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Report: Final Smoky Canyon Mine RI/FS Pilot Study Report Semi-Passive Biological Treatment Technology – Seep DS-7
Source or source contact: Lynne Hood , Remedial Project Manager, Hood.Lynne@epa.gov, (208) 378-5757
Publication Date: August 2017
Document Type: PDF
Author: Formation Environmental
Prepared for: JR Simplot Company

°C	degrees Celsius
°F	degrees Fahrenheit
µg/L	micrograms per liter
µmhos/cm	micromhos per centimeter
µS/cm	microSiemens per centimeter
Ag	Silver
Al	Aluminum
As	Arsenic
AWQC	Ambient Water Quality Criteria
B	Boron
Ba	Barium
BCR	Biochemical Reactor
Be	Beryllium
BOD	Biochemical Oxygen Demand
CaCO₃	Calcium carbonate
CERCLA	Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
cfs	cubic feet per second
CHIT	Chitorem®
Cl	Chloride
Co	Cobalt
CO₃	Carbon trioxide
COC	Constituent of Concern
COD	Chemical Oxygen Demand
Cr	Chromium
Cu	Copper
DOC	Dissolved Organic Carbon
EPA	Environmental Protection Agency
F	Fluoride
FBR	Fluidized Bed Reactor
Fe	Iron
ft	feet
gpm	gallons per minute
GW	Groundwater
HCO₃	Bicarbonate
Hg	Mercury
K	Potassium
lbs	pounds
Mg	Magnesium
MG	Million Gallons
Mg(OH)₂	Magnesium hydroxide
mg/L	milligrams per liter
Mn	Manganese
Mo	Molybdenum
mV	millivolts
N	Nitrogen
N/A	not applicable
Na	Sodium
NA	Not available
ND	Not detected
Ni	Nickel
NO₃	Nitrate
NO₃ + NO₂	Nitrate + Nitrite
NR	Not reported
NTU	Nephelometric Turbidity Unit
OH	Hydroxide
OU	Operable Unit
P	Phosphorus
Pb	Lead
PRB	Permeable Reactive Barrier
RA	Remedial Action
RO	Reverse osmosis
SAPS	Successive Alkalinity Producing System
Sb	Antimony
Se	Selenium
SO₄^2-	Sulfate
SRB	Sulfate Reducing Bacteria
STC	Seep Treatment Cell
TDS	Total Dissolved Solids
TOC	Total Organic Carbon
TSS	Total Suspended Solids
U	Uranium
UF	Ultra-filtration
V	Vanadium
VFR	Vertical Flow Reactor
Zn	Zinc

Label	Description
Site Name	Name of the site
EPA CERCLA ID	EPA CERCLA ID number
Parent Name	If the test was conducted at a 'child' site or an alias, this is the name of the larger associated Superfund site.
Operable Unit (OU)	Specific operable unit (OU) of the site if specified
Technology Tested	Name of the technology tested
Technology Type	The technology type (i.e., active or passive/semi-passive)
Source of MIW	Source of the MIW (e.g., adit drainage, groundwater)
Treatment Train? (Y/N)	Whether the treatment was a treatment train (i.e., multiple individual technologies)
Specific Component for Performance Data	Component for which data are reported
Technology Requirements	Requirements of the technology (e.g., electricity, pH > or < X, dissolved oxygen < X, etc.)
Geographic conditions/ constraints	Geographic conditions/constraints (e.g., topography, climate)
Scale	Scale of the technology (e.g., pilot, or full-scale application)
Duration of Study	Length of the study
Constituent	Element or ion treated
Constituent Phase	Identity - contaminants of concern (COCs) and others having data/information on treatment
Unit	Unit of concentration reported in study
Max. Influent Concentration	Maximum influent concentration treated
Associated Effluent Concentration	Effluent concentration attained for maximum concentration treated
Max. Effluent Concentration	Maximum effluent concentration treated
Associated Influent Concentration	Influent concentration attained for maximum concentration treated
Min. Influent Concentration	Minimum influent concentration treated and
Associated Effluent Concentration	Effluent concentration attained for maximum concentration treated
Min. Effluent Concentration	Minimum effluent concentration treated and
Associated Influent Concentration	Influent concentration attained for maximum concentration treated
Avg. Influent Concentration	Average influent concentration treated and associated time
Avg. Associated Time (Influent)	Time over which average X was calculated
Med. Influent Concentration	Median influent concentration treated and associated time
Avg. Associated Time Influent)	Time over which average X was calculated
Avg. Effluent Concentration	Average effluent concentration treated and associated time
Avg. Associated Time (Effluent)	Time over which average X was calculated
Med. Effluent Concentration	Median effluent concentration treated and associated time
Avg. Associated Time (Effluent)	Time over which average X was calculated
Avg. Percent Removal	Average percent removal
Parameters	Parameters associated with the concentrations of other data documented
Loads Treated	Mass of constituent per unit flow
pH	pH associated with documented concentrations
DO	DO associated with documented concentrations
Water Temperature	Water temperature associated with documented concentrations
Air Temperature	Air temperature associated with documented concentrations
ORP	Oxidation-reduction potential associated with documented concentrations
Specific Conductivity	Specific conductivity associated with documented concentrations
Flows treated	Flows treated
Were treatment goals met? (Y/N)	Whether the testing met the treatment goals
Performance Metrics	Goals or performance metrics upon which the treatment success was based
Limitations/Constraints	Any limitations or constraints noted that contributed to success or failure
Longevity Estimates	Estimates of longevity, if provided
Lessons Learned	Any reported lessons learned
Reported Cost Data	Any reported cost data
Other design details	Any other design details provided in the sources cited
Other performance details	Any other performance details provided in the sources cited
Limitations to the found data	Limitations to the data found (e.g., data in the source only presented as averages, so was unable to report maximum influent treated with corresponding effluent attained)
Notes	Any notes

