Case Studies
Case Study Collection Process
The ITRC Mining Waste Team collected case studies from mine sites throughout the United States and one from New Brunswick, Canada using an online survey tool. The survey contained a total of 23 questions concerning the following specifics:
- contact name
- site location
- affected media
- regulatory drivers
- all technologies used
- performance
- cost
- cleanup goals or performance criteria
- contaminated media treated
- scale of each technology: experimental, pilot, or full-scale application
- any public issues
- regulatory barriers encountered with the application(s)
After the initial submittal, team members conducted follow-up as much as possible. Even so, there are some sections of particular case studies that contain limited or no information. The case studies reflect what was received in the initial survey and follow-up by team members. Some case studies are more detailed than others, which again, is a reflection of what was obtained. We highly recommend that users of this web-based selection tool contact people listed in the case studies to receive up-to-date information on the application. Regardless of the follow-up completed, a case study is still a snapshot and is dated at the time of publication. The objective of the survey was stated as follows:
The ITRC Mining Waste Team is collecting case studies of tests and full scale operation of technologies used to treat contaminants of concern in mining-related material. We hope to obtain, at a minimum, a description of the technology, a brief background of the site, and a way to contact someone familiar with the technology in order to obtain follow-up information. These case studies will provide the ITRC Mining Waste Team a snapshot of information on emerging, innovative, or new applications of conventional technologies being used or tested to treat mine-related solid waste and mine-impacted water. The ITRC team will use these case studies as a part of their process to evaluate what technologies are being tested and how the technology is performing.
The survey request was sent to the ITRC Points of Contact, DOE, DOD, EPA, ITRC Industry Affiliates Program members, and ITRC Mining Waste Team members. Team members also forwarded the Case Study Survey request to colleagues. The initial survey period was from March 21, 2008 to May 2, 2008 but was extended upon request and as necessary. Throughout the project, the team identified applicable examples and obtained further case study write-ups.
This table contains a list of all case studies in the Mining Waste Technology Selection Website. Each case study is listed according to the states (alphabetically). Each state on the map is hyperlinked to the following table.
Case Study |
Technology |
Map # |
Microbial Mats; Anoxic Limestone Drain; Administrative
and Engineering Controls |
1 |
|
Phytotechnologies |
10 |
|
Biochemical Reactor |
2 |
|
Chemical Precipitation |
3 |
|
Biochemical Reactor |
21 |
|
Capping, Covers and Grading; Chemical Precipitation |
29 |
|
Constructed Treatment Wetlands |
32 |
|
Capping, Covers and Grading; Microbial Mats; Excavation
and Disposal |
34 |
|
Aeration; Administrative and Engineering Controls |
35 |
|
Constructed Treatment Wetlands |
45 |
|
Biochemical Reactor |
48 |
|
Chemical Precipitation |
4 |
|
Anoxic Limestone Drain |
6 |
|
Chemical Precipitation |
11 |
|
Capping, Covers and Grading; Biochemical Reactor; Excavation
and Disposal |
12 |
|
Microbial Mat |
22 |
|
Chemical Precipitation |
57 |
|
Chemical Precipitation |
28 |
|
Excavation and Disposal; Capping, Covers and Grading |
50 |
|
Chemical Precipitation |
51 |
|
Constructed Treatment Wetlands; Anoxic Limestone Drains;
Capping, Covers and Grading |
53 |
|
Capping, Covers and Grading; Administrative and Engineering
Controls |
31 |
|
Capping, Covers and Grading; Administrative and Engineering
Controls |
23 |
|
Ion Exchange |
49 |
|
Capping Covers and Grading; Constructed
Treatment Wetlands; Diversionary Structures |
59 |
|
Chemical Stabilization; Excavation and Disposal; Administrative
and Engineering Controls |
5 |
|
Capping, Covers and Grading |
8 |
|
Capping, Covers and Grading; Backfilling & Subaqueous
Disposal |
15 |
|
Capping, Covers and Grading; Backfilling & Subaqueous
Disposal |
26 |
|
Capping |
36 |
|
Capping, Covers and Grading; Chemical Stabilization;
Excavation and Disposal; Administrative and Engineering Controls |
41 |
|
Capping, Covers and Grading; Re-Use
and Reprocess: Excavation and Disposal |
43 |
|
Passivation |
20 |
|
Chemical Precipitation |
58 |
|
Chemical Precipitation |
18 |
|
Chemical Stabilization; Administrative and Engineering
Controls |
40 |
|
Biochemical Reactor |
38 |
|
Multiple Technologies; Administrative and Engineering
Controls |
39 |
|
Constructed Treatment Wetlands; Administrative and
Engineering Controls; Biochemical Reactor; Aeration |
13 |
|
Constructed Treatment Wetlands; Anoxic Limestone Drain |
24 |
|
Excavation and Disposal; Capping, Covers
and Grading; Backfilling & Subaqueous Disposal |
37 |
|
In Situ Treatment |
44 |
|
Re-Use and Reprocess; Backfilling & Subaqueous
Disposal; Administrative and Engineering Controls |
52 |
|
Capping, Covers and Grading; Administrative and Engineering
Controls |
9 |
|
Excavation and Disposal; Capping, Covers and Grading;
Administrative and Engineering Controls |
25 |
|
Excavation and Disposal |
47 |
|
Excavation and Disposal; Constructed Treatment Wetlands2;
Capping, Covers and Grading |
7 |
|
Anoxic Limestone Drain; Chemical Precipitation |
19 |
|
Capping, Covers and Grading; Excavation & Disposal |
27 |
|
Biochemical Reactor |
33 |
|
Pressure Driven Membrane Separation |
42 |
|
Chemical Precipitation |
54 |
|
Multiple Technologies; Administrative and Engineering
Controls |
14 |
|
In-situ Biological Treatment |
46 |
|
Microbial Mats |
17 |
|
Pressure-Driven Membrane Separation |
30 |
|
Capping, Covers and Grading; In Situ
Biological Treatment; Administrative and Engineering Controls |
16 |
|
Chemical Precipitation |
56 |
|
Excavation and Disposal; Constructed Treatment Wetlands;
Anoxic Limestone Drain; Capping, Covers and Grading |
55 |