### Barrick Cortez, Inc.
Crescent Valley, Nevada



## Hydrogen Cyanide Emissions Quantification

Site Specific Protocol

Version 01

November 2009

Prepared By

Thomas R. Card Environmental Management Consulting 41125 278th Way SE, Enumclaw, WA 98022

360.902.5540; trcard@earthlink.net

Dr. C. E. Schmidt

Environmental Consultant 19200 Live Oak Road, Red Bluff, CA 96080

530.529.4256; Fax- 4878 schmidtce@aol.com

### Table of Contents

1 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................... ............ 1

2 SAMPLING PROGRAM SUMMARY ............................................................................................. 1

3 SAMPLING STRATEGY ............................................................................................................. ..... 4

3.1 P ROCESS D ESCRIPTION ..................................................................................................................... 4

3.2 P ROCESS S AMPLE C OLLECTION L OCATIONS ..................................................................................... 4

3.2.1 Heap Leach .................................................................................................................... ......... 7

3.2.1.1 Leach Pads .................................................................................................................... .................... 7
3.2.1.2 Leach Soluti on Ponds

.......................................................................................................... .............. 7
3.2.2 Mill and Tailings Impoundment .............................................................................................. 9

3.2.2.1 Mill CIL Ci rcuit .............................................................................................................. .................. 9
3.2.2.2 Tailings Impoundmen t .......................................................................................................... ............ 9

4 PROJECT INSTRUCTIONS .......................................................................................................... . 12

4.1 S CHEDULE

.............................................................................................................................. ........ 12

4.2 E QUIPMENT L IST

............................................................................................................................. 12

4.3 S ITE S AFETY AND A CCESS .............................................................................................................. 13

4.4 S ITE P ROVIDED E QUIPMENT AND S ERVICES .................................................................................... 14

4.4.1 Onsite Tran sporta tion

......................................................................................................... .. 14

4.4.2 Laboratory Services ........................................................................................................... ... 14

4.4.3 Office S uppor t ................................................................................................................ ....... 14

4.4.4 Process Data Collec tion ....................................................................................................... 14

4.5 S HIPPING

.............................................................................................................................. ........... 15

5 SAMPLING PROTOCOLS ............................................................................................................ . 15

5.1 G AS S AMPLING

.............................................................................................................................. . 15

5.2 L IQUID S AMPLING ........................................................................................................................... 15

6 ANALYTICAL PROTOCOLS ........................................................................................................ 1 5

6.1 NIOSH 7904 FOR H YDROGEN C YANIDE ......................................................................................... 151 

## 1 Introduction

This Site Specific Protocol ( SSP) describes the sampling progra m details for using the surface emission isolation flux chamber to test for hydr ogen cyanide air emissions from the cyanide leach processes at Barrick Cortez, Inc. (Cor tez). The overall assessment approach and sampling/analytical protocols, complete with QA/ QC content, has been provided to EPA in the Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) on N ovember 18, 2009. This SSP provides the specific method and sampling information unique to Cortez.

The SSP is intended to provide a sampling pl an, which will produce area source flux data representative of the various cyanide leach proce sses at Cortez. The data collected will represent hydrogen cyanide flux associated with the following processes:

 Heap leach circuit,

 Mill leach circuit, and

 Tailings impoundment.

The technical effort includes:

 Preparation of field sampling equipment,

 Field sampling,

 Chain-of-custody tracking,

 Sample shipping and analyses,

 Calculation of annual emissions, and

 Preparation of a final report.



## 2 Sampling Program Summary

Table 2.1 presents a summary of the sampling sc ope. Between 52 and 76 samples are planned to

be taken at this site.2 Table 2.1 Summary of Sample Locations

SOURCE SCOPE COMMENT Heap Leach and Leach Solution Active Heap Leach- Area 30,

Panel 7 Area #1- 4 samples, Area #2- 4 samples; 8 total Represents the typical active leach pad surface, same as Expansion

Area Active Heap Leach- North Slope of Area 30 4 samples total Typical of mine site active heap leach on slope Active Heap Leach- Area 28 8 samples total Typical of Area 28 Inactive Heap Leach Prepared
for Leach- Area 30 Pre-leach 4 samples maximum, 2 samples

minimum Pad areas prepared for leaching - These areas have had a layer of new ore placed upon previously leached ore, but leaching of the new ore has not yet commenced. Inactive Heap Leach Newly out of leach (less than 30 days) 4 samples maximum, 2 samples

minimum Inactive leach pad areas at either
Area 28 or 30 that have been leached within the last 30 days