Site Name:	SOUTHEAST IDAHO SELENIUM PROJECT/AKA SMOKY CANYON MINE
EPA CERCLA ID:	IDN001002245
Parent Name (if applicable):	N/A

Operable Unit (OU):	N/A
Sample Site ID:	Smoky Canyon Mine seep DS-7
Site Status:	Data not provided
Technology Tested:	Semi-passive biological treatment
Technology Type:	Semi-passive
Technology Name:	Selenium Reducing Bioreactor
Pre-treatment or No Pre-treatment:	No pre-treatment
Source of MIW:	Smoky Canyon Mine disposal area seep
Treatment Train? (Y/N):	N
Specific Component for Performance Data:	Entire system
Technology Requirements:	Seep water gravity fed through collection pond, holding tank, two bioreactors, effluent measuring system. Selenium reducing bacteria starter, zero-valent iron, and frequent delivery of nutrient feed.
Geographic conditions/constraints:	Southeast Idaho. Cold winter temperatures reduce treatment efficiency in bioreactor
Scale:	Pilot on low-flow seep with high selenium concentration
Duration of Study:	2013-2015

Constituent:	Selenium
Constituent Phase:	Se, total mg/L
Reported as Load (Y/N):	N

Max. Influent/Pre/Upgradient Concentration:	5.31
Associated Effluent/Post/Downgradient Concentration:	0.941
% Removal Efficiency (calculated):	82.28

Avg. Influent/Pre/Upgradient Concentration:	Data not provided
Avg. Associated Time (Influent/Pre/Upgradient):	Data not provided

Were treatment goals met? (Y/N):	N
Performance Metrics:	0.005 mg/L
Limitations/Constraints:	Treatment efficiency dependent on temperature. Weekly manual addition of sugar beet or molasses feed necessary because automatic feeders clog. System must be cleaned out to remove selenium precipitate. Precipitate must be disposed in landfill.
Longevity Estimates:	Bioreactors may be able to sustain a service life of at least 5 years before the media would need to be changed out due to excessive sludge build up and fouling.
Lessons Learned:	Pilot system cannot be used to treat water to aquatic life standard of 0.005 mg/L, but it can reduce 56% of selenium on average annual basis.
Reported Cost Data:	$217,688 capital cost. $16,3331 annual operations and maintenance
Other design details:	System requires anaerobic conditions (below 1 mg/L DO) and near neutral pH. Negative oxidation-reduction potential is favorable for selenium removal.
Other performance details:	System needs treated water residence time of approximately 2 days.
Limitations to data found:	In spring 2014, delays in getting the treatment system cleaned and back in full service resulted in little data collection to evaluate system requirements after the cold weather shutdown.

Were treatment goals met? (Y/N):	N
Performance Metrics:	0.005 mg/L
Limitations/Constraints:	Treatment efficiency dependent on temperature. Weekly manual addition of sugar beet or molasses feed necessary because automatic feeders clog. System must be cleaned out to remove selenium precipitate. Precipitate must be disposed in landfill.
Longevity Estimates:	Bioreactors may be able to sustain a service life of at least 5 years before the media would need to be changed out due to excessive sludge build up and fouling.
Lessons Learned:	Pilot system cannot be used to treat water to aquatic life standard of 0.005 mg/L, but it can reduce 56% of selenium on average annual basis.
Reported Cost Data:	$217,688 capital cost. $16,3331 annual operations and maintenance
Other design details:	System requires anaerobic conditions (below 1 mg/L DO) and near neutral pH. Negative oxidation-reduction potential is favorable for selenium removal.
Other performance details:	System needs treated water residence time of approximately 2 days.
Limitations to data found:	In spring 2014, delays in getting the treatment system cleaned and back in full service resulted in little data collection to evaluate system requirements after the cold weather shutdown.

Were treatment goals met? (Y/N):	N
Performance Metrics:	0.005 mg/L
Limitations/Constraints:	Treatment efficiency dependent on temperature. Weekly manual addition of sugar beet or molasses feed necessary because automatic feeders clog. System must be cleaned out to remove selenium precipitate. Precipitate must be disposed in landfill.
Longevity Estimates:	Bioreactors may be able to sustain a service life of at least 5 years before the media would need to be changed out due to excessive sludge build up and fouling.
Lessons Learned:	Pilot system cannot be used to treat water to aquatic life standard of 0.005 mg/L, but it can reduce 56% of selenium on average annual basis.
Reported Cost Data:	$217,688 capital cost. $16,3331 annual operations and maintenance
Other design details:	System requires anaerobic conditions (below 1 mg/L DO) and near neutral pH. Negative oxidation-reduction potential is favorable for selenium removal.
Other performance details:	System needs treated water residence time of approximately 2 days.
Limitations to data found:	In spring 2014, delays in getting the treatment system cleaned and back in full service resulted in little data collection to evaluate system requirements after the cold weather shutdown.

Characterization, Cleanup, and Revitalization of Mining Sites

Treatment Technologies for Mining-Influenced Water Profile

Technology: Selenium Reducing Bioreactor