United States Environmental Protection Agency Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5306W) EPA530-B-96-009 December 1996 Publications on Mining Waste Management in Indian Country WASTE MANAGEMENT I IN INDIAN COUNTRY This document includes descriptions of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publications designed to assist tribal leaders, environ- mental personnel, and the general public with mining and mineral pro- cessing issues. It includes publications relating to mining waste management and engineering practices. These publications discuss environ- mental impacts from non-coal mining operations, mining source reduction and recycling opportunities, and innovative techniques for waste management. They also address mineral processing of specific ores, such as lead-zinc, gold, iron, and copper, and focus specifically on EPA's mining research and activi- ties. These documents are available on EPAs Internet homepage (http:// www.epa.gov). They can also be ordered through the National Technical Information Service (NTIS). for Non-Coal Mining Operations. EPJ4530-R-95-043. Order nymber, PBS6-109 103 (NTIS). Assists in preparing environmen- tal impact statements for non-coal mining operations. Describes the general types of environmental impacts likely to occur from hard rock (non-coal) mining. Provides valuable information at an intro- ductory, nontechnical level on these types of operations. Inno¥ati¥e of Environmental at Mine Sites, April 390 (NTIS). Describes source reduction and recycling practices and innovative techniques for waste management currently used in mining. Discusses process controls that help produce purer and new saleable products while reducing hazardous con- stituents in the waste stream. Examines recycling opportunities unique to mining, such as slag reprocessing, tailings reprocessing, pipe recycling and reuse, and mine tire recycling. Lists technical con- tacts familiar with each technology described. in Priorities List; NPL Summary Reports (Complete Set), Jyne 1991. 065. 159 Provides a five volume set cover- ing 48 sites. Includes a series on mining sites on the National Priorities List (NPL). Contains reports prepared to support EPAs mining program activities. Summarizes environmental dam- ages and associated mining waste management practices at sites on, or proposed for, NPL as of the February 11, 1991 Federal Register ------- (FR) notice (56 FR 5598). Based on information obtained from EPA files and reports. An individual report was prepared for each site, following various formats. Maps and charts are included. to on from Processing: Summary July 492 Summarizes findings pertaining to special wastes from mineral processing. Includes sources and volumes of materials generated per year, and presents disposal and utilization practices; the potential danger to health and environment; documented and proved cases of danger to health and environment; alternatives to current disposal methods and costs of alternatives; impacts of alternatives on use of phosphate rock, uranium ore, and other nat- ural resources; and current and potential uses of waste materials. Report to from Extraction of Ores, Overburden from Uranium Mining, Oil Shale, 85-033. Order 162 631 Addresses wastes from the extrac- tion and beneficiation of metallic ores (with special emphasis on cop- per, gold, iron, lead, silver, and zinc); uranium overburden; and the nonmetals, asbestos and phosphate rock. Provides a comprehensive assessment of possible adverse effects on human health and the environment resulting from the dis- posal of solid wastes from the extraction and benefication of ores and minerals. Covers mine waste, mill tailings, and waste from heap and dump leaching operations. Summarizes EPAs findings on oil shales in Appendix A of this report. II: Recommendations for a Regulatory Program for D of the Conservation Recowery Act, 1991. 418 Represents EPAs staff position on an effective federal program to regulate wastes and other materi- als uniquely associated with non- coal mining. Describes the pre-rulemaking process, and pro- vides background and overview of mining waste program. Discusses scope of program and regulatory approach. Technical Document: Acid Prediction, 036. 