Inactive Heap LeachExpansion Area, Lift 2, Panel

2 Out of leach (1-6 months after leach); 4 samples maximum, 2 samples

minimum Older lift on new expansion, out of leach for 1-6 months, ripped and ready for ore

Inactive Heap Leach Long term out of leach (More than 1 year ) 4 samples maximum, 2 samples minimum Inactive leach pad areas at either
Area 28 or 30 that have not been leached for more than 1 year

Pregnant Pond 2 samples total One of two identical pondssampling in wash tub with fresh pond solution or suspending chamber from cat-walk to pump in pond Barren Pond 2 samples total One of two identical pondssampling in wash tub with fresh pond solution or suspending chamber from cat-walk to pump in pond

Mill

Mill Process Tanks- ThickenerTank, First and Last CarbonIn-Leach (CIL) Tanks, and
Final Clarifier 2 samples from thickener tank, 2 samples from CIL Tank #1, 2 samples from CIL Tank #8, 2 samples from final clarifier; 8 total Two samples from each unique type of tank3 Table 2.1 Summary of Sample Locations (continued)

SOURCE SCOPE COMMENT Tailings Impoundment Tailings Impoundment Area #1- Dry Sediments, Wet
Sediments 2 samples dry sediments, 2 samples wet sediments;

4 total Wet and dry sediments or ‘beach’ accessed from earthen ramp

Tailings Impoundment Area #2- Dry Sediments, Wet
Sediments 2 samples dry sediments, 2 samples wet sediments;

4 total Wet and dry sediments or ‘beach’ accessed from earthen ramp

Tailings Impoundment Supernatant Pond 4 samples from southeast

side Accessible from shore

Snow/Ice Cover

Active/Inactive Pads and/or Tailings Impoundment Up to 8 samples Weather permitting, this data will

be used to determine the effect of
snow/ice cover. QA/QC Replicate Samples 4 replicate sample s Minimum of 5% per batch, one per day Media Blank Samples 4 media blank samp les Minimum of 5% per batch, one per day TOTAL 76 Samples (Maximum) 52 Samples (Minimum)4 

## 3 Sampling Strategy

The purpose of this program is to maximize the va lue of the field samples as much as possible and, by utilizing fate modeling, to interpolate the field data between sample points. This data
will be collected with a combination of direct source sampling (flux chamber) and analysis of liquid leach solutions. Direct source sampling will be conducted on a sufficient number of the

different area sources such that the data will be representati ve of all hydrogen cyanide area

sources at the mine. Emissions from sources no t sampled will be calculated based on data from the most similar sampled source(s) in term s of configuration and solution chemistry.



### 3.1 Process Description

Cortez operates both heap leaching for run-of -mine (ROM) ore and mill leaching for higher grade ore. Heap leaching operations consist of an Area 28 pad and an Area 30 pad. Each area includes pregnant and barren so lution ponds, pregnant solution collection ditches, and CarbonIn-Column (CIC) circuits for gold adsorption. So lution from the barren ponds is pumped to the active portions of the leach pads. Prior to applic ation, cyanide is added to the solution to achieve the target cyanide concentration. The leach soluti on is applied to the top of the pads (along with lime for pH control), co llected on a liner underneath the pads , and transferred to the pregnant ponds. The pregnant solution is then sent thr ough CIC tanks where the gold dissolved in the pregnant solution is adsorbed onto carbon. The ca rbon is then sent to the carbon strip circuit
located at the mill. The Area 28 CIC tanks are located near the Area 28 solution ponds and the
Area 30 CIC tanks are within a buildi ng near the Area 30 solution ponds.

Mill leaching/adsorption operations include a gr inding surge tank, a small mixer tank, a slurry thickener tank, CIL tanks, Mill CIC tanks, clarif ier tanks, a cyanide destruct tank, and a reclaim water tank. Ore slurry from the grinding mill is fi rst sent to the grinding surge tank, then to the mixer tank where caustic and cyanide are added to adjust the pH and cyan ide concentration. The slurry solution is then transfe rred to the thickener tank. The th ickener tank underflow goes to the CIL tanks and the overflow goes to the Mill CIC tanks. In the CIL and Mill CIC tanks, gold is

adsorbed from solution onto carbon. The carbon from the CIL and Mill CIC tanks is then sent to the carbon strip circuit. Slurry outflow from the CIL tanks is transferred to clarifier tanks.
Overflow from the clarifiers is transferred to the Mill CIC tanks for additional gold recovery. The underflow (along with the Mill CIC tank solu tion outflow) is transferred to the cyanide destruct circuit before being discharged to the tailings impoundment. Some water from the tailings impoundment is recycled and sent to the reclaim wate r tank for use (along with fresh water) in the grinding mill.



