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Addressing Threats from Addressing Threats from Abandoned Mines in California Abandoned Mines in California Communities Communities Jackson, Amador County Randy Adams, C.E.G. Randy Adams, C.E.G. California Environmental Protection Agency

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Addressing Threats from Addressing Threats from Abandoned Mines in California Abandoned Mines in California Communities Communities

Randy Adams, C.E.G. Randy Adams, C.E.G.

California Environmental Protection Agency California Environmental Protection Agency Department of Toxic Substances Control Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) (DTSC)

November 2009 November 2009

Jackson, Amador County

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Introduction Introduction

47,000 Abandoned 47,000 Abandoned Mines in California Mines in California estimated by estimated by Department of Department of Conservation. Conservation. Abandoned Mine Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) or Mine Lands (AML) or Mine Scarred Lands are Scarred Lands are Brownfields Brownfields

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Addressing Threats from Abandoned Mines Addressing Threats from Abandoned Mines in California Communities in California Communities

  • Mine Waste Chemicals of Concern (COC)

Mine Waste Chemicals of Concern (COC)

  • Human Exposure to Toxic Substances

Human Exposure to Toxic Substances

  • Environmental Impacts on Water Quality and Biota

Environmental Impacts on Water Quality and Biota

  • Abandoned Mine Lands as Brownfields in California

Abandoned Mine Lands as Brownfields in California

– – Current Issues Current Issues – – Approaches/ Solutions Approaches/ Solutions

  • DTSC AML Programs

DTSC AML Programs

  • DTSC approaches to human health exposure in

DTSC approaches to human health exposure in mining communities: mining communities:

– – Community Community-

  • Wide Assessment Grant Jackson/ Sutter Creek

Wide Assessment Grant Jackson/ Sutter Creek – – Training Research and Technical Assistance Grant: California Training Research and Technical Assistance Grant: California Mine Scarred Lands Project (Arsenic Bioavailability Grant) Mine Scarred Lands Project (Arsenic Bioavailability Grant)

Discussion Topics

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Mine Waste Chemicals of Concern Mine Waste Chemicals of Concern

Types of Mine Types of Mine Wastes Wastes

  • Mine Waste Rock

Mine Waste Rock

  • Mill Tailings

Mill Tailings

  • Acid Mine Drainage (AMD)

Acid Mine Drainage (AMD)

  • Processing Chemicals

Processing Chemicals

  • Most common COC for Gold Mines: Arsenic,

Most common COC for Gold Mines: Arsenic, Mercury, and Lead Mercury, and Lead

Jamison Creek, Plumas County

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Human Exposure to Toxic Human Exposure to Toxic Substances Substances

Mesa De Oro, Sutter Creek, Amador County

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Human Exposure to Toxic Human Exposure to Toxic Substances Substances

Assessing risk due to mine waste Assessing risk due to mine waste

  • Toxicity of COC

Toxicity of COC

  • Concentration of COC

Concentration of COC

  • Particle size and solubility

Particle size and solubility

  • Frequency and duration of exposure (land uses)

Frequency and duration of exposure (land uses)

  • Media

Media -

  • (water, soil, air)

(water, soil, air)

  • Route of exposure

Route of exposure – – (ingestion, inhalation, dermal) (ingestion, inhalation, dermal)

  • Sensitivity of person exposed

Sensitivity of person exposed – –(child, pregnant (child, pregnant women) women)

  • Potential for bioaccumulation

Potential for bioaccumulation

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Environmental Impacts on Environmental Impacts on Water Quality and Biota Water Quality and Biota

Copper Creek, Copperopolis, Calaveras County

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Environmental Impacts on Environmental Impacts on Water Quality and Biota Water Quality and Biota

Biota Biota Impacts Impacts

  • Harmful to plants and animals, particularly fish and

Harmful to plants and animals, particularly fish and

  • ther aquatic organisms
  • ther aquatic organisms
  • Concentration and toxicity thresholds for animals

Concentration and toxicity thresholds for animals are often lower than for humans are often lower than for humans

