Biochemical Reactors for Treating Mining-influenced Water

ITRC BCR Implementation

Cherri Baysinger, MODavid Cates, Ok

Steve Hill, RegTech

Garden Grove, California

3/26/14

Today’s Implementation Session

Guidance Overview Demonstration of the use of the Guidance Collecting Implementation target information

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We need your help to identify implementation targets!

Biochemical Reactors for Mining Influenced Water

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What is a Biochemical Reactor (BCR)?

…engineered treatment system that uses an organic substrate to drive microbial and chemical reactions to reduce concentration of metals, acidity, and sulfate in MIW.

Penn Hill #2 BCR, PA

Biochemical Reactors for Mining Influenced Water

There are over 500,000 abandoned mine sites in the U.S.

MIW impacts state lands, federal lands, public land, private lands

Many sites are in remote areas with extreme climates Monitoring and maintenance is required Local environmental groups can help remediate MIW

Liability (Good Samaritan Act)

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Advantages

Low energy requirements May be low maintenance if designed properly Can be used in remote situations Removes metals Flexible and versatile Treats wide variety of MIW Will improve ecological function of receiving stream

Cautions

BCRs may not consistently meet strict water quality standards

BCRs are not walk away systems Monitoring is required Maintenance may be needed periodically

Biochemical Reactors for Treating Mining-Influenced Water - Guidance

Applicability Testing Design Construction and startup Monitoring, operation and maintenance Challenges

Fact Sheet in your booklet defines a BCR

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Applicability

http://itrcweb.org/bcr-1/ 10

Is My Water BCR-Worthy

Figure courtesy of Jim J. Gusek, 2009

Elements in Blue can be treated in a BCR

Periodic Table of Treatable Elements

Testing

Proof of Principle Bench Testing Pilot Testing

Solid Substrate Liquid Substrate

Design

Construction

Subgrade

Organic Matter & Limestone Mix

Gravel Drainage Layer

Drainage system

Geosynthetic liner

Discharge

In flowSampling

PortLight Weight Fill

Topsoil

Inoculum

Geotextile

Geosynthetic liner

Down flow

Organic Matter &

Limestone Mix

Lady Leith BCR, Jefferson Co, MT

1 Source 4 Receiving Stream

3 Completed BCR2 Construction

ITRC BCR-1, 2013: Appendix B14

Monitoring

Can be frequent and seasonal Mostly manual (can include lab

analysis) Influent

• Flow and water chemistry

System effluent & other pre- and post-treatment units

• Flow and water chemistry

Collecting effluent samples from the Luttrell BCR, MT

Substrate Monitoring

Chemistry (compare to design conditions)

Substrate testing – ORP & Physical collection

Substrate test for disposal Substrate replacement or

additional amendment

Centi

met

ers

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Oxide Zone

Transitional Zone

Sulfide Zone

Relatively fresh Substrate

Troubleshooting

Chemical trends Physical Trends

ITRC BCR-1, 2013: Section 6.3.2

Adjustable Elevation Head Weir for BCR Effluent

Challenges

Rumors that BCRs do not work should be dispelled Better design Monitoring is required Maintenance is required

Barrier State or Federal Good Samaritan Legislation will allow application of

BCRs at abandoned and remote sites

Animas River Stakeholder Group

Act of Congress: Good Samaritans and Draining Mines 2014

Video 12 minutes, 31 secondshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkjFdgshv1Y&feature=youtu.be

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User Groups: Use and Benefit

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EXPECTED USER GROUP

INTENDED USEBENEFIT TO BE RECEIVED

BY USERS

Consultants Use the BCR document as a Technical guide for preparing work plan submittals to regulators

Provides more consistent content of workplans

Regulators Review workplans Good checklist of technical elements that should be in a work plan

Consultants Use as justification to clients when submitting a proposal

Integrity of ITRC and their guidance offers confidence / acceptability of the proposal

Community and Tribal stakeholders

Good Samaritan Act can limit third party liability.

Site cleanup!

Demonstrating Document Use

Consultant uses the ITRC guidance to prepare a proposal (work plan) for the regulator to use,

The regulator uses the ITRC doc to review and comment on the proposal (work plan)

The message is “the ITRC BCR Guidance can provide a synergy among the parties by providing proposal or work plan containing the elements described in the BCR guidance.

Everyone should then be on the same page to streamline the process.

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Small Group Discussion What ideas do you have for getting the ITRC

Biochemical Reactors for Mining-influenced Water Web-based Guidance used on streams impacted by Mining-influenced Water

Do you know of any state or other agency guidance that would benefit by incorporating or referencing this ITRC document

Do you know of any sites where the BCR guidance would apply

Small group facilitator will collect information on handout and provide to Team Leaders for follow-up

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Example Implementation Targets

1,2 3,6

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10,14,15

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Help Us Build ITRC Success

Identify target users

Promote document use to colleagues by sharing document information sheet

Promote free web-based document and online training

Report document use to ITRC

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What action are you going to take?