### 3.2 Process Sample Collection Locations

A summary of sample collection locations are pr ovided in Table 2.1. Figures 3.1 and 3.2 show the approximate locations of each sampling location on aerial photos. These aerial photos are from 2006, so they may not exactly match the cu rrent mine layout. Mine operations change regularly and the locations shown in this docum ent may not be available for sampling during the sampling program. In the event that exact locations are not available, alternate selections will be

made in the field to match the characteris tics of the originally identified location.

Water/soil and air temperature measurements will be made at all locations.

### Copyrighted page/s removed. Copyrighted ma terial is not available in Regulations.gov since it may not be reproduced without consent of the copyright holder.

Contact the EPA Docket Center’s P ublic Reading Room to view or receive a copy of this document.

Requests for copies may be made as follows:

In person/writing: Environmental Protection Agency, Docket Center 1301 Constitution Ave NW, 2822T, Room 3334 Washington, DC. 20004

Telephone:
202-566-1744

Fax:
202-566- 9744

Email: docket-customerservice@epa.gov7 

### 3.2.1 Heap Leach

Figure 3.1 shows the locations for sampling at the leach pads.

3.2.1.1 Leach Pads
Cortez operates two heap leach pad areas. The nort h leach pad is designated as Area 28 and the south leach pad is designated as Area 30. Each pad consists of areas und er active leach and areas that have not been leached for various lengths of time (inactive areas). Leaching may occur on both sloped and flat surfaces at each pad. Photos 3.1 through 3.5 show various leach pad

surfaces.

Twenty samples will be taken at pad locations during active leaching ( active areas). Between eight to 16 samples will be taken at pad locations where leaching once occurred, but has been discontinued for various lengths of time (inactive areas). The inactive area sampling will include areas that have had a layer of new ore placed upo n previously leached ore, but leaching of the new ore has not yet commenced.

3.2.1.2 Leach Solution Ponds
For convenience and efficiency, only the Area 28 solution ponds will be sampled (see Photo 3.6) and emissions from the remaining leach soluti on ponds (and liquid surface areas of the solution collection ditches and CIC tanks) will be m odeled based on this data. Two flux chamber samples will be collected from each pond. Du e to accessibility problems, the flux chamber samples may need to be collected using pond wa ter placed in small tubs on the pond bank.8 Photo 3.1 Active leach, Area 30, Panel 7 Photo 3.2 Inactive Leach, Area 30, Panel 2

Photo 3.3 Active Leach, Area 30, Slope Photo 3.4 Active Leach, Area 30

Photo 3.5 Active Leach, Area 28 Photo 3.6 Process Solution Ponds, Area 289 

### 3.2.2 Mill and Tailings Impoundment

Figure 3.2 shows the locations for sampling at the mill and Figure 3.1 shows the locations for sampling at the tailings impoundment.

3.2.2.1 Mill CIL Circuit
Figure 3.3 provides a process flow diagram for the mill CIL circuit. This circuit includes a grinding surge tank, a small mixer tank, a slurry thickener tank (located indoors, see Photo 3.7), CIL tanks (eight in series, see Photo 3.8), Mill CIC tanks, clarifier tanks, a cyanide destruct tank, and a reclaim water tank. The thickener tank, firs t and last CIL tanks, and one clarifier tank will be sampled. Emissions from the remaining tanks , with the exception of the surge and reclaim water tanks, will be modeled based on this data . The surge and reclaim water tank emissions will be modeled based on data from the tailings impoundment supernatant pond.

