Environmental Assessment
Volume E-3.7
Tailings Facility
Hydrogeology
Ambatovy Project
48
January 2006
3.7
HYDROGEOLOGY
3.7.1
Introduction
This section presents the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the effects of the
tailings facility on hydrogeology, as per the Ambatovy Project (the project)
Terms of Reference.
3.7.2
Study Areas
The tailings facility is located in the upper valley of three parallel tributaries to
the Ambolona River. The Local Study Area (LSA) for hydrogeology is the area
included in the numerical model by GCS (Pty) Ltd., as shown on Drawing No. 4
included in Volume I, Appendix 7.2. It includes the area of the proposed tailings
facility as well as the three river sub-catchments flowing west to east from the
facility to the Ambolona River.
3.7.3
Baseline Summary
3.7.3.1 Introduction
Baseline hydrogeologic conditions in the tailings area were characterized by
carrying out a hydrogeological site investigation and completing numerical flow
and contaminant transport modeling. Details can be found in Volume I,
Appendix 7.1.
3.7.3.2 Methods
GCS (Pty) Ltd. carried out a hydrogeological investigation for the Ambatovy
Project tailings facility. The main aims of the hydrogeological investigation were
as follows:
•
To determine the characteristics of the pre-tailings disposal groundwater
regime (i.e. quality and quantity).
•
To quantify potential impacts on the groundwater regime as a result of
possible artificial recharge of seepage from the tailings dam (production
phase and long-term).
The field study was conducted between April 27 and June 30, 2004. The
purpose of the investigation was to obtain site-specific groundwater data,
