barir field phosphate mine
TRANSCRIPT
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Barir Field Phosphate Mine Rotem-Amfert Negev Ltd. is interested in establishing
a new phosphate mine in the Barir Mt. area. For this purpose, Geo-prospect has prepared a detailed plan.
Essence of the plan: Activity at the site will comprise of mining only. The phosphate mined, will be enriched and
processed to industrial products at the existing plants at the Rotem Plain. The Rotem plants are located 20 km southern to Arad city.
The access road will go southward and connect to the existing plants.
At a later stage a conveyor belt is planned to transport the phosphate to the plants.
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Chemical Composition
The majority of the material will be over-burden composed of carbonates.
The ore includes phosphorus oxides with a 26% concentration, and an average Uranium concentration of 50 PPM.
Enrichment will not be conducted at the site!
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Conclusions of Environmental Impact Survey The site is not visible from its surroundings. There will not be significant damage to the biological
and zoological species diversity. The site is located in an area that is not sensitive in
the sense of scenery or natural resources. The site corresponds to all outline plans applying to
the location. Within the site and its immediate surroundings, there
are local populations. The plan corresponds to policy regarding arrangement for permanent and high-quality housing for those residents, far from the mining area.
Noise, dust, and vibration nuisances are not expected for the permanent population of the area.
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Ministry of Environmental Protection’sattention to Barir Field plan
1999 Involvement from the early stages of preparation of the plan
1/2000 Submission of guidelines for preparation of Environmental Impact Survey
3/2000 Approval of the plan by the District Committee
8/2001 Upon request of the Ministry, the survey was sent for preliminary evaluation
9/2001 The survey was officially submitted
1/2002 First reaction of the Ministry regarding noise
2/2002 Response submitted regarding noise issue
4/2002 Request for additions, without air quality chapter
7/2002 Meeting regarding air quality after the commenting of the head of the Air Quality Branch of the Ministry- Southern District
10/2002 Additional meeting with the head of the Air Quality Dept. at Rotem
1/2003 The external expert submits his/her opinion to the survey
2/2003 The Ministry submits the requested additions including air quality chapter
6/2003 The Ministry presents a correction to the additions document
8/2004 Ministry of Environmental Protection’s opinion
1/2005 Public hearing
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Work Progress- Air quality Preparation of guidelines for the Environmental Impact
study: Commissioning of Prof. Skibbin to prepare these
guidelines for Ministry of Environmental Protection (MOE).
Background particle concentration measurements. Over viewing and examination of emission factors by Prof.
Skibbin. Compatibility of the model to work on a parallelized
supercomputer at Tel Aviv University. Running the model for TSP, PM10, and phosphate Examination and verification of the parallelized model by
the computing system consultant of the MOE. Further examination and verification by a Canadian
expert- Prof. Jesse Teh.
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Work Progress- Air Quality (cont.) Checking the model results by the district and by the
Air Quality Dept. Checking the model results by the local municipality
environmental dept. Checking the model results by Prof. Skibbin Checking the model results by Prof. Jesse The. Approval of the Air Quality chapter by the MOE. Additional study of PM2.5 dispersion, according to
Ministry of Health demand. Model re-runs using AERMOD dispersion model and
updated emission factors according to AP-42 (TSP ,PM10 ,PM2.5).
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Average annual wind speed 4.13 m/sec
Most frequent wind direction: western and north eastern
Frequency of wind blowing towards Arad and Kseife is low.
Wind Rose
Wind towards
Arad
Wind towards Kseife
Arad 2005-2009Arad 2005-2009
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Dispersion Model CalculationsCalculation model: AERMOD Regulatory model, approved and maintained by US EPA Recommended by the US EPA for dispersion calculations of
gaseous and particulate pollutants. Recommended by the MOE.
Pollutant dispersion calculation were carried out for: PM2.5, TSP, PM10 and P2O5. Emission factors for these pollutants are calculated in accordance with
AP-42 guidelines. Meteorological input comprises of 5 year hourly data, from the Arad
meteorological station. Two work scenarios were examined. The results presented are of
scenario B. Mining at the north east area of the Barir field- closest to Arad. Mining activity includes removal of over burden, phosphate mining,
replacement of burden, preliminary crushing and conveyor belt transport . Annual mining volume: 2 million ton phosphate, 5.7 million ton
overburden.
12208000 210000 212000 214000 216000 218000 220000 222000
558000
560000
562000
564000
566000
568000
570000
572000
574000
576000
578000PM10 24H Air qualitystandard:150 mcg/m3
Work scenario B – PM10maximum 24H concentrations
13 208000 210000 212000 214000 216000 218000 220000 222000558000
560000
562000
564000
566000
568000
570000
572000
574000
576000
578000
Work scenario B –P2O5maximum half-hourly concentrations
P2O5 Half-hourlystandard:250 mcg/m3
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PM2.5 Emissions
As a conservative estimate emission factors for PM2.5, were taken as 30% of the PM10 emissions.
Based on particle size distribution Based on mass ratio between this distribution and the
mass of fine particles, smaller than 2.5 micron.
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PM2.5 results
Relative to the future air quality standard
mcg/m3Receptor
0.008
0.004
0.21
0.1
Arad, S. Neurimneighborhood
Kseife
Calculated annual averages results:
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Summary We have calculated the dispersion of 4 types of
particulate pollutants, for 2 work scenarios and for five full meteorological years.
No exceedances from air quality standards are expected in the entire outline area of Arad and Kseife, due to mining work.
The maximum calculated values in the outline plan area of the city of Arad, and the town of Kseife, are considerably lower than the air quality standard.
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Regulatory bodies recommendations Carrying out an exsperimental mining prior to
approving the plan Principles of experimental mining process:
Continuous monitoring set-up prior to mining Experimental mining at the site for one year- during
which time the success parameters will be assessed, according to definitions set up ahead of time.
Continuous monitoring during mining Establishment of a supervision team Supervision by the environmental unit of Arad Work stopage during problematic meteorological
conditions Environmental compensation
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Radon
During the preparation of survey, Dr. Shirav of the Geological Survey of Israel, presented his opinion regarding radon fluxes (attached as Appendix 6 of the survey)
The opinion states that: “High radon concentrations are found in the near proximity of fresh outcrops of rich phosphate layers, is immediately diluted by the fresh air and definitely at a short distance from the active mining or from the piles of mined phosphate the radon concentration is completely unaffected. Therefore, in the Arad area as well, or even at closer in habited areas, there should not be any increase in radon in the air due to mining at the Barir field”
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Radon
According to this recommendation, settled dust measurements were conducted for this survey for phosphate P2O5
The amount of settled dust measured was very low An additional document presented as an appendix to
the survey, is radon concentration measurements in the vicinity of the mining area, according to distances estimated in Germany by Dr. M. Kimmel.
For these measurements 500 monitoring points were established around mines that could be affected by radon emissions.
Radon (cont.)
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0
50
100
150
200
250
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
Rado
n Co
ncen
tratio
n in
Bq/
m³
0
5
10
15
20
25
Rado
n Em
issi
on fr
om S
haft
379
in T
Bq
Long-term Outdoor Radon in the Vicinity of Shaft 379
Radon emission
distance 90 mdistance 900 m Background
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The graph shows the strong match between radon emission and the concentration very near the mine.
At a range of 900 m the measured concentrations are much lower, and similar to background values
In accordance with this, a 1 km range has been determined as the domain of influence for the Barir field plan.