3.2.2.2 Tailings Impoundment
The tailings impoundment consists of an aque ous surface area (supernatant pond, see Photo 3.9) and dry and wet sediment surface areas (beach areas, see Photo 3.10). There are five earthen ramps that provide good access to the impoundment where all three of th ese surfaces can be accessed and sampled. Two of the five earthen ramps will be selected for sampling access based on the current addition of tailings into the pond. Th e dry beach areas are typically closest to the earthen ramps. Wet beaches are accessed by crossing the dry areas. Samples from the supernatant pond will be accessed fr om the supernatant pond shore by constructing a temporary

boom from the shore at the south access area and suspending the chamber from the boom

structure.10Figure 3.3 Mill Process Flow DiagramMix TankNaCNOre SlurryThickenedSlurryCIL 1CIL 2CIL 3CIL 4CIL 5CIL 6CIL 7CIL 8To TailsCyanideDestructClarifiersThickenerOverflowGrindingSurgeTankOverflowCIC Tanks= Sample Location11 Photo 3.7 Indoor Thickener Photo 3.8 CIL Tanks

Photo 3.9 Tails Supernatant Pond Photo 3.10 Tails Beach12 

## 4 Project Instructions

It is estimated that this project will require four days of flux chamber testing that can be conducted during one site trip (baring any restric tions on site or unforeseen weather conditions). This will require a crew of three people and between two and four flux chamber systems.



### 4.1 Schedule

The project will be executed the week of November 30, 2009. The pr oject team will arrive in the afternoon the day before testing. All equipment and field supplies will be inventoried and pretesting calibrations will be perfor med that day. On the initial da y of testing, the first order of business will be to review health and safety issues (if necessary) and orient to the site. After this, testing will be conducted for the re mainder of the day. It is antic ipated that all testing will be completed within four days. A ll field progress will be recorded in a project log book and all chain-of-custody forms will be completed on the da y of sample collection. All shipping records will be retained as part of the field data set. The person shipping samples will be responsible for contacting the laboratory prior to sample receipt. Provided there are no delays with the sampling or the laboratory analyses, a final report is expected to be completed on January 15, 2010.



### 4.2 Equipment List

The list of field equipment and expendable supp lies for the proposed field testing is provided below. All sampling media (prepared as per method specifications) wi ll be provided by the contract laboratory. The laborat ory typically provides the samp ling media for these methods and conducts blank testing to insure proper laboratory service. Dr. C.E. Schmidt will supply all other sampling equipment and expendable supplies. The complete flux chamber test package shall include the following:

1) Four (4) US EPA flux cham bers as per EPA design including a) Stainless steel Swage-lock fittings, b) Support cooler with a mounted rotometer (0-t o-5 liter per minute) through the cooler walls, c) Brass, 2-stage regulator for bottled air (CGA 590 fitti ng for air) and 1/4" Swage-lock (male) adapter fitting, d) Ten foot, 1/4" teflon line with female fittings, e) Ten foot, 1/4" teflon air inlet/outlet support line, 2) Large size plastic support cooler, 3) Set of miscellaneous hand-tools including an adjustable crescent wrench for the CG A 580 regulator fitting, small adjustable crescent wrench for the 1/4" swage fittings, a ssorted medium and small size screw drivers, 4) Teflon sheet (1/32" or thicker) for blank system testing, 5) Type K thermocouple wires (2, 12') and temperature readout, 6) Rigid-wall shipping/storage crate for the flux chamber mounted on roller wheels, 7) Decontamination supplies including Alc onox soap, paper towels, and wash water, 8) Six (6) bottles of ultr a high purity air (size 150), 9) Purge pump for sample line purging, 10) Ropes for suspension from the net supports, 11) Sample materials, including a) Impinger bottles, b) Impinger solution, c) Sample bottles (in shipping containers), d) Preprinted labels, e) Preprinted COC forms, f) Sealing tape (PVC and clear plastic) g) Six (6) sample pumps, h) Pump calibrator, i) Plastic gloves, 12) Field Test Equipment a) pH meter,13 b) Spare batteries, c) Assorted plastic beakers, d) Plastic graduated cylinders (10 ml, 100 ml, 1000 ml), e) Cyanide Draeger tubes (1 to 150 mg/m3), f) Four (4) gallons of DI water, g) Two (2) DI water wash bottle, h) Two (2) impinger reagent wash bottles, i) Liquid phase cyanide test kit (low range), j) Liquid phase cyanide test kit (high range), k) Teflon liquid sampling staff, 13) Hand held anemometer, 14) Two way radios, 15) Flashlights, 16) Camera, 17) Life jackets, 18) Fire extinguisher, str obe, and flag for vehicle, 19) Visibility vests, 20) Hard hat, and 21) Safety glasses.