  • Effects to biota are often acute (fish kills)

Effects to biota are often acute (fish kills)

  • Effects to plants are long lasting (barren hill sides)

Effects to plants are long lasting (barren hill sides)

Iron Mountain Mine, Shasta County

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Environmental Impacts on Environmental Impacts on Water Quality and Biota Water Quality and Biota

Water Water Quality Quality Impacts & Impacts & Solutions Solutions

  • Surface water

Surface water – – AMD and dissolved/ suspended metals AMD and dissolved/ suspended metals (including mercury and methyl (including mercury and methyl-

  • mercury)

mercury)

  • Potential threats to groundwater

Potential threats to groundwater – – dissolved metals dissolved metals

  • Major impacts were identified early in California

Major impacts were identified early in California

  • Solution

Solution-

  • Water diversion and large scale treatment

Water diversion and large scale treatment systems systems

Treatment Plant

Water Diversion

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Abandoned Mine Lands as Abandoned Mine Lands as Brownfields in California Brownfields in California

Current Issues Current Issues

  • Development within Historical Mining Communities

Development within Historical Mining Communities

  • Jackson and Sutter Creek, Amador County

Jackson and Sutter Creek, Amador County

  • Nevada City and Grass Valley, Nevada County

Nevada City and Grass Valley, Nevada County

  • Infrastructure and Public Property

Infrastructure and Public Property

  • Increased Recreational Land Uses

Increased Recreational Land Uses

  • National & State Parks

National & State Parks

  • Local Agencies

Local Agencies

  • Tribal Land Uses

Tribal Land Uses

  • Cultural/ Ceremonial

Cultural/ Ceremonial

Central Eureka Mine Sutter Creek

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Abandoned Mine Lands as Abandoned Mine Lands as Brownfields in California Brownfields in California

Approaches/ Solutions Approaches/ Solutions

  • Collaboration with state, federal, and local

Collaboration with state, federal, and local agencies; tribal governments; universities; agencies; tribal governments; universities; non non-

  • profit organizations; and private parties

profit organizations; and private parties

  • California Abandoned Mine Lands Agency Group

California Abandoned Mine Lands Agency Group and Abandoned Mine Lands Forum and Abandoned Mine Lands Forum

  • Abandoned Mine Lands Priority List

Abandoned Mine Lands Priority List

  • Memorandum of Understanding

Memorandum of Understanding -

  • State/ Federal

State/ Federal Land Management Agencies (in progress) Land Management Agencies (in progress)

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Abandoned Mine Lands as Abandoned Mine Lands as Brownfields in California Brownfields in California

Approaches/ Solutions (Continued) Approaches/ Solutions (Continued)

  • Memorandum of Agreement

Memorandum of Agreement -

  • DTSC/ California

DTSC/ California Regional Water Quality Control Boards Regional Water Quality Control Boards

  • Brownfields and other grant applications

Brownfields and other grant applications

  • Letter of Intent

Letter of Intent -

  • Tribes/ DTSC (Cache Creek

Tribes/ DTSC (Cache Creek Watershed) Watershed)

  • DTSC AML Initiative

DTSC AML Initiative Team Team

Picacho State Recreation Area, Imperial County

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Abandoned Mine Lands as Abandoned Mine Lands as Brownfields in California Brownfields in California

DTSC AML Programs DTSC AML Programs

  • Voluntary Cleanup Program

Voluntary Cleanup Program

  • State Orphan Sites

State Orphan Sites

  • Orders

Orders

  • National Priorities List (NPL) Sites with

National Priorities List (NPL) Sites with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)

  • Preliminary Assessment/ Site Investigation via

Preliminary Assessment/ Site Investigation via USEPA USEPA

  • Targeted Site Investigation via USEPA

Targeted Site Investigation via USEPA

Copperopolis, Calaveras County

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Abandoned Mine Lands as Abandoned Mine Lands as Brownfields in California Brownfields in California

Two examples of approaches DTSC is taking in Two examples of approaches DTSC is taking in addressing the problem of human health addressing the problem of human health exposure in mining communities: exposure in mining communities:

