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An Improved Method for Establishing Water Quality Criteria for Mining Impacted Streams

EPA Grant Number: R829515C013
Subproject: this is subproject number 013 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R829515
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: HSRC - Rocky Mountain Regional Hazardous Substance Research Center for Remediation of Mine Waste Sites
Center Director: Shackelford, Charles D.
Title: An Improved Method for Establishing Water Quality Criteria for Mining Impacted Streams
Investigators: Ranville, James , Cohen, Ron , Ross, Phillipe , Wildeman, Thomas
Institution: Colorado School of Mines
EPA Project Officer: Lasat, Mitch
Project Period: October 1, 2003 through September 30, 2006
RFA: Hazardous Substance Research Centers - HSRC (2001)
Research Category: Hazardous Waste/Remediation

Description:

Objective:

The overall objective of this research project is to improve our ability to evaluate the environmental impact of mining wastes on aquatic ecosystems. This approach is based on furthering our understanding of the factors affecting metal bioavailability. The practical outcomes of this research project are: (1) an improved means of setting water quality criteria for mining-impacted streams; and (2) a rapid screening tool that can be applied in the field to evaluate the potential environmental impact of mine wastes. The research project has four specific objectives: (1) evaluation of the existing Biotic Ligand Model (BLM) for mining-impacted waters; (2) improvement of the BLM by examining the influence on metal toxicity of the unique nature of mining-impacted waters with respect to the hardness cations; (3) further development of the BLM to include mixed metals (Cu and Zn); and (4) development of a microbial bioassay to rapidly screen mine wastes to assess their toxicity potential.

Supplemental Keywords:

Technical Outreach Services for Communities, TOSC, Technical Assistance to Brownfields, TAB, groundwater, industry sectors, waste, water, ecological risk assessment, ecology, ecosystems, ecology and ecosystems, environmental chemistry, environmental engineering, geology, geochemistry, toxicology, microbiology, hazardous, hazardous waste, mining-NAIC 21, selenium, acid mine drainage, acid mine runoff, aquatic ecosystems, arsenic, contaminant transport, contaminated sediments, contaminated marine sediment, contaminated waste sites, contaminated sites, contaminated soil, field monitoring, mining-impacted runoff, sediment transport, stream ecosystems, suspended sediment, sediments, mining, remediation, metal mobility, subsurface, extraction of metals, heavy metals, leaching of toxic metals, metal release, metal wastes, metals, metals-contaminated soil, mining wastes, remediation technologies, risk assessment , Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Industry Sectors, POLLUTANTS/TOXICS, ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, INDUSTRY, Water, INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, TREATMENT/CONTROL, Scientific Discipline, Waste, RFA, Remediation, Ecosystem/Assessment/Indicators, Risk Assessment, Ground Water, Restoration, Waste Treatment, Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration, Industrial Processes, Ecological Risk Assessment, Chemicals, Ecological Indicators, Hazardous Waste, Environmental Engineering, Ecosystem Protection, Groundwater remediation, Hazardous, Mining - NAIC 21, Ecology and Ecosystems, bioavailability, heavy metal contamination, heavy metals, treatment, water quality, aquatic ecosystem, ecological impact, environmental rehabilitation, geochemistry, extraction of metals, contaminated waste sites, mining, mining wastes, acid mine runoff, acid mine drainage, metal release, monitoring, streams, ecological recovery, stakeholder groups, contaminated aquifers, groundwater pollution, remediation technologies, contaminant transport, water quality criteria, acid mine discharge, leaching of toxic metals, metal wastes, aquatic ecosystems, metals, community involvement, contaminated groundwater, hydrogeology, rivers, stream ecosystem, restoration strategies, Biotic Ligand Model

Progress and Final Reports:
2004 Progress Report
2005 Progress Report


Main Center Abstract and Reports:
R829515    HSRC - Rocky Mountain Regional Hazardous Substance Research Center for Remediation of Mine Waste Sites

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The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.

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