Characterization, Cleanup, and Revitalization of Mining Sites

Review of Peer Reviewed Documents on Treatment Technologies Used at Mining Waste Sites

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 23:55:00 GMT

The research in this report was conducted to capture the capabilities, efficiencies, technological and site-specific requirements, and lessons learned for technologies and methods used for mining site cleanup. EPA's goals for the work presented in this document were to 1) determine if there are any trends in treatments or methods used; 2) understand successes and failures of the technologies and methods to evaluate whether there are gaps where future technologies could be developed or current ones refined; and 3) provide information in one place to aid decision of whether a given technology or method might be appropriate for use at a particular site, based on information obtained from the case studies.

Office of Mountains, Deserts and Plains Update

Fri, 28 Aug 2020 18:55:00 GMT

EPA's new Office of Mountains, Deserts and Plains will assume EPA's oversight responsibilities for hardrock mining cleanup sites west of the Mississippi River, serve as a central contact for other federal agencies, states, and tribes with responsibility for or impacted by these sites, and develop innovative technologies and adaptive management approaches to address legacy pollution. The office also will support efforts of conservation organizations to voluntarily undertake projects to improve conditions at abandoned mines.

Selected Remedy in the ROD for OU1 of the Ballard Mine Superfund Site

Fri, 28 Aug 2020 18:55:00 GMT

The selected remedy in the Record of Decision for OU1 of the Ballard Mine Superfund site includes a combination of engineered source controls, permeable reactive barriers, sediment control best management practices, and engineered wetland treatment cells.

Mining Sites Series CLU-IN Webinar

Fri, 28 Aug 2020 18:55:00 GMT

Check out slides and audio for the latest CLU-IN webinar in the Mining Sites series, Revegetation of Mine Wastes in Arid Environments: Linking Above- and Below-Ground Performance (Archived August 12, 2020).

May TINS Issue Focuses on Mining Site Cleanups

Fri, 28 Aug 2020 18:55:00 GMT

The Technology Information News Survey (TINS), published bimonthly by EPA's Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation (OSRTI), focused its May 16-31, 2020 issue on the topic of mining site cleanups. The news survey contains market/commercialization information; reports on demonstrations, feasibility studies and research; and other news relevant to the hazardous waste community.

Updates for the Mining Sites Cleanup Technologies Section

Fri, 28 Aug 2020 18:55:00 GMT

The Cleanup Technologies section of the Mining Sites technology area is updated quarterly to include links to resources describing recent Research and Demonstrations/Feasibility Studies, as documented in EPA's TINS. As new resources are published, new links are added below each technology description.

New Developing a Watershed Partnership Page

Fri, 26 Oct 2018 18:55:00 GMT

Check out the new page on Developing a Watershed Partnership to learn how to work with stakeholders on a watershed approach to mining site cleanups.

New Resources Featured in Mining Sites Technology Area

Thu, 14 Jun 2018 15:35:00 GMT

The Cleanup Technologies section of the Mining Sites technology area now includes links to resources describing recent Research and Demonstrations/Feasibility Studies, as documented in EPA's Technology Innovation News Survey (TINS). As new resources are published, new links will be added below each technology description.

Call for Abstracts for the 3rd Western Symposium Design and Construction Issues at Hazardous Waste Sites

Thu, 31 May 2018 13:07:00 GMT

A call for abstracts has been issued for the 3rd Western Symposium Design and Construction Issues at Hazardous Waste Sites, scheduled for November 5-7, 2018, at the Grand Hyatt in Denver, Colorado. The symposium features panels on formal adaptive management for large or complex sites, such as mining sites, and approaches and challenges to addressing safety issues during remediation, e.g., investigating underground mine workings and surveying large remote sites.

Archived Webinar for Ecological Revitalization at the Henry's Knob Former Mining Now Available

Tue, 13 Mar 2018 18:44:00 GMT

Slides and audio for the webinar, Ecological Revitalization at the Henry's Knob Former Mining Site, have been archived and are available to view or download.

EPA Releases Benefits Matrix from EPA's RE-Powering America's Land Initiative

Mon, 5 Mar 2018 13:44:00 GMT

The latest version of the Benefits Matrix from EPA's RE-Powering America's Land Initiative describes self-reported benefits for 204 of the 253 renewable energy land installations that the Initiative is tracking throughout the United States. EPA is encouraging the reuse of formerly contaminated lands, landfills, and mine sites for renewable energy development when such development align with the community's vision for the site. While the matrix is not a comprehensive assessment of all benefits associated with completed renewable energy projects on formerly contaminated lands, it represents the breadth and magnitude of benefits being realized across the country by those developing these types of installations.

EPA Publishes an Issue Focused on Mining Site Cleanups in TINS

Wed, 7 Feb 2018 15:32:00 GMT

The Technology Information News Survey, published bimonthly by EPA's Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation (OSRTI), recently focused on the topic of mining site cleanups. The news survey contains market/commercialization information; reports on demonstrations, feasibility studies and research; and other news relevant to the hazardous waste community.

New Technical Reference Document Released by EPA

Wed, 7 Feb 2018 15:28:00 GMT

EPA has released the technical reference document, Planning for Response Actions at Abandoned Mines with Underground Workings: Best Practices for Preventing Sudden, Uncontrolled Fluid Mining Waste Releases, which recommends applying these best practices, as appropriate, when carrying out EPA-lead activities under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act at hardrock mining and mineral processing sites with underground mine workings posing actual or potential fluid release hazards.