  • USEPA Brownfields Community

USEPA Brownfields Community-

  • Wide

Wide Assessment Grant: Jackson/ Sutter Creek Assessment Grant: Jackson/ Sutter Creek

  • USEPA Brownfields Training Research and

USEPA Brownfields Training Research and Technical Assistance Grant: California Mine Technical Assistance Grant: California Mine Scarred Lands Project (Arsenic Bioavailability Scarred Lands Project (Arsenic Bioavailability Grant) Grant)

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Community Community-

  • Wide Assessment

Wide Assessment Jackson/Sutter Creek, Amador County Jackson/Sutter Creek, Amador County

Scope of Scope of Project Project

  • Assess public lands and high priority

Assess public lands and high priority development sites development sites

– – Public lands: schools, parks, roads, storm drain Public lands: schools, parks, roads, storm drain systems, and other public property systems, and other public property – – Private: sites where development is encroaching Private: sites where development is encroaching

Kennedy Mine Sutter Creek

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Jackson/ Sutter Creek

Mapping to date with abandoned mine sites, including public land and private land locations

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Community Community-

  • Wide Assessment

Wide Assessment Jackson/Sutter Creek Jackson/Sutter Creek

Elements Elements

  • Inventory

Inventory

– – Property information, historic land uses, and mine Property information, historic land uses, and mine information from AML databases information from AML databases

  • Initial Assessment

Initial Assessment

– – Sample and determine general nature and extent Sample and determine general nature and extent

  • f contamination. Screening level using XRF and
  • f contamination. Screening level using XRF and

limited surface water and sediment samples limited surface water and sediment samples

  • Selected Phase II Assessments

Selected Phase II Assessments

– – Based on initial assessment results Based on initial assessment results

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Community Community-

  • Wide Assessment

Wide Assessment Jackson/Sutter Creek Jackson/Sutter Creek

Elements Elements (Continued)

(Continued)

  • Cleanup Planning

Cleanup Planning – – Recommendations for cleanup: cleanup Recommendations for cleanup: cleanup levels for COC, cleanup alternatives (such levels for COC, cleanup alternatives (such as removal; capping), institutional controls as removal; capping), institutional controls to limit exposure (such as ordinances, land to limit exposure (such as ordinances, land use covenants) use covenants)

Waste Rock – Jackson, Amador County

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Community Community -

  • Wide Assessment

Wide Assessment Jackson/Sutter Creek Jackson/Sutter Creek

Products Products

  • Consolidated Geographic Information System (GIS)

Consolidated Geographic Information System (GIS) Maps: Maps: – – Historical mining operations & current location of Historical mining operations & current location of mine waste mine waste – – Nature of contamination in soils and impact on Nature of contamination in soils and impact on surface water surface water – – Chemical data from previous sites and assessments Chemical data from previous sites and assessments

  • Cleanup guidance:

Cleanup guidance: – – Threats to human health and water quality Threats to human health and water quality – – Chemicals of concern & preliminary cleanup levels Chemicals of concern & preliminary cleanup levels – – Remediation alternatives & institutional controls Remediation alternatives & institutional controls

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Community Community -

  • Wide Assessment

Wide Assessment Jackson/Sutter Creek Jackson/Sutter Creek Utilization Utilization

  • Development planning

Development planning

  • Infrastructure management

Infrastructure management

  • Cleanup needs

Cleanup needs

Tailings Impoundment Ore De Amador Mine Jackson, Amador County

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Arsenic Bioavailability Grant Arsenic Bioavailability Grant

Bioavailability Bioavailability: "The amount of chemical that is actually : "The amount of chemical that is actually absorbed into the body" absorbed into the body" Issues Issues

  • Arsenic is typically the controlling COC for cleanup of

Arsenic is typically the controlling COC for cleanup of gold mines gold mines

  • Arsenic is often only partially bioavailable: 5% to 90%

Arsenic is often only partially bioavailable: 5% to 90%

  • Generally poor correlation between in vivo (animal

Generally poor correlation between in vivo (animal studies) and in vitro (lab methods studies) and in vitro (lab methods – – simulated gastro simulated gastro digestion) digestion)

  • In vivo methods are expensive and time consuming

In vivo methods are expensive and time consuming

  • Apparent relationship between various forms of iron

Apparent relationship between various forms of iron

  • xide and arsenic
  • xide and arsenic
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Arsenic Bioavailability Grant Arsenic Bioavailability Grant

Objectives Objectives

  • Develop cost effective methods to determine arsenic

Develop cost effective methods to determine arsenic bioavailability: bioavailability:

– – Correlate in vitro methods with with in vivo methods and Correlate in vitro methods with with in vivo methods and corresponding mineralogy/ various forms of iron oxide corresponding mineralogy/ various forms of iron oxide – – Develop catalog of mine wastes and corresponding in vitro Develop catalog of mine wastes and corresponding in vitro and mineralogy data and mineralogy data – – Establish methodology for implementation at other sites Establish methodology for implementation at other sites

  • To better assess health risks and develop cost

To better assess health risks and develop cost effective cleanup levels effective cleanup levels

Empire Mine State Park

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References References

U.S. EPA: U.S. EPA: Brownfields Home Page: Brownfields Home Page: http: / / www.epa.gov/ brownfields/ http: / / www.epa.gov/ brownfields/ Brownfields Grants and Funding Information: Brownfields Grants and Funding Information: http: / / www.epa.gov/ brownfields/ pilot.htm http: / / www.epa.gov/ brownfields/ pilot.htm Brownfields Grant Applications Assistance Website: Brownfields Grant Applications Assistance Website: http: / / www.tabez.org/ http: / / www.tabez.org/ DTSC: DTSC: Brownfields Home Page: Brownfields Home Page: http: / / www.dtsc.ca.gov/ SiteCleanup/ Brownfields/ index.cfm http: / / www.dtsc.ca.gov/ SiteCleanup/ Brownfields/ index.cfm Loans and Grants Information: Loans and Grants Information: http: / / www.dtsc.ca.gov/ SiteCleanup/ Brownfields/ Loans_Grants.cfm http: / / www.dtsc.ca.gov/ SiteCleanup/ Brownfields/ Loans_Grants.cfm Voluntary Cleanup Program Information: Voluntary Cleanup Program Information: http: / / www.dtsc.ca.gov/ SiteCleanup/ Brownfields/ index.cfm# CP_JUMP http: / / www.dtsc.ca.gov/ SiteCleanup/ Brownfields/ index.cfm# CP_JUMP_13298 _13298 AML Preliminary Assessment Handbook: AML Preliminary Assessment Handbook: http: / / www.dtsc.ca.gov/ SiteCleanup/ Brownfields/ upload/ aml_handbo http: / / www.dtsc.ca.gov/ SiteCleanup/ Brownfields/ upload/ aml_handbook.pdf

  • k.pdf

AML Site Discovery Process: AML Site Discovery Process: http: / / www.dtsc.ca.gov/ SiteCleanup/ Brownfields/ upload/ SMBRP_AML_ http: / / www.dtsc.ca.gov/ SiteCleanup/ Brownfields/ upload/ SMBRP_AML_Guidance. Guidance. pdf pdf

Bodie Mine State Park

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Addressing Threats from Abandoned Addressing Threats from Abandoned Mines in California Communities Mines in California Communities

Contact Information Contact Information

Randy S. Adams, C.E.G. Randy S. Adams, C.E.G. Senior Engineering Geologist Senior Engineering Geologist Abandoned Mine Lands Initiative Team Abandoned Mine Lands Initiative Team Department of Toxic Substances Control Department of Toxic Substances Control 8800 Cal Center Drive 8800 Cal Center Drive Sacramento, California 95826 Sacramento, California 95826

916 916-

  • 255

255-

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3591 radams@dtsc.ca.gov radams@dtsc.ca.gov

Arasrta – San Bernardino County