Land Restoration at the Climax MineLand Restoration at the Climax Mine

Zach Margolis

Presented at the Mining, Forest & Land Presented at the Mining, Forest & Land Restoration Symposium/workshop Restoration Symposium/workshop

July, 2000July, 2000

Sponsored by theSponsored by the the Rocky Mountain Water the Rocky Mountain Water Environment Association Biosolids CommitteeEnvironment Association Biosolids Committee

Project OverviewProject Overview

The application of biosolids is an important part of the re-vegetation of the tailings ponds at the Climax Mine.

The Summit County biosolids producers are all signatory to an agreement to provide the needed product.

More than 20,000 cubic yards of locally generated wood chips (made from waste forest products and wood from the mine site) are also being used.

Climax Mine HistoryClimax Mine HistoryMolybdenum discovered about 1900Production started during WW1Uses include– Steel alloying– Lubricants– Dyes– Catalyst in oil refining– Heat sinks on computer processors– Fire retardant– Vitamins

Climax Tailings PondsClimax Tailings Ponds

Special Challenges

Elevation 11,000’

Growing Season 6 weeks

Annual Snowfall 23 feet

Acres to Turn Green 3000

Tailings pH 3

Climax Mine RestorationClimax Mine Restoration

“Some of the features of this project appear to be expensive and possibly not justified from a strictly engineering or cost standpoint. As it was the company policy to guard against stream pollution, in case of doubt on any detail the way was chosen which it was thought would give the highest degree of safety”

Climax Engineering Report, 1932

Climax Mine RestorationClimax Mine Restoration

Tailings production and other disturbances have resulted in the need to restore about 3000 acres.

The company’s use of biosolids to restore the Urad mine 20 years ago was a pioneering use of biosolids for high altitude re-vegetation.

Climax Mine Restoration ExperienceClimax Mine Restoration Experience

Urad/Henderson site

Summit County HistorySummit County History

Most of the towns of summit county were born in the gold boom days of the 1800s.

Explosive growth due to tourism and skiing industry development in this environmentally sensitive area has resulted in the production of large quantities of biosolids to be recycled.

Our climate is ideal for skiing but presents a tremendous challenge for reclamation efforts.

An actual photo of Summit County as it appears today.

Summit County Biosolids RecyclingSummit County Biosolids RecyclingWhy Mined Land Restoration?Why Mined Land Restoration?

Large areas of flat ground, needed for biosolids application, are hard to find in the mountains.

Based on initial application rates and future maintenance rates this should be a “forever” program.

This is already a restricted access site with contained runoff.

The site is in need of the benefits that biosolids provide.

Mined Land Restoration Using Mined Land Restoration Using Biosolids. Is There a Downside for Biosolids. Is There a Downside for the Biosolids Producers?the Biosolids Producers? CERCLA – The Comprehensive

Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act - aka Superfund – Grade “A” is exempted when it is part of

“the normal application of fertilizer”.– Grade “B” ??? No specific exemption

…yet.

Weighing the Risks.Weighing the Risks.

Aside from possible superfund site designation?

No public distribution of the biosolids, reduced possibility of future public contact.

Weighing the Risks.Weighing the Risks.

Even if we were someday named a “potentially responsible party” our few thousand tons of biosolids won't be significant compared to their billion tons of tailings… we hope.

Still, the Joint Authority decided to not participate in the application of grade “B” biosolids.

What We Are Doing:What We Are Doing:

There are three different programs:– Direct application of grade “B”

What We Are DoingWhat We Are Doing

– Grade “B”/ wood chip blend application

What We Are Doing:What We Are Doing:

– Grade “A” production via composting and subsequent application

Site Preparation and ApplicationSite Preparation and Application

Tails were capped with overburden saved for that purpose.

Surface pH is adjusted with lime.Biosolids / blends are applied at 20

dry tons of biosolids per acre.Surface is broadcast seeded.

Results!Results!

The restoration project is working

This year’s application

Last year’s application

Results!Results!

The restoration project is working

1998’s application

Results: Great P.R.!Results: Great P.R.!

Westvac Environmental Services Inc.Westvac Environmental Services Inc.

Local contractor provides:– Biosolids hauling to the mine site–Wood chip hauling to the mine site– Biosolids/woodchip blending– Composting at the mine site

FOR MORE INFO...

Dave Olsen 970-468-4704

CompostingComposting

The importance of information is directly proportional to It’s improbability.

Fundamental Theorem of Information Theory.

One of Our Aerated Static Pile Compost One of Our Aerated Static Pile Compost Piles Is a 5 Dry Ton Digester.Piles Is a 5 Dry Ton Digester.

Capital Cost:

Assuming a 40 year life on a digester, and a 40 day detention time to produce grade “B” biosolids at 1.5% solids, capital cost is about $44 / dry ton processed. This is comparable to the cost of mixing and piping an aerated static pile.

Electricity Savings:

Composting requires 1/250 of the electricity to turn secondary sludge in to grade “A” biosolids compared to what an aerobic digester uses to make grade “B”.

Power consumption is about 4500 kilowatt hours per dry ton for the aerobic digester vs. 18 kwh/dt for the aerated static pile.

Composting at a Mine Composting at a Mine Reclamation SiteReclamation Site

The case for composting at Climax Mine:

Wood chips were already part of the grade “B” program.

Mixing and mixing equipment were to be on site as part of the program.

The Benefit of the Composting Program The Benefit of the Composting Program to the Silverthorne/Dillon Joint Authorityto the Silverthorne/Dillon Joint Authority

Construction of a 900,000 gallon digester, designed and scheduled for construction in 1996, was postponed indefinitely.

By only applying the highest grade biosolids product, to a restricted access site, where all water from that site later passes an NPDES permitted point of compliance, we are minimizing our long term risk, saving energy, and having fun.

Example of Wastewater Plant Operator Example of Wastewater Plant Operator Having Fun… Writing Letters to Lori Tucker.Having Fun… Writing Letters to Lori Tucker.

Net-ographyNet-ography

biosolids.info.com/regs.htmcdphe.state.co.us– Compliance bulletin - solid waste

certificate of designation as a solid waste disposal site

– Proposed solid waste rule changes – composting