Laserfiche WebLink
• In September, 1990, ENSR Consulting was directed to conduct a "toxicity <br />' characterization" study to identify the primary cause of the toxicity. This study <br />considered pH effects, volatile organic carbon, metals chelation, aeration, total <br />' dissolved solids (TDS) and ammonia. The lab determined high TDS <br />(chlorides) as the primary cause of the toxicity. However, a recent review <br />shows no correlation between LCso values and chloride or TDS levels. <br />' BME took the following measures to reduce to>acity of the effluent. <br />• On-site aeration structures were installed for H2S removal before discharging <br />the effluent. <br />• A pilot test was conducted to identify a flocculent for removing high levels of oil <br />and grease from the effluent. <br />• The main water source of the mine was changed from the high TDS(>5000 <br />ppm) alluvial well water to a significantly lower TDS (500 ppm) surface lagoon. <br />• The raw water tank was thoroughly cleaned and disinfected to remove sludge <br />' built up over years. This sludge was found to contain significantly high levels <br />(1000 colonies/ml) of bacteria. <br />• An MSHA waiver was received to stop the use of Wendon Dustrol-10 <br />surfactant in the water spray at the longwall face. The surfactant has been <br />' found to be lethal to fish life at 500 ppm. <br />The WOCD also sent an effluent sample and prior toxicity reports to the EPA laboratory in <br />Duluth, Minnesota to investigate the cause of toxicity. WQCD never heard from EPA in this <br />regard. WOCD does not think it is now necessary since the mine has been passing the WET <br />testing during the three (199497) water years. Besides no mine water is discharged at this <br />time requiring WET testing. A copy of the letter dated January 30, 1997 from WQCD is <br />attached in Appendix H of the Thirteenth Annual Hydrology Report. <br />On December 28, 1992, WQCD wrote to WFU (now BME) asking either (i) to develop a <br />control program which eliminates the toxicity through treatment of the TDS or (ii) to pertorm a <br