829 Examines acid generation pre- diction methods as they apply to non-coal mining sites. Reviews acid forming processes at mine sites. Summarizes current meth- ods used to predict acid forma- tion, including sampling, testing, and modeling. Presents case his- tories from active mining sites and sites on the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL). Technical Report: Design Ewaluation of Tailings Dams, 03B. 845 Presents an introduction to the subject of tailings dams and impoundments, particularly with regard to their engineering fea- tures and their ability to mitigate or minimize adverse effects to the environment. Provides an overview of the various methods used to dispose of mine tailings and the types of impoundments used. Describes the basic concepts used in the design of impound- ments, including a number of site- specific variables of concern. Discusses tailings embankment and stability and addresses water management in tailings impound- ments. Offers a case study on a lined tailings impoundment. Includes an appendix with com- ments received on the draft docu- ment with EPA responses. Technical Report: Treatment of Cyanide Tailings, 1994. 831 Provides information on cyanide treatment methods for heap leaches and tailings activi- ties associated with cyanidation operations. Discusses cyanide detoxification of treatment in terms of chemistry, duration, removal efficiencies, and advan- tages and limitations. Describes treatment techniques and. typical closure and reclamation activities for heaps and tailings impound- ments. Includes federal and state requirements that apply to cyanide operations and selected case studies. Presents treatment ------- options without evaluating their efficiency. Technical Docyment: Extraction Beneficiation of Ores and Minerals; Volyme 1: Lead- Zinc, Jyne 1994. 248 Presents the results of EPA's research into the domestic lead- zinc mining industry. Briefly characterizes the geology of lead- zinc ores and the economics of the industry. Reviews lead-zinc extraction and beneficiation meth- ods and discusses potential environmental effects of lead-zinc mining. Describes current regula- tory programs implemented by EPA, federal land management agencies, and selected states. Appendices include specific flota- tion activities employed for poiymetailic ores and associated process flow sheets, National Priority List (NPL) site summaries related to lead and zinc extraction and beneficiation, and a summary of comments on the report with EPA responses. Technical Docyment: of Ores Volume 2: Jyly 94-013. Order Number: Presents the results of EPA's research into the domestic gold mining industry. Briefly charac- terizes the geology of gold ores and the economics of the indus- try. Reviews gold extraction and beneficiation methods and discusses the potential environ- mental effects of gold mining. Describes current regulatory pro- grams implemented by EPA, fed- eral land management agencies, and selected states. Appendices include flow sheets of specific mine operations, National Priority List (NPL) site summaries related to gold extraction and beneficia- tion, and comments on site visits with EPA responses. Technical Docyment: of Ores Volume 3: Iron, R-S4-030. Order Number: 203 Profiles the domestic iron min- ing industry. Characterizes the geology of iron ores and the eco- nomics of the industry. Reviews iron extraction and beneficiation methods. Discusses potential environmental effects of iron min- ing. Describes current regulatory programs that apply to the iron mining industry as implemented by EPA, federal land management agencies, and selected states. Appendix includes comments on the report with EPA responses. Technical Document: Extraction of 4: Copper, August 1994. Number: 919 (NTIS). Presents the results of EPA's research into the domestic copper mining industry. Briefly charac- terizes the geology of copper ores and the economics of the indus- try. Reviews copper extraction and beneficiation methods and discusses potential environmental effects of copper mining. Describes current regulatory pro- grams implemented by EPA, fed- eral land management agencies, and selected states. Appendices include a summary of comments and EPA responses, case studies of published information on cop- per mine waste management prac- tices, National Priority List (NPL) site summaries related to copper mining, and an acronym list. Technical Document: Extraction of 5: Uranium, 1994. 