Florence Copper has received an Underground Injection Control (UIC) draft permit from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The UIC draft permit regulates the construction and operation of Florence Copper’s injection wells at the site and is the final regulatory milestone required of Florence Copper to operate its Production Test Facility (PTF) in Florence, Arizona using in-situ copper recovery (ISCR) technology.
“I would like to acknowledge the professionalism and dedication of the staff at the EPA, who reviewed our permit application carefully and extensively,” said Dan Johnson, Vice President and General Manager Florence Copper. “We are excited to have achieved this critical milestone and look forward to operating our in-situ recovery technology PTF.”
The Phase 1 PTF is a pilot-scale demonstration of commercial ISCR operations. It will incorporate the drilling of 24 wells, the injection and recovery of ISCR solution, the manufacture of 99.999% pure copper cathode and the observation and monitoring of groundwater quality and other environmental conditions. Its main goals are:
- To optimize the process used by previous property owner BHP Copper between 1997 and 1998 to recover valuable copper minerals while maintaining hydraulic control of injected solutions
- To further enhance the potential for economic recovery of copper
- To demonstrate and enhance best water management practices and new treatment technologies for commercial-scale operations
- To demonstrate the safety and reliability of the ISCR process and evaluate design improvements to ensure full compliance with permit conditions enforced by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) and the EPA.
The well field will include four injection wells, nine recovery wells, four geochemical sampling wells and seven observation wells. Every injection well will be surrounded by four recovery wells. Wells will be used for the injection and recovery of ISCR solution. This solution is 99.7% water and 1/3 of 1% sulphuric acid by volume, and similar in pH to household vinegar.
ISCR solution will be injected into a copper-bearing zone located approximately 135 to 365 m below surface. Injection and recovery wells will be encased in concrete protective secondary outer casing to ensure that all ISCR solution is injected and recovered in the copper-bearing zone.
Processing facilities and equipment to be built and installed as part of the Phase 1 PTF include tanks for processing and storing ISCR solutions, water treatment tanks and equipment and storage and off-loading facilities for process chemicals.
All tanks used for storing and processing ISCR solutions will be equipped with secondary and tertiary containment to prevent releases into the environment.
A highly engineered SX/EW plant will be constructed on-site for the manufacture of 99.999% pure copper cathode. www.florencecopper.com
