---
title: Assessment of design and operating practices on the risks associated with waste rock stockpiles
date: 2018-11-02T14:33:00-04:00
author: jessica napert
canonical_url: "https://www.bbaconsultants.com/en-us/publications/assessment-of-design-and-operating-practices-on-the-risks-associated-with-waste-rock-stockpiles"
section: Publications
---
1. The risks associated with the construction, operation and closure of a Waste Rock Facility (WRF) can be significant. This paper demonstrates the impacts that design, construction and operation can have on the overall risk associated with such facilities. This paper first looks at a facility and its current ongoing operation. This is followed by an evaluation of risk for the proposed LOM configuration, with and without mitigating measures with respect to design, construction and operation. The risks associated with current operations as well as the configuration at closure carried with it a level of risk which the operator found inappropriate. Design, construction and operating recommendations were which reduced risks to acceptable levels. This paper relates the findings of this case study.
    
    Note that this white paper was the subject of a presentation at the Tailings and Mine Waste’18 Conference in Colorado State University.
 
This content is for general information purposes only. All rights reserved ©BBA

 

    1. ![4842](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/176544/4842.webp)   
    
     Zoubir Bouazza, P.Eng., Ph.D.
    
    Principal Engineer, Earth and Infrastructure
    
         [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoubir-bouazza-64a61165/)
2. ![Luciano Piciacchia](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/3206/Luciano-Piciacchia.webp)   
    
     Luciano Piciacchia, P.Eng., Ph.D.
    
    Senior Consulting Expert, Earth and Infrastructure
    
         [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucianopiciacchia/)
 
 

       

  

  

 

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     Structural engineering early phase: unlocking value through early decisions 
    
     
    
     
    
    
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         Nicolas Samson, P.Eng.
        
        Senior Engineer, Structural
     
       
    
     
    
      ](https://www.bbaconsultants.com/en-us/insights/structural-engineering-early-phase-unlocking-value-through-early-decisions "Structural engineering early phase: unlocking value through early decisions")
- [  12 Aug 2026 
    
     Four mistakes that can harm the future performance of industrial assets 
    
     
    
     
    
    
    - ![Caroline provost](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/208557/Caroline-provost.webp)   
        
         Caroline Provost P.Eng.
        
        Director, Operational Strategy Implementation
     
       
    
     
    
      ](https://www.bbaconsultants.com/en-us/insights/four-mistakes-that-can-harm-the-future-performance-of-industrial-assets "Four mistakes that can harm the future performance of industrial assets")
- [  27 Jul 2026 Mining and Metals  
    
     
    
     Early tailings decisions shape long-term mine performance 
    
     
    
     
    
    
    - ![Geraldine Cosset](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/206707/Geraldine-Cosset.webp)
    - ![Jared Purdy](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/212424/Jared-Purdy.webp)
     
       
    
     
    
      ](https://www.bbaconsultants.com/en-us/insights/early-tailings-decisions-shape-long-term-mine-performance "Early tailings decisions shape long-term mine performance")
- [  02 Jul 2026 Mining and Metals  
    
     
    
     Python: A key tool for data analysis in mineral processing 
    
     
    
     
    
    
    - ![Charles Blais](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/211197/Charles-Blais.webp)
    - ![Juan Pablo Vergara](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/211266/Juan-Pablo-Vergara.webp)
     
       
    
     
    
      ](https://www.bbaconsultants.com/en-us/insights/python-a-key-tool-for-data-analysis-in-mineral-processing "Python: A key tool for data analysis in mineral processing")
 
 

       

 

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 ](https://www.bbaconsultants.com/en-us/insights "Go to Publications listing page") 

 

   

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 1. The risks associated with the construction, operation and closure of a Waste Rock Facility (WRF) can be significant. This paper demonstrates the impacts that design, construction and operation can have on the overall risk associated with such facilities. This paper first looks at a facility and its current ongoing operation. This is followed by an evaluation of risk for the proposed LOM configuration, with and without mitigating measures with respect to design, construction and operation. The risks associated with current operations as well as the configuration at closure carried with it a level of risk which the operator found inappropriate. Design, construction and operating recommendations were which reduced risks to acceptable levels. This paper relates the findings of this case study.
    
    Note that this white paper was the subject of a presentation at the Tailings and Mine Waste’18 Conference in Colorado State University.
 
This content is for general information purposes only. All rights reserved ©BBA