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Kennecott Utah Copper

  

Kennecott Utah Copper - Resolving a serious groundwater problem: Kennecott Utah Copper, in consultation with the community and regulatory authorities, is successfully addressing groundwater contamination associated with historical mining practices in the southwestern Jordan Valley of Utah, near Salt Lake City.

Large-scale copper mining in the Jordan Valley commenced in 1904. Seepage from water storage ponds and waste rock piles over several decades created acidic groundwater contamination with highly elevated sulphate and heavy metal concentrations.

Kennecott has developed an extensive containment programme to eliminate the sources of contamination entering groundwater. Work also aims to contain the groundwater contamination and treat the affected water for drinking and irrigation use. These measures are designed to achieve a sustainable water management programme that meets the needs of regulators, the community and the company.

 
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Summary & key information
> Management systems
> > Environmental standards
> Airborne emissions
> > What do we emit?
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> > Greenhouse gases we produce
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> > Procurement process
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> Water
> > How do we use water?
> > Rio Tinto Water principles
> > Examples of water management
> > > Kennecott Utah Copper
> > > Coal & Allied
> > > Rössing Uranium
> > > Hamersley Iron
> Land
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> Mineral & other wastes
> > How do we dispose of wastes?
> > Mineral wastes
> > > Acid rock drainage
> > Non mineral wastes
> > Offsite disposal: Lihir
> > Offsite disposal: Iron Ore Company

External links:
Kennecott water programme