Corona & Twin Peaks Mine Drainage Treatment Project · Corona & Twin Peaks Mine Drainage Treatment...
Transcript of Corona & Twin Peaks Mine Drainage Treatment Project · Corona & Twin Peaks Mine Drainage Treatment...
Corona & Twin Peaks Mine Drainage Treatment Project
Bob Schneider
Stephen McCord
Greg Reller
August 14, 2012
A novel approach to cleaning up mine waste and ongoing
discharges from three mercury mines on private property
Acknowledgement
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• State of California • Ecosystem Restoration Program &
its implementing agencies: • DFG • National Marine Fisheries Service • US Fish and Wildlife Service
Project Lead
Bob Schneider and Sara
Husby, Tuleyome
Project Manager
Stephen McCord, MEI
Federal
• USEPA
• BLM
• USBR
• USFWS
Drainage Treatment
Design & Monitoring
• Peter Green, UC Davis.
• Tim Tsukamoto, TKT
• Darell Slotton, UC Davis
• Justin Smith, on site
Mine Site Remediation &
Permitting
• Greg Reller, Burleson
• Vic Claassen & Craig
Thomsen, UC Davis
• John Parker, Arch. Res.
Regional / Local
• Napa County
• Solano Irrig. District
• Upper Putah Cr.
Stewardship Comm.
State
• RWQCB
• DTSC
• DFG
Liability Issues
• Michael Lozeau,
Lozeau Drury LLP
Other
• IRWM Westside Group
• DTMC
• CA Aband. Mine Lands Forum
• Enviro./Social Justice org.s
Project Support
• Andrew Fulks, Tuleyome
• Chad Roberts, Roberts
Env. & Cons. Planning
Stakeholders
Project Team
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Mining Legacy
8
Portions of
Upper Putah
Creek
Watershed
Showing Some
Abandoned
Mercury Mines
Source: Slotton et al. (1999)
Helen
Pilot Project Objectives
Characterize pre- & post- conditions
Comply with applicable laws
Abate drain tunnel discharges
Clean up site
Set up for long-term O&M
Identify & resolve liability issues
Facilitate property transfer / easement
Outreach & demonstrate 10
Overall Schedule
11
Permitting
Stakeholder Coordination Reporting
Site Char. & Design
Construc-tion
Operation & Maintenance
Baseline Monitoring
Liability
Effectiveness Monitoring
2012 2013 2014
13
Site Conditions
1950’s Corona Mine:
Shows development
of mercury mining
1890’s Scott
Furnace
Soot Recovery
1940s-1950s Retort
(condenser) tubes)
Ore Bins
Waste Rock
‘Calcine’ Tailings
with Waste Rock
Rotary Furnaces
Adit
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Regulatory Issues
Porter Cologne Water Quality Control Act
Mine Waste
Mine Drainage
Responsibility (Liability) to Discharger
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Regulatory Issues
Clean Water Act
Discharge to waters of the US
Responsibility (Liability) to Discharger
18
Regulatory Issues
CERCLA (Superfund)
Current Risk
Future Risk
Responsibility (Liability) to -current and past- Owners/Operators
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Regulatory Issues
Is it possible to effectively address risks and water quality issues at abandoned mine sites without
incurring perpetual liability as an owner/operator?
Permitting
Stakeholder Coordination Reporting
Site Char. & Design
Construc-tion
Operation & Maintenance
Baseline Monitoring
Liability
Effectiveness Monitoring
2012 2013 2014
General Project Plan
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Characterize Mine Wastes
Characterize Mine Drainage
Monitor Surface water and aquatic biota
Obtain US EPA ‘Good Samaritan’ waiver
Implement a remediation plan under CWC Chapter 5.7