About the Project
The Holden Mine Cleanup Project cleanup project was divided into two phases. The first phase was completed in 2018 and a second, smaller phase is planned to begin construction in the next few years. Water, soil and biological monitoring and water treatment are ongoing and will continue for several years to ensure the cleanup meets federal and state standards.
Phase 1
Rio Tinto started construction on the Holden Mine Cleanup project in 2012 and the first phase was completed in 2018. The lead agency for the cleanup, the U.S. Forest Service, has confirmed that Rio Tinto has completed the first phase of the project in compliance with the approved design. Rio Tinto spent over half a million dollars and more than 2.2 million worker hours on phase one.
Reshaped and contoured nine million tons of tailings and 250,000 tons of waste rock piles to stabilize the slopes. Rio Tinto added soil cover to the new contoured slopes and planted native trees and shrubs. As a result, Tailings and waste rock piles can now better withstand earthquakes.
Reshaped and contoured nine million tons of tailings and 250,000 tons of waste rock piles to stabilize the slopes. Rio Tinto added soil cover to the new contoured slopes and planted native trees and shrubs. As a result, Tailings and waste rock piles can now better withstand earthquakes.
Reshaped and contoured nine million tons of tailings and 250,000 tons of waste rock piles to stabilize the slopes. Rio Tinto added soil cover to the new contoured slopes and planted native trees and shrubs. As a result, Tailings and waste rock piles can now better withstand earthquakes.
Reshaped and contoured nine million tons of tailings and 250,000 tons of waste rock piles to stabilize the slopes. Rio Tinto added soil cover to the new contoured slopes and planted native trees and shrubs. As a result, Tailings and waste rock piles can now better withstand earthquakes.
Reshaped and contoured nine million tons of tailings and 250,000 tons of waste rock piles to stabilize the slopes. Rio Tinto added soil cover to the new contoured slopes and planted native trees and shrubs. As a result, Tailings and waste rock piles can now better withstand earthquakes.
Reshaped and contoured nine million tons of tailings and 250,000 tons of waste rock piles to stabilize the slopes. Rio Tinto added soil cover to the new contoured slopes and planted native trees and shrubs. As a result, Tailings and waste rock piles can now better withstand earthquakes.
Reshaped and contoured nine million tons of tailings and 250,000 tons of waste rock piles to stabilize the slopes. Rio Tinto added soil cover to the new contoured slopes and planted native trees and shrubs. As a result, Tailings and waste rock piles can now better withstand earthquakes.
Reshaped and contoured nine million tons of tailings and 250,000 tons of waste rock piles to stabilize the slopes. Rio Tinto added soil cover to the new contoured slopes and planted native trees and shrubs. As a result, Tailings and waste rock piles can now better withstand earthquakes.
Reshaped and contoured nine million tons of tailings and 250,000 tons of waste rock piles to stabilize the slopes. Rio Tinto added soil cover to the new contoured slopes and planted native trees and shrubs. As a result, Tailings and waste rock piles can now better withstand earthquakes.
Built a massive underground barrier wall and water collection system to prevent further contamination of Railroad and Copper Creek, and to direct contaminated water to the treatment plant. Ground and surface water will be monitored for years to come to ensure they meet federal and state standards.
Built a massive underground barrier wall and water collection system to prevent further contamination of Railroad and Copper Creek, and to direct contaminated water to the treatment plant. Ground and surface water will be monitored for years to come to ensure they meet federal and state standards.
Built a massive underground barrier wall and water collection system to prevent further contamination of Railroad and Copper Creek, and to direct contaminated water to the treatment plant. Ground and surface water will be monitored for years to come to ensure they meet federal and state standards.
Built a massive underground barrier wall and water collection system to prevent further contamination of Railroad and Copper Creek, and to direct contaminated water to the treatment plant. Ground and surface water will be monitored for years to come to ensure they meet federal and state standards.
Built a massive underground barrier wall and water collection system to prevent further contamination of Railroad and Copper Creek, and to direct contaminated water to the treatment plant. Ground and surface water will be monitored for years to come to ensure they meet federal and state standards.
