Office of Solid Waste Mine Waste Research Needs 2000

1
Office of Solid Waste Mine Waste Research Needs
2000

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• Stephen Hoffman

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Status Summary

• ORD completed the Characterization of Mine
  Leachates and the Development of a Ground-Water
  Monitoring Strategy for Mine Sites--February 2000
  EPA/600/R-99/007
• This study needs to be expanded to confirm that
  this approach to finger-printing of ground water
  is effective.
• ORD and MSE continue to conduct a range of
  compost remediation studies in Montana and
  Missouri is field test how well chemically
  amended compost addresses metal contaminated
  soils.
• Regions 8 and 10 continue to evaluate the short
  and long term effects of large cyanide metals
  releases into the environment (Sumittville and
  Grouse Creek)

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OSW Mine Waste Areas of Concern

• All federal agencies now acknowledge that acid
  rock drainage is a serious threat to the
  environment at hard rock mines.
• OSW is often forced to rely on using the BC
  method to predict ARD
• OSW has not yet developed its own method to
  predict ARD in gold and copper mines
• Mining companies often characterized their waste
  rock and tailings using limited core and bulk
  sampling and then extrapolating that data for the
  life of the mine.
• There is a clear need to develop a geostatistical
  method that all mines should follow to
  characterize waste rock and tailings.
• More and more cyanide gold heap leaches are
  closing. How do we accurately analyze short and
  long term leachate from these units?
• Recent evidence in Nevada shows selenium,
  aluminum, and metal cyanides in heap
  leachate-after heap rinsing.
• Is there a long term chemical change taking place
  in heaps after rinsing with water?
• Can we predict metal loadings in short term rain
  events-how do we really know metal contaminants
  in thunder storm events in Arizona?

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Resources

• Funding for directed research is bad and will get
  worst.
• The OSW and the Regions need to better find ways
  to force companies to perform research for us
  which will can then peer review.
• Need to carefully evaluate who university
  research can be made more applicable to
  permitting and enforcement needs.
• Assess how research can be accommodated during
  rule development.

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Future Needs

• As mining continues to decline a greater emphasis
  will be given to mine closure and reclamation.
• The will be an increased need to assist BLM/FS
  with their analysis of contamination at mines on
  federal lands.
• Need to encourage OW to develop new effluent
  guidelines for metal mining
• Need to encourage OSW to develop Subtitle C or D
  rule for mining waste.

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Contacts

• HQ Mining Team
• Region 8, 9, and 10 Mining Teams
• Monthly Mining Call
• Centralized Mine Waste Web Site
• Please feel free to contact me at 703-308-8413
• email hoffman.stephen_at_epa.gov