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|  Project manager Jim Agre of Cooperative Mineral resources holds the discharge line during the 4 day pump testing in Emily.  The site of the five test wells was monitored for four straight days Cooperative Mining Resources, a subsidiary of Crow Wing Power, and Barr Engineering. At left are Jim Agre and Emily Mayor George Pepek. Lambert Water Wells provided on site support. Photos by Paul Boblett | Wells, Groundwater Tested at Proposed Mine Site in EmilyBy Paul Boblett, Editor The proposed manganese mining operation just north of downtown Emily underwent a 4-day, 96 hour pumping process last week to help understand underground water flow and aquifer levels. In July, five monitoring wells were installed near the manganese deposit, the largest in North America. Jim Agre of Crow Wing Mineral Resources is the mine project manager. He said that following the pumping test, the next step will be a thorough study on the data received from the aquifer test, well testing and lake level results. “The underground water flow is the critical piece that the public wants to understand,” said Agre. “We want to make sure there is no negative impact on the underground water and the environment; we want to do the right thing here.” Agre said if the project comes to fruition, the City of Emily, Crosby Ironton School district and Crow Wing County could realize a significant financial gain. He said there is a formula devised by the state to determine percentages for each of the governmental units. The aquifer-pumping test is being conducted as part of an Environmental Assessment Worksheet process and the pumping test was approved by the regulatory agencies. Lambert Water Wells staff monitored the test well throughout the process and worked alongside Barr Engineering staff to insure a quality test. The 96 hour test would have was to have been completed on Friday evening. Char Kinzer of Crow Wing Power, parent company of Cooperative Mineral Resources, said the test pumping was extended through the weekend so that the DNR has an opportunity to review the data before shutting the test down. Kinzer said in a prepared statement, “We are very pleased with the test, in that everything went as was predicted by the engineers.” The test well pumped water from a depth of 270 feet below the ground surface sending groundwater at 200 gallons per minute through a 1200-foot discharge pipe. At the end of the discharge the groundwater seeped back into the ground at a high rate, which Agre said was very encouraging. Seven area lakes (Andrews, Ana, Blue, Buchite, Davis, Roosevelt and Ruth) were monitored for water levels before and during the test as well and the water quality of local residential wells were tested. Kinzer said that the rate for the test pumping was five times more than the plan for the actual manganese extraction demonstration process. She said that by pumping at this higher rate, the test data would more reliably predict if the project will have any affect on groundwater and lake levels. Kinzer said that the information would be shared with the public as soon as it is complete. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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