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MAGNA, Utah (AP) -- A draft of a report on the Kennecott tailings pile says the company's efforts to stabilize it are working, but that the goal to have the pile earthquake-proof by 2018 is probably too optimistic.
While the south side of the pile could meet minimum safety standards within seven years, the east side could take as long as 20 years to meet those standards.
Still, Troy Meyer, lead engineer of Tetra Tech, which is preparing the independent report, said Wednesday he doubts the mine waste from the tailings pile would run into residential Magna in the event of a dike failure. More findings on that are expected next month.
Kennecott said it was reviewing the findings in the draft report. The company has said a dike failure would send the pile's slurry no farther than state Road 201.
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Information from: The Salt Lake Tribune
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