### 4.3 Site Safety and Access

The Cortez mine is located 38 miles south of Interstate 80, Exit #261 (B eowawe exit) on State Route 306, Nevada.

The shipping/mailing address is

John J. Renas C/O Barrick Cortez

HC 66 Box 1250

Crescent Valley, NV 89821

Hard hats, steel-toed shoes, visibility vests and safety glasses are the only specific safety equipment required at the plant site. A one hour safety training session will be held on the morning of testing or prior to testing. Radio use appears to be unrestr icted on the site, but the use of FM Walkie-Talkies and cellular telephones will be verified by plant safety personnel.

The sampling team is advised to prepare for the possibility of cold weather. Sampling may not be conducted for safety reasons if the visibility is below 200 ft. Frozen ground, snow cover, and winds over 30 mph may also compromise sampling.14 Table 4.2 presents the contact list for this project.

Table 4.2 - List of Contacts Org. Name Phone/Cell (c) Fax/E-Mail Comments Barrick Cortez Brent Downey 775-468-4545 bdowney@barrick.com Chief Environmental Engineer
Barrick Cortez Brian Musser 775-468-4407 bmusser@barrick.com Environmental Superintendent Barrick Cortez John J. Renas (775) 468-4287 (775) 397-8634 (c) (775) 468-4496 jrenas@barrick.com Environmental GIS
Coordinator

Barrick Melissa Barbanell 801-990-3815 m barbanell@barrick.com Internal Counsel PB&L Mike Tomko 801-536-6718 MTomko@parsonsbehle.com Outside Counsel

CE Schmidt Dr. Charles
Schmidt 530-529-4256 530-200-2473 (c) 530-529-4878 On-site Sampler

EMC Tom Card 360-802-5540 425-417-2420 (c) trcard@earthlink.net On-site Sampler and
Modeler ALS Shawn Ludlow 800-356-9135 801-268-4748 Hydrogen Cyanide Laboratory



### 4.4 Site Provided Equipment and Services

The following equipment and/or support services w ill be required from the Cortez site staff:



### 4.4.1 Onsite Transportation

The site is extremely large with rough terrain an d large off-road equipment. For safety reasons, it is preferred to have an escort to the sampling lo cations. The escort will have to be on call at all times in order to complete the proposed scope and schedule.



### 4.4.2 Laboratory Services

The onsite laboratory (or the Barrick Goldstrike laboratory) will need to analyze the leach solution for pH and cyanide concentration usi ng the normal protocols. This will allow the

estimation of future emissions based on the normal process testing. It is anticipated that there will be a maximum of 36 samples over the three day sampling period.



### 4.4.3 Office Support

Access to a copy machine will be needed each even ing to copy data sheets, log sheets, and COC

forms.



### 4.4.4 Process Data Collection

Site and process data will be collected for each assessment. A general list of information that will be collected as part of the assessment is provided below:

• Current site maps/aerial photos showing process unit/facility sizes and locations.

• Cyanide solution chemistry- cyanide c oncentration, pH, and temperature.

• Leach pad operating conditions- active and inactive surface areas, leach solution application system for active areas, and dur ation of inactivity for inactive areas.

• Process surface areas- drawings/aerial photos , calculated surface areas of all area

sources.15 • Local weather information- on site met sta tion(s), data files, and data management.



### 4.5 Shipping

The sample shipping address for the samples is:

ALS Laboratories

Mr. Ryan Potter

960 West LeVoy Drive

Salt Lake City, UT 84123

801

‐ 266

‐ 7700

Liquid impinger solution samples will be shipped in 40 ml VOA vials on ice.



## 5 Sampling Protocols

5.1 Gas Sampling

All gas phase sampling will use NIOSH 7904 with midget Teflon impingers. Screening samples for detection limit management will be take n with colorimeteric detection tubes.



### 5.2 Liquid Sampling

Liquid samples will be taken using a Teflon samp ling staff or polyethylene beaker. Samples will be taken from as close as possible to the flux ch amber and as close as possible to the surface.



## 6 Analytical Protocols

This section describes the analytic al protocols that will be used to analyze the field samples. Copies of all protocols used are available upon request.



### 6.1 NIOSH 7904 for Hydrogen Cyanide

The method has been modified per the QA PP to achieve detection limits of 0.1  g.