981 Presents the results of EPA's research into the domestic urani- um mining industry. Briefly char- acterizes the geology of uranium ores and the economics of the industry. Reviews uranium extrac- tion and beneficiation methods and discusses potential environ- mental effects of uranium mining. Describes current regulatory pro- grams implemented by EPA, fed- eral land management agencies, and selected states. Appendices include National Priority List (NPL) site summaries related to the extraction and beneficiation of uranium, an acronym list, and the ground-water standards for reme- dial actions at inactive uranium processing sites. Technical Resource Docyment: Extraction Beneficiation of Minerals; Volyme 6: Gold Placers, October 1994. Order 811 Presents the results of EPA's research into the domestic gold placer mining industry. Briefly characterizes the geology of gold placer deposits and the econom- ics of the industry. Reviews gold placer extraction and beneficia- ------- tion methods arid discusses potential environmental effects of gold placer mining. Describes cur- rent regulatory programs imple- mented by EPA, federal land management agencies, and select- ed states. Appendix includes comments on the report with EPA responses. Technical Document: of Ores Volume 7: Phosphate and Molybdenum, Movember 001 Presents the results of EPA's research into the domestic phos- phate and molybdenum mining industry. Comprises two site visit reports conducted by EPA to a phosphate mine in Florida and a molybdenum mine in Idaho dur- ing 1991 and 1992. Both reports include a general facility descrip- tion, the environmental setting (climate, surface water, geology, hydrogeology, and wildlife), facil- ity operations, waste and materi- als management, regulatory requirements and compliance, and ground-water monitoring data. Appendix includes com- ments on the report and EPA responses. Long Term Dissolution of 040-A. Order Number: PBS5- 2SO 295 (NTIS). Describes the long term dissolu- tion testing of mine waste and the effects of particle size on the quality of drainage from waste rock. Characterizes the quality of drainage from four waste rock and six tailing samples physically, chemically, and mineralogically. Conducted under grant to EPA by the state of Minnesota. Quality in Pit Precioys Mines. EPA530- R-95-011. 191 243 Documents the current level of understanding for issues concerning open-pit metal-mine water quality, and determines where additional research is needed. Examines factors that contribute to pit-water quality, such as flow of ground water, water- wallrock reactions, pH, trace ele- ment concentrations (especially arsenic), evapoconcentration, and hydrothermal activity. Discusses how pit lakes exist from the mining of minerals such as phosphate, ura- nium, coal, copper, silver, and gold. Determines that the variability in the contributions of the factors that affect pit-water quality and the unique geology in each mine make prediction of pit-water quality difficult. Conducted under grant to EPA by University of Nevada, Reno. to at Mining Operations. (Will be in 1997.) Includes information to assist facilities with mineral extraction and benefication operations in develop- ing and implementing environmen- tal auditing programs. Encourages the use of audits throughout the mining industry to improve environ- mental management and assess risks from current practices. Technical Analysis of (Will be in 1991.) Discusses the concept that costs associated with mine site remedia- tion are highly variable because of the site-specific nature of many environmental problems. Analyzes factors that can influence remedia- tion costs: remediation goals, water quality, site characteristics, liners, site hydrology, water treatment, site operations, regulatory considera- tions, water quality monitoring, and reclamation requirements. Develops data on the costs of addressing typi- cal environmental problems that arise at modern mines. of Spent Solution. (Will be in early 1991.) Discusses the historic options for the disposal of spent cyanide solu- tions, such as direct discharge to surface waters, evaporation, long- term impoundment, and land appli- cation disposal. The zero-discharge requirements of the Effluent Guidelines for the Ore Mining and Dressing Point Source Categoiy have eliminated direct discharge as a dis- posal option. Analyzes the potential- ly significant reductions in cost and time required for land application disposal and the controlled applica- tion of wastewater to the land sur- face. Considers how land application disposal has the poten- tial to impact the receiving environ- ment through a variety of pathways. ------- Subaqueous Disposal of Mine Tailings. (Will be in Evaluates the use of subaqueous disposal of reactive tailings due to the water's potential to reduce acid generation. Describes two methods of disposal: a floating pipeline that discharges the tailings into a lake some distance from the shore, and