Mining/Oil & Gas

Former Mine Site Metals Contaminated Soil Remediation

Gregory Gulch Superfund Site, CO

Outcome

The former mining site received “No Further Action” letter from the State of CO and the property could be sold for new land development.

Overview

The US EPA in conjunction with the current landowner required the former mining site remediated so it could be sold to for new land development.

MT2 Services

MT2 personnel performed remediation in an innovative field application to immobilize heavy metals in soil from historic mining operations. The in-place stabilization/ compaction process stabilized arsenic, lead, and zinc in mine waste and tailings. The primary objective of the project was to stabilize the metals to meet the EPA’s criteria for releasing the site for development. A secondary objective was to reduce the metals TCLP tests to regulatory levels, including UTS. The results of treatment were highly successful. In addition to meeting the EPA’s TCLP standards, the lead, zinc and arsenic levels were also below the more stringent UTS.

BLM Former Mine Site Soil Remediation and Facility Decontamination

Red Devil Mine, AK

Outcome

MT2 ECOBOND® technologies and services provided BLM the most technically efficient and cost effective methods for rendering the waste nonhazardous and allowing for onsite containment.

Overview

MT2 was contracted by the Bureau of Land Management to perform site contamination characterization, evaluate potential metals treatment options, conduct facility demolition and decontamination, and to deploy its ECOBOND® technology for treatment of historical mine waste containing arsenic, lead, and mercury.

MT2 Services

MT2 conducted treatability testing and deployed ECOBOND® field technologies to render the numerous waste streams containing multiple metals non RCRA hazardous; thus virtually eliminating the leaching of metals into the surface and/or groundwater. MT2 executed the project in three stages. MT2 first obtained site samples, performed preliminary hazards characterization and conducted treatability studies. Characterization and treatability tests were performed at MT2’s laboratory. MT2 then prepared a written work plan specifying ECOBOND® technologies and selected deployment techniques. These activities were followed by successful field deployment.

US EPA Mine ARD Stabilization

Gilt Edge Mine, SD

Outcome

The US Government could study MT2 technology over time to for effectiveness for a solution of acid mine drainage.

Overview

MT2 was invited by US EPA to demonstrate ECOBOND® technology at the Gilt Edge Mine, South Dakota. The EPA’s demonstration objectives included identification of a new technology that would reduce or eliminate the generation of ARD; thereby reducing mine closure and reclamation costs, including long-term operation and maintenance costs.

MT2 Services

Test cells were constructed; site rock was placed into each cell having a field paste pH ranging from 1-6 and a size distribution of 90% minus-6″ and 80% minus-2″, with the size extending down to silt-size. The cells received meteoric precipitation and effluent water was analyzed periodically for metals, sulfate and pH. Once applied to the acid generating rock, the reaction of the ECOBOND® with the pyrite should be complete within 24 to 48 hours. The pH stabilized at an environmentally safe level with available ferrous iron in the system experiencing a significant decrease.