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Biochemical Reactors for Treating Mining-influenced Water

Learn about utilizing Biochemical Reactors (BCRs) for treating Mining-influenced Water, covering design, construction, monitoring, and challenges. Access guidance and resources for successful implementation. Join the effort to address environmental impacts responsibly.

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Biochemical Reactors for Treating Mining-influenced Water

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  1. Biochemical Reactors for Treating Mining-influenced Water

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

  3. 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!

  4. Biochemical Reactors for Mining Influenced Water

  5. 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

  6. 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)

  7. 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

  8. Cautions • BCRs may not consistently meet strict water quality standards • BCRs are not walk away systems • Monitoring is required • Maintenance may be needed periodically

  9. 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

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

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

  12. Testing • Proof of Principle • Bench Testing • Pilot Testing • Solid Substrate • Liquid Substrate

  13. Design

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

  15. Lady Leith BCR, Jefferson Co, MT 4 Receiving Stream 1 Source 2 Construction 3 Completed BCR ITRC BCR-1, 2013: Appendix B14

  16. Monitoring Collecting effluent samples from the Luttrell BCR, MT • 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

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

  18. Troubleshooting • Chemical trends • Physical Trends Adjustable Elevation Head Weir for BCR Effluent ITRC BCR-1, 2013: Section 6.3.2

  19. 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

  20. Animas River Stakeholder Group • Act of Congress: Good Samaritans and Draining Mines 2014 • Video 12 minutes, 31 seconds • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkjFdgshv1Y&feature=youtu.be

  21. User Groups: Use and Benefit

  22. 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.

  23. 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

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

  25. 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 What action are you going to take?

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