a submerged pipeline that discharges the tailings below the water surface. The Operation of at (Will be in Provides summary information on the design and operation of waste rock piles. Analyzes historic waste rock disposal practices to provide evidence of the types of potential environmental impacts that may result from improper design, con- struction, or management of waste rock piles. of at (Will be in early 1997.) Emphasizes that accurate knowl- edge of the variables associated with determining the water balance for a mine is crucial in planning mining operations, determining operational practices, and designing hydrologic control structures to prevent envi- ronmental impacts. Discusses the variables associated with developing a mine's water balance as well as procedures to evaluate the hydrolog- ic budgets from both the natural and process hydrologic systems. ------- EPA Publications List All of the following publications can be ordered through the National Technical Information Service (N'l'IS) for a fee. An order form is included for your use, or call NTIS at 703 487-4650 or TDD 703 487-4639 (hearing impaired). Most of these publications also are available on the Internet. To find those documents that are available, access the EPA homepage (http://www.cpa.gov). After accessing the homepage, the available documents can be found in the OSW section under the directory Other Wastes/Bevill Wastes/Mining Wastes. n Background for NEPA Reviewers: Non-coal Mining Operations. EPA530-R-95-043. Order Number: PB96-109 103 (NTIS). D Innovative Methods of Managing Environmental Releases at Mine Sites, April 1994. EPA530-SW-91- 093N. Order Number: PB92-131 390 (NTIS). D Mining Sites in the National Priorities List; NPL Site Summary Reports (Complete Set), June 1991. EPA530 SW91 065. Order Number: PB92-124 759 (NTIS). D Report to Congress on Special Wastes from Mineral Processing: Summary and Findings. July 1990. RPA530-SW-90-070B." D Report to Congress: Wastes from the Extraction and Bencficiation of Metallic Ores, Phosphate Rock, Asbestos, Overburden from Uranium Mining, and Oil Shale, December 1985. "RPA530-SW-85- 033. Order Number: PB88-162 631 (NTIS). D St.rawman II: Recommendations for a Regulatory Program for Mining Wastes and Materials under Subtitle D of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, May 1991. RPA530-SW-91-056. Order Number: PB91-178 418 (NTIS). D Technical Document: Acid Mine Drainage Prediction, December 1994. EPA53Q-R-94-Q36. Order Number: PB94-201 829 (NTIS). D Technical Report: Design and Evaluation of Tailings Darns. August 1994. EPA530-R-94-038. Order Number: PB94-201 845 (NTIS). D Technical Report: Treatment of Cyanide Heap Leaches and Tailings, September 1994. EPA530- R-94-037. Order Number: PB94- 201 837 (NTIS). D Technical Resource Document: Extraction and Beneficiation of Ores and Minerals; Volume 1: Lead Zinc, June 1994. EPA530 R 94-011. Order Number: PB94-170 248 (NTIS). D Technical Resource Document: Extraction and Beneficiation of Ores and Minerals: Volume 2: Gold. July 1994. RPA530-R-94-013. Order Number: PB94-170 305 (NTIS). D Technical Resource Document: Extraction and Beneficiation of Ores and Minerals; Volume 3: Iron, August 1994. EPA530-R-94-030. Order Number: PB94-195 203 (NTIS). D Technical Resource Document: Extraction and Beneficiation of Ores and Minerals; Volume 4: Copper, August 1994. RPA530-R- 94-031. Order Number: PB94-200 979 (NTIS). D Technical Resource Document: Extraction and Beneficiation of Ores and Minerals; Volume 5: Uranium, December 1994. EPA530- R-94-032. Order Number: PB94- 200 987 (NTIS). D Technical Resource Document: Extraction and Beneficiation of Ores and Minerals; Volume 6: Gold Placers, October 1994. EPA530-R- 94 035. Order Number: PB94 201 811 (NTIS). D Technical Resource Document: Extraction and Beneficiation of Ores and Minerals; Volume 7: Phosphate and Molybdenum, November 1994. EPA530-R-94-034. Order Number: PB94-201 001 (NTIS). D Long Term Dissolution Testing of Mine Waste. EPA530-R-95-040-A. Order Number: PB95-260 295 (NTIS). D Water Quality in Open Pit Precious Metal Mines' RPA530-R-95-011. Order Number: PB95-191 243 (NTIS). The following documents will be in early 1991. D Guide to Designing Environmental Audits at Mining Operations. D Technical Analysis and Evaluation of Mining Site Remediation Costs. D Land Applications Disposal of Spent Cyanide Solutions. D Subaqueous Disposal of Mine Tailings. D The Design and Operation of Waste Rock Piles at Non-Coal Mines. D Determination of Water Balance at Mine Sites. ------- |