Please refer to previous POLREP's for backgroud information.
During the reporting period the dredge was delivered to the Site. The installation process for the dredge involved first placing anchors on either side of the Northwest Trend Pit to provide a the guide wire for the dredge. A workbench was then carved out of the side of the pit to provide a working area to operate the dredge and to house the electronics.
On November 7th the dredge was floated. It operates at an average flowrate of 400 gal/min. To date the dredge has been operating for 10 days and has pumped approximately 1.1 million gallons of sludge out of the Northwest Trend Pit. The sludge removed is being pumped to empty holding cells located near the treated water ponds behind the office area. Once it is pumped there the water is skimmed off the top and the sludge is dried.
The planned removal actions are to continue the water treatment and remove sludge as necessary from the Northwest Trend Pit.
The only issue is that the dredge needs to be "driven." The dredge moves via a wench located near the guide wire that pulls the dredge along. However, the dredge has to be repostitioned at the end of every pass in order to make another pass.
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