Biochemical Reactors for Treating Mininginfluenced Water ITRC BCR

Biochemical Reactors for Treating Mininginfluenced Water

ITRC BCR Implementation Cherri Baysinger, MO David Cates, Ok Steve Hill, Reg. Tech Garden Grove, California 3/26/14

Today’s Implementation Session § Guidance Overview § Demonstration of the use of the Guidance § Collecting Implementation target information We need your help to identify implementation targets! 3

Biochemical Reactors for Mining Influenced Water 4

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 u 6 Liability (Good Samaritan Act)

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 9

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

Is My Water BCR-Worthy Periodic Table of Treatable Elements in Blue can be treated in a BCR Figure courtesy of Jim J. Gusek, 2009

Testing § Proof of Principle § Bench Testing § Pilot Testing § Solid Substrate § Liquid Substrate

Design

Construction Topsoil In flow Down flow Gravel Drainage Layer Subgrade Drainage system Geosynthetic liner Sampling Port Light Weight Fill Organic Matter & & Limestone Mix Geotextile Inoculum Discharge Geosynthetic liner

Lady Leith BCR, Jefferson Co, MT 4 Receiving Stream 1 Source 2 Construction ITRC BCR-1, 2013: Appendix B 14 3 Completed BCR

Monitoring § Can be frequent and seasonal § Mostly manual (can include lab analysis) u Influent • Flow and water chemistry u System effluent & other pre- and post-treatment units • Flow and water chemistry Collecting effluent samples from the Luttrell BCR, MT

Substrate Monitoring § Substrate replacement or additional amendment Oxide Zone Transitional Zone Sulfide Zone 5 10 15 20 Relatively fresh Substrate 25 Centimeters § Chemistry (compare to design conditions) § Substrate testing – ORP & Physical collection § Substrate test for disposal

Troubleshooting § Chemical trends § Physical Trends Adjustable Elevation Head Weir for BCR Effluent ITRC BCR-1, 2013: Section 6. 3. 2

Challenges § Rumors that BCRs do not work should be dispelled u u u Better design Monitoring is required Maintenance is required § Barrier u 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 seconds § https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Xkj. Fdgshv 1 Y&featur e=youtu. be 20

User Groups: Use and Benefit EXPECTED USER GROUP INTENDED USE BENEFIT 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 Good Samaritan Act can stakeholders limit third party liability. 21 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. 22

Small Group Discussion § What ideas do you have for getting the ITRC Biochemical Reactors for Mining-influenced Water Webbased Guidance used on streams impacted by Mininginfluenced 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 23

Example Implementation Targets 10, 14, 15 11 8 5 4 1, 2 24 7 13 3, 6

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 25 What action are you going to take?