Copper Basin Mining District Polk County, TN Case Study NARPM ...

Copper Basin Mining District
Polk County, TN
Case Study
NARPM – Atlanta, GA
June 4, 2009
Loften Carr
Craig Zeller, P.E.

Copper Basin Vicinity Map
North Potato Creek Watershed
Tennessee
Georgia
White Water
Center
Davis Mill Creek Watershed

Site History
• 150 years of copper, zinc and iron mining ,
beneficiation, mineral processing and chemical
manufacturing.
• 1850 – Hiwassee Mine opens. Ore production begins
and continued with brief interruptions until 1987.
• Legacy of contaminated waters, excessive erosion
and sedimentation, and devastated ecosystems.
• Deforestation to fuel open roasting of ore, and
emissions of acid gas, left tens of thousands of acres
totally denuded by the early 1900s. Reforestation
efforts were largely unsuccessful until the 1980s
• Total ore production (mostly underground workings)
from nine ore bodies exceeded 95 million tons.

Site History Con’t
• Mines and processing facilities produced blister copper,
copper, iron and zinc concentrates and a variety of
non-metallic chemical products.
• Smelting and roasting of ores occurred at 20 individual
sites in the basin.
• Flotation, concentration occurred at 4 sites
• Sulfuric acid production occurred at 9 different plants.

Environmental Concerns
• Acid Mine Drainage
• Heavy Metals
• PCBs
• Erosion/sedimentation

1912 Eroded hills ( Note man in fore ground ).

This photo from the early 1900s shows how bad the
erosion problems at the site once were.

1939 Ore train in Copper Basin.

1912 Chamber Acid Plant/Smelter at Copper Hill.

1939 London Mine/London Mill Flotation Plant

Eastern Desert (1973): Aerial view of Isabella area in
North Potato Creek watershed

Same aerial view in 1996 of re-vegetated Copper Basin.

January 2001 MOU
• Collaborative agreement between EPA
Region 4, TDEC and Glenn Springs
Holdings (Occidental Petroleum)
• EPA focus on Davis Mill Creek watershed
• TDEC focus on North Potato Creek
watershed
• Glenn Springs to fund and implement
removal actions in DMC/NPC
• EPA Fund Lead RI/FS on Ocoee River

Davis Mill Creek Watershed
Remedial Investigations and
Removal Actions

Davis Mill Creek
•Watershed contains over
15 million tons of mining related waste materials
•Ocoee River is 303d listed as non-supporting for pH, metals, and
suspended solids
•Davis Mill Creek contributes ~1% of the water to the Ocoee River
•DMC is the largest single source of acidity, Al, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn and
other heavy metals

CANTRELL FLATS WATER TREATMENT PLANT
‣The Cantrell Flats Water Treatment Plant was
refurbished in 2002 and began treatment of
water from Davis Mill in November of that year.
Since then, the treatment plant has removed
95% of the dissolved metals that previously
discharged to the Ocoee River.
‣The plant removes over 8,000
pounds per day of dissolved
metals and neutralizes nearly
15,000 pounds per day of
acidity prior to discharge to the
Ocoee River.

SUMMARY OF DAVIS MILL ACID AND METALS LOADING
REMOVED BY CFWTP
NOVEMBER 18, 2002 – SEPTEMBER 2007
LOAD REMOVED
BY CFWTP (lbs.)
Daily Removal (lbs.)
Iron
11,444,304
6,437
Zinc
1,747,367 983
Manganese
Copper
1,091,139
17,266
614
10
Lead
1,217 1
Cadmium 1,744
1
TOTAL: 14,303,038 8,044
Acidity 26,214,035
14,744

Activities in Davis
Mill Creek
Watershed
Gypsum
Pond
Gypsum Pond Diversion
Sediment Dam No. 1, 2
and 3 Modifications
Davis Mill Mill Creek Creek
3
2
1
Belltown Creek Diversion
Belltown Creek
Cantrell Flats Wastewater
Treatment Plant
Refurbishment
Ocoee

MODIFIED DAMS FOR SEDIMENT PONDS 1, 2, and 3 IN DAVIS MILL
Completed in 2004 to provide
storm water detention capacity
so that Davis Mill storm flows
can be treated by Cantrell Flats
Water Treatment Plant
Fill at Silt Dam #1
Removing Concrete at Silt Dam #1
Riprap at Silt Dam #1 Wall at Silt Dam #1

THE GYPSUM POND AND
BELLTOWN CREEK
DIVERSIONS
Gypsum Pond Diversion
Belltown Creek Diversion
Gypsum Pond
Belltown Creek
The diversions were constructed to:
‣ Prevent commingling of clean
Gypsum Pond and Belltown Creek
water with contaminated Davis Mill
water.
‣ Prevent Gypsum Pond and Belltown
Creek water from requiring
treatment at Cantrell Flats Water
Treatment Plant.
‣ Completed in 2004

