler for this project. The client plans to construct & operate a new tailings storage facility (TSF) to accommodate future expansion of copper mining activities. When completed, the TSF will be approximately 4-square miles with a total storage capacity of 750 million tons, with a projected working life span of 30 to 50 years.

The model was used to sport the project's Environmental Impact Study (EIS) to evaluate if tailings-derived fluids from the TSF would migrate through the subsurface & travel to the adjacent & upgradient nearby perennial river (with protected aquatic and non-aquatic species) during the 65-year projected life of the TSF.

A groundwater flow model coupled with predictive particle tracking simulations were conducted indicating no tailings seepage out of the TSF over the 65-yr period. The model results and the EIS were subsequently approved by the EPA.

Confidential Mining Client, Eastern AZ