Built a massive underground barrier wall and water collection system to prevent further contamination of Railroad and Copper Creek, and to direct contaminated water to the treatment plant. Ground and surface water will be monitored for years to come to ensure they meet federal and state standards.
Demolished and secured the old mill building site.
Demolished and secured the old mill building site.
Demolished and secured the old mill building site.
Demolished and secured the old mill building site.
Demolished and secured the old mill building site.
Realigned 900 feet of Railroad Creek to eliminate tailings pile erosion and increase ecological habitat in the creek. Water in Railroad Creek now complies with federal and state standards.
Realigned 900 feet of Railroad Creek to eliminate tailings pile erosion and increase ecological habitat in the creek. Water in Railroad Creek now complies with federal and state standards.
Realigned 900 feet of Railroad Creek to eliminate tailings pile erosion and increase ecological habitat in the creek. Water in Railroad Creek now complies with federal and state standards.
Realigned 900 feet of Railroad Creek to eliminate tailings pile erosion and increase ecological habitat in the creek. Water in Railroad Creek now complies with federal and state standards.
Realigned 900 feet of Railroad Creek to eliminate tailings pile erosion and increase ecological habitat in the creek. Water in Railroad Creek now complies with federal and state standards.
Realigned 900 feet of Railroad Creek to eliminate tailings pile erosion and increase ecological habitat in the creek. Water in Railroad Creek now complies with federal and state standards.
Realigned 900 feet of Railroad Creek to eliminate tailings pile erosion and increase ecological habitat in the creek. Water in Railroad Creek now complies with federal and state standards.
Realigned 900 feet of Railroad Creek to eliminate tailings pile erosion and increase ecological habitat in the creek. Water in Railroad Creek now complies with federal and state standards.
Realigned 900 feet of Railroad Creek to eliminate tailings pile erosion and increase ecological habitat in the creek. Water in Railroad Creek now complies with federal and state standards.
Built a larger, safer parking area at the Lake Chelan Boat Company, a new boat ramp at Lucerne and improved an access road to Holden Village to maintain and improve public access.
Built a larger, safer parking area at the Lake Chelan Boat Company, a new boat ramp at Lucerne and improved an access road to Holden Village to maintain and improve public access.
Built a larger, safer parking area at the Lake Chelan Boat Company, a new boat ramp at Lucerne and improved an access road to Holden Village to maintain and improve public access.
Built a larger, safer parking area at the Lake Chelan Boat Company, a new boat ramp at Lucerne and improved an access road to Holden Village to maintain and improve public access.
Built a larger, safer parking area at the Lake Chelan Boat Company, a new boat ramp at Lucerne and improved an access road to Holden Village to maintain and improve public access.
Sealed off the mine entrances by installing two concrete bulkheads to control water flow from underground mine workings and built piping systems to the water treatment plant.
Sealed off the mine entrances by installing two concrete bulkheads to control water flow from underground mine workings and built piping systems to the water treatment plant.
Sealed off the mine entrances by installing two concrete bulkheads to control water flow from underground mine workings and built piping systems to the water treatment plant.
Sealed off the mine entrances by installing two concrete bulkheads to control water flow from underground mine workings and built piping systems to the water treatment plant.
Worked with Holden Village to replace and upgrade buildings distributed by the remediation activities.
Constructed a water treatment plant.
Phase 2
Phase two is slated to begin construction in 2023. During phase one, Rio Tinto constructed an 4,756-foot barrier wall and water collection system to capture water coming out of the old mine workings and off of the tailings piles and transport it to the water treatment plant. The wall constructed during phase one ran most of the length of the tailings pile, and the goal of phase two will be to complete that wall to ensure that all the contaminated water is collected and treated before returning to Railroad Creek.
The Future
Rio Tinto is committed to the Holden Mine Cleanup Project for the long term. Decades of environmental monitoring and water treatment will follow the cleanup activities. An operations and maintenance team remains at the site year-round to manage water treatment and take care of facilities. Shipments of supplies and materials for the water treatment plant will be barged up Lake Chelan for many years to come.