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ANCHOR HILL PIT LAKE IN SITU TREATMENT, GILT EDGE MINE SUPERFUND SITE, S. DAKOTA, USA - A RETROSPECTIVE
Citation:
LEWIS, N. M., K. WANGERUD, B. PARK, S. D. FUNDINGSLAND, AND M. E. ADZIC. ANCHOR HILL PIT LAKE IN SITU TREATMENT, GILT EDGE MINE SUPERFUND SITE, S. DAKOTA, USA - A RETROSPECTIVE. Presented at International Conference on Acid Rock Drainage, St Louis, MO, March 27 - 29, 2005.
Impact/Purpose:
To inform the public.
Description:
The EPA Region VII Superfund office and the EPA National Risk Management Research Laboratory (NRMRL) Mine Waste Technology Program (MWTP)have been conducting a field scale technology demonstration of an in situ treatment of the Anchor Hill Pit Lake at the Gilt Edge Mine Superfund site near Deadwood, South Dakota since March 2001. The project goal was to develop cost and performance data of the treatment approach for potential application in long term water treatment management activities at the Gilt Edge site, as well as potential application at other similar sites. The Anchor Hill Pit initially contained approximately 70,000,000 gallons of acidic mine water, with elevated metals, sulfate, and nitrate content and a pH of approximately 3. The first step of the two-stage insitu treatment consisted of using a Neutra-Mill to neutralize the pit pH to approximately 7 using lime (March 2001-May 2001). Following a short stabilization period, a patented process for insitu pit lake treatment using an organic formulation of molasses, methanol, and proprietary ingredients was implemented in the pit in May 2001 by Green World Science, Inc to create reducing conditions; stimulate bacterial activity for nitrate, selenium, and sulfate reduction; improve water quality; and create a stable system. Denitrification did occur, though slower than expected, and was followed by sulfate reduction.