Impact/Purpose:

The primary objective of the Region 4 Science and Ecosystem Support Division (SESD) sampling investigations, conducted at the request of the Region 4 RCRA Division, was to determine if selected facilities under Mineral Processing and Mining national priority were appropriately managing their wastestreams under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Authoritative sampling designs were used so that judgmental samples could be collected from the different phases of each wastestream (when practical) in an attempt to obtain representative samples. Laboratory analyses included: metals scans/Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) for metals, radiochemical analyses for alpha, beta and gamma scans as well as radium 226 and radium 228 isotopes, pH, fluoride, total suspended solids (TSS), and total organic carbon (TOC). The secondary objective of these investigations was to conduct sampling for the purposes of site assessment under CERCLA (Superfund).

Description:

The EPA Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) established a national priority for the mineral processing and mining industry for federal fiscal years 2005 – 2007. In response to this initiative, US-EPA Region 4 inspected and conducted sampling at five of these facilities during this reporting period. During the facility inspections, wastestreams were identified and sample locations were selected to determine compliance under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Wastes generated at these facilities have the potential to be RCRA hazardous wastes. Specifically, some of the waste may exhibit the Toxicity Characteristic (TC) for metals and/or be corrosive.

Record Details: