The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (IDEQ) seeks comment on Nu-West Industries/Mining Inc.’s South Central Rasmussen Ridge draft final remedial action plan pertaining to two former phosphate mines in Southeastern Idaho’s Caribou County – the South Rasmussen Ridge Mine (257 acres) and the Central Rasmussen Ridge Mine (231 acres).
On April 17, 2013, IDEQ and Nu-West entered a consent order in which Nu-West agreed to address groundwater and interconnected surface water impacts at the Caribou/Targhee National Forest site about 20 miles northeast of Soda Springs, where state water quality standards are exceeded.
The plan summarizes existing remedial actions, short- and long-term remedial alternatives, appropriate remedial action options, and a schedule for implementing and completing those actions.
Rasmussen Ridge contains several adjacent mining projects, including Agrium’s North Rasmussen Ridge Mine and P4 Production LLC’s Enoch Valley Mine, both inactive and undergoing reclamation. A constructed haul road connects the former South Rasmussen Ridge Mine and Central Rasmussen Ridge Mine.
South Rasmussen Mine post-mining reclamation operations and Itafos Conda’s active Rasmussen Valley Mine a mile south of the Nu-West site also use the site haul road.
Valleys in the area range in elevation from about 6,000 to 6,500 feet. Elevation at Rasmussen Ridge is about 7,000 feet. The Blackfoot Reservoir is about nine miles west of the Nu-West site.
Written comments about the Nu-West remedial action plan will be accepted through July 18. Questions and/or written comments may be submitted on IDEQ’s website or by mail to Stan Christensen, Mining Project Coordinator, IDEQ, 444 Hospital Way, No. 300, Pocatello, ID 83201, or by e-mailing Stan.Christensen@deq.idaho.gov.