Water Treatment/Discharge in Perpetuity. Cost and Liability “The draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Pebble Mine estimates that it will generate an average of 6.8 billion gallons per year of waste water during operations and 11.8 billion gallons per year during closure, requiring capture and treatment. The waste water will contain metals and other pollution harmful to fish and public health.”
The DEIS water treatment estimates reflect the “small” uneconomic mine plan denied by the USACE. To demonstrate positive economics the entire resource may require mining. If correct, water treatment estimates would dramatically increase along with cost and liability.
No mining company is going to assume water treatment and discharge meeting aquatic standards in perpetuity. This project is a water balance nightmare.