Belltown Creek Diversion Construction

Belltown Creek Diversion Construction Complete - 2004

September 2006
• OXY GSHI completed the Report of Water Quality and Substrate
Monitoring, Davis Mill Creek Watershed
• Belltown / Gypsum Pond water quality is degraded as it passes
through the Sub OU 3D from Dam # 3 to the Ocoee River
• The flow of water through this reach of DMC and the West
Drainage Channel flow discharge approximately 1,850 lbs of
contamination (i.e., 350 lbs of metals and 1,500 lbs of acidity)
per day to the Ocoee River

Amendment to
April 4, 2004 PRP
Lead Non-time Critical
Removal Action
Davis Mill Creek
• Construct Dam # 4 near
CTWWTP
• Maximum discharge of 4,000 gpm.
• Maximum impoundment of 130
acre feet (10 year 24 hr storm
event)
• Conform to TN Safe Dams Act
standards w/ spillway
• Designed at 36 feet in height
• Construct Dam # 5 at mouth
of DMC (at RR bridge)
• Pump Station with 5,250 gpm
capacity to CFWWTP
• 10 year 24 hr storm event =
1,250 gpm base flow + 4,000 gpm
storm flow
• Designed at 7 feet in height w/
bi-directional flow
Est. Cost: $1,725,000

Combined Pending
Removal Actions -
Davis Mill Creek
• Construct Two New
Dams in Lower
Davis Mill Creek
• Extend Belltown
Diversion to the
Ocoee River

March 2009
72 inch ID Acid Resistant Concrete
Pipe Installation

Davis Mill Creek
Watershed
On Going Construction of the
Belltown Creek Diversion
Extension: 72 inch I.D. Acid
Resistant Concrete Pipe
Installation

Pressure Testing Pipe Joints

March 2009
84’’
Pipe

North Potato
Creek
Watershed

Activities in North Potato
Creek
Tailings
Pond
North Potato Creek Water
Treatment Plant
Burra Burra
Creek
South Mine Pit
North Potato Creek
Ocoee

TREATMENT SUMMARY NORTH POTATO CREEK WATER TREATMENT PLANT
Average Concentration
at SW9 During EE/CA
Average
Concentration at
SW9 Effluent April
28th, 2005 to
Present*
(μg/L) (μg/L) (%) (mgd) (lbs.) (lbs.)
Aluminum (Dissolved) 1127.7 60.7 94.6% 10.89 96.94 70,768
Cadmium (Dissolved) 0.7 0.08 87.9% 10.89 0.06 41
Copper (Dissolved) 105.9 1.21 98.9% 10.89 9.51 6,944
Iron (Dissolved) 3452.1 13.23 99.6% 10.89 312.44 228,083
Manganese (Dissolved) 2460.6 1103.73 55.1% 10.89 123.28 89,994
Lead (Dissolved) 5.7 0.09 98.4% 10.89 0.51 372
Zinc (Dissolved) 577.8 5.5 99.0% 10.89 51.99 37,956
pH (lab) 3.34 8.59
Average
Percent
Removal
Average Daily SW9
Flow
April 28th, 2005 to
Present*
Average Daily Loading
Reduction
Total Loading Reduction at
SW9 January 10th, 2005 to
January 10th, 2007 Based
on Plant Removal Rates
TOTAL: 595 434,158
*April 28th, 2005: Plant was near stabilization
*Data received up to 11/30/2006

NORTH POTATO CREEK
WATER TREATMENT PLANT
The North Potato Creek Water Treatment Plant began
treating water on January 10, 2005, and is removing 840
lbs. per day of dissolved metals from North Potato
Creek prior to discharge to the Ocoee River
Ocoee River
North Potato Creek
Pump
Pumping
Flow Diversion
Diversion Channel
Structure
North Potato
Creek Pump
South
Station
Mine Pit
SMP
Discharge to
Recycle
Lime Feed
NPC through
Pump
SMP Deep
System
Existing Outlet
Pit Pump
Rapid Mix/
Aeration
Tank
Conceptual Design
South Mine Pit
SMP Discharge
to NPC Through
Existing Outlet
Lime Feed
System
Rapid
Mix/Aeration
Tank
North Potato
Creek
North Potato
Creek Pump
Station
5

NPC
UPSTREAM
TREATMENT
PLANT
DIVERSION
STRUCTURE
DIVERSION
CHANNEL
DISCHARGE
INTO PIT
DEEP PUMP
BARGE
RECYCLE
BARGE
IN PIT
MONITORING
STATION
RECYCLE
PIPELINE
NPC DOWNSTREAM (OCOEE RIVER 2100 FEET)
6