New EPA Proposed Rule for Financial Responsibility Requirements Signed

Wed, 1 Mar 2017 17:14:00 GMT

On December 1, 2016, EPA Administrator, Gina McCarthy, signed the proposed rule, Financial Responsibility Requirements Under CERCLA Section 108(b) For Classes of Facilities in the Hardrock Mining Industry. It will be published in the Federal Register in the coming weeks. A public comment period will begin after publication in the Federal Register.

This proposed rule would establish financial responsibility requirements under section 108(b) of CERCLA, as amended. View the pre-publication version of the proposed rule.

New Memorandum on EPA Work Activities at Abandoned Hardrock Mining and Mineral Processing Sites in Preparation for the Fiscal Year 2016 Construction Season

Wed, 1 Mar 2017 17:14:00 GMT

On March 29, 2016, Assistant Administrator OLEM, Mathy Stanislaus issued a memorandum on EPA Work Activities at Abandoned Hardrock Mining and Mineral Processing Sites in Preparation for the Fiscal Year 2016 Construction Season. The memorandum assists the EPA Regions in planning for removal and remedial activities at sites with fluid hazards and shares the Agency's expectations for the work that is done at these sites.

EPA Awards $450,000 to Navajo Nation for Water Monitoring in the San Jan River

Wed, 1 Mar 2017 17:14:00 GMT

EPA awarded $465,000 to Navajo Nation for water monitoring in the San Jan River. Monitoring will include sediment sampling and a fish tissue contaminant study to focus on potential human health risks associated with fish consumption, following the Gold King Mine Release.

EPA's Response to Gold King Mine Release

Thu, 20 Aug 2015 15:21:00 GMT

EPA emergency response to the August 2015 release from Gold King Mine.

Webinar Registration Open: Remedial Action, Remedy Performance, and Long-Term Land Management at the Anaconda Smelter NPL site

Sun, 21 Jun 2015 21:15:00 GMT

Registration is open for OSRTI's CLU-IN webinar on Remedial Action, Remedy Performance, and Long-Term Land Management at the Anaconda Smelter NPL site. The webinar will be held on June 4, 2015 at 1:00-3:00 PM EDT and will feature a case study presentation on the Anaconda Smelter Superfund site. Presenters will review the results of over 20 years of remedial activities at the site and how the knowledge gained from this work has been used to develop a better cleanup that satisfies all the parties involved.

Article on the Bagdad Mine in Yavapai County, AZ

Fri, 6 Mar 2015 16:35:00 GMT

The March 15 issue of RE-Powering News contains an article on "Renewable Energy on Contaminated Lands (RE on CL)—Mine Lands," with information about the Bagdad Mine in Yavapai County, AZ, which features a 15-MW solar installation comprising more than 71,000 single-axis tracking photovoltaic modules. Re-Powering News is published by EPA's RE-Powering America's Lands program, which has catalogued a number of active and defunct mine sites being used for renewable power generation.

Mine Tailings Fundamentals: Current Technology and Practice for Mine Tailings Facilities

Tue, 24 Mar 2015 13:51:00 GMT

Registration is open for Mine Tailings Fundamentals: Current Technology and Practice for Mine Tailings Facilities, a two-part webinar in OSRTI's CLU-IN Mining Webinar Series, to be presented May 19 and 20 1:00-4:00 Eastern Time. Each session is designed with time for presentations and interaction with the participants. Part One (Tuesday, May 19) covers topics related to mine tailings facilities, including design features, siting, operation, and maintenance. Examples will be presented to discuss issues that arise during the operation of tailings facilities and how to prevent them. Part Two (Wednesday, May 20) focuses on best management practices for mine tailings facilities and decommissioning mine tailings piles. Most of this webinar will address considerations for final covers used in closing tailings facilities, including cover design, performance, and operation and maintenance. Instructors are: Jim Kuipers, Kuipers & Associates; Bill Albright, Desert Research Institute; and John Hillenbrand, EPA Region 9.

Archived OSRTI's CLU-IN Mining Webinar Series

Tue, 24 Mar 2015 13:51:00 GMT
The complete archives of earlier webinars in OSRTI's CLU-IN Mining Webinar Series, including the December 17, 2014 webinar on Water Treatment: Iron Mountain Mine and Bunker Hill Mining and Metallurgical Complex Superfund Sites and the November 17, 2014 webinar on CLU-IN Archived Internet Seminars & Podcasts page to view these and hundreds of other archived internet seminars available for free download and replay.

New Report on Mining-Influenced Water

Tue, 24 Mar 2015 13:51:00 GMT
A new report from U.S. EPA's Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation's highlights select mining-influenced water (MIW) treatment technologies used or piloted as part of remediation efforts at mine sites. The Reference Guide to Treatment Technologies for Mining-Influenced Water #pdfsmall# includes short descriptions of treatment technologies and information on the contaminants treated, pre-treatment requirements, long-term maintenance needs, performance, and costs. Sample sites illustrate considerations associated with selecting a technology. Website links and sources for more information on each topic are also included. The Reference Guide to Treatment Technologies for Mining-Influenced Water fact sheet #pdfsmall# provides more detail on the information included in the report. A searchable database of summary information for the technologies discussed in the body of the report, as well as additional technologies or products designed as passive or low cost treatment options, also is available.