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Show 3 U.S. EPA sa "i. REGIO '8 COMMENTS FOR THE KENNECOTT TAILINGS MODERNIZATION PROJECT DRAFT EIS The 2 (and subsequent poject area figures): Figure 1 extent full the area to reflect should be revised study boundary of area impacted by the proposed action. The environmental impacts potentially affect portions of the Grea.t Salt Lake, the 1. lake 2. - shore, Page 2-8 the highway, the rail tracks, and (Technical Criteria Bullet 1): portions In the of event ( Magna. that 30 years, how would the tailings mining exceed 25 impoundment design accommodate future expansion (raising the impoundment, new expansion area)? reserves and - The Draft EIS emphasizes the impact of 3. Pages 3-17 and 3-51: The selenium on Great Salt Lake (GSL) biological resources. The discussion on limiting the analysis to selenium is unclear. water quality analysis should evaluate all parameters of the proposal which may adversely affect existing water quality, including State use designations. s ) Page 3-51 states "Based on a review of the Utah standards, the watercourses in the vicinity of the existing tailings impoundment fall under Class 6 criteria, for which general Standards are set on a site-specific standards do not exist. basis for Class 6 waters, and have not been set for the waters under consideration. Thus, there are currently no applicable .This section is not limits for the waters." regulatory clarification. and further accurate requires completely Although water courses flowing- into the GSL are Class 6, classified as a Class 5 water with which use designations, protect the Lake for primary and special contact recreation, aquatic wildlife, and mineral secondary extraction (Standards of Quality for Waters of the State, R317-2-6.5, UDEQ, 2/16/94). Therefore, the Class 6 waters, which flow into the Great Salt Lake can adversely affect the Lake's EPA recommends that the analysis focus on all Class 5 status. in the discharge permit from the tailings listed parameters which may impact the Lake's use classification. impoundment, the Great Salt Lake has been Because the toxic effects of selenium 4. Page 3-37 and 3-38: and other metals on GSL organisms and impacts of bioaccumulation the aquatic biota conclusions appear are unknown at this time, On page 3-37, paragraph 4, the DEIS indicates that speculative. the selenium concentration in the West C-7 Ditch would increase to 170 mg/l (assumed to be J.l.g/I) , a level, which exceeds state or federal standards for protection of aquatic biota (marine standards). Tpe EIS immediately discounts this effect by suggesting that precipitation and dilution of selenium in the .deeper waters and sediments of the Lake would limit its - |