North Potato Creek Watershed
Completed Remedial Actions in the London Mill Area
After (2009)
Before (2007)

North Potato Creek
Watershed
Completed Remedial Actions in
the London Mill Area

Upper Eureka Roaster/Smelter 2002

2008 – Excavation of Area along Haul Road

Upper Eureka Roaster/Smelter - March 2009

North Potato Creek Watershed –
Fencing Physical Hazards
Over 6 miles of fence have been constructed to restrict access
to physical hazards such as subsidence areas and mine shafts

North Potato Creek Watershed –
Fencing Physical Hazards Around Boyd Mine

Continued Monitoring Subsidence Hazards

In the Summer of 2005, GSH began implementation of Phase One Removal Actions in the North Potato Creek
watershed. The actions include the excavation and removal of Bevill exempt and other non-hazardous materials for
disposal in the Isabella Pit.

Continued Monitoring Surface and Ground Water at Isabella Collapse

Former Isabella Lead Chamber Acid Plant
ISABELLA LEAD CONTAINMENT CAP – Site of former Isabella Lead Chamber Sulfuric Acid Plant,
which contained approximately 1,400 tons of lead. In 2004, construction of an engineered
containment cap was completed in the area to isolate lead-contaminated soils. A perimeter
security fence was installed and a cap maintenance program has been implemented.

Continued Monitoring the Isabella Lead Chamber Acid Plant Containment Cap
Lead Chamber Acid Plant Containment Cap

Isabella Isabella Slag Slag Area Area - June - February 2004 2004
ELLIS BRANCH SLAG - In 2004, a cap was constructed covering the slag adjacent to
Ellis Branch to prevent human exposure to lead.

McPherson Wye - 2005
McPherson Wye - 2006
McPherson Wye - 2007

LONDON MILL TAILINGS POND
REVEGETATION DEMONSTRATION
• Conducted by University of Tennessee –
Knoxville during 1998 and 1999
• Funded by a grant from Glenn Springs
Holdings, Inc.
• Tested surface materials, several different
mixtures of grasses and legumes,
fertilizers, and biosolids.
LONDON MILL TAILINGS POND - 1993
• Phosphorous, an essential nutrient, was
found to be absent.
• Identified the mix of plants and fertilizer
to use to best establish vegetation.
LONDON MILL TAILINGS POND - 2007

WETLANDS AND STREAM CHANNEL
RESTORATION DEMONSTRATION
• In 1998, GSH constructed a passive
treatment demonstration anaerobic
wetland. An aerobic wetland and a rock
filter were added in 2003. The purpose
is to show the effectiveness of passive
systems for treatment of acidic waters in
the North Potato Creek Watershed.
• In 2003, GSH added a restored
stream segment at the discharge of
the demonstration wetland to
determine the feasibility of
providing stream habitat that would
support biological integrity, which is
the goal of the North Potato Creek
Reclamation.

Ocoee River RI/FS

Ocoee River RI/FS
• ≈ $2M Fund-Lead RI/FS
• 26 River Miles, 3 TVA dams, white water recreation
• Study Area Split into 3 components
- Copper Basin Reach
- Ocoee No. 3 Reservoir
- Parksville Delta
• Comprehensive assessment, HH/eco risk
assessments, and 1D/2D sediment transport
modeling

APACHE BLAST SLAG REMOVAL

Blue Ridge Reservoir

Copper Basin Reach
Island at mouth of North
Potato Creek
Sandbar near Barker Mill

Ocoee No. 3 Reservoir
Collecting samples of sediment in
Ocoee No. 3 Reservoir
Mouth of Tumbling Creek

Ocoee No. 3 Dam
Downstream face of Ocoee No. 3 Dam

White Water Reach

Ocoee No. 3 Pool Level & Blue
Ridge discharge – January 09
Sediment Sluice
1460
1800
Ocoee 3 WSE
Blue Ridge Discharge
Ocoee 3 Headwater Elevation - ft
1450
1440
1430
1420
1410
1600
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
Blue Ridge Reservoir Discharge - cfs
1400
0
0 50 100 150 200
Time - hrs

Results of 1/03/09 Sediment Sluice

1/03/09 Sediment Sluice Con’t

01/03/09 Sediment Sluice Con’t

Parksville Delta

Parksville Delta – Low Water

Parksville Delta – High Water
Parksville Reservoir at summer high pool

Ocoee River FS
• Copper Basin Reach – 1) MNR;
2) ) Enhanced Sediment Capping
• Ocoee No. 3 – 1) MNR; 2) Hydraulic
Control (ICs)
• Parksville Delta – ) MNR; 2) Permanent
Inudation; ; 3) Hydraulic Dredging
• Comprehensive monitoring already
underway
• ROD late 2009/early 2010

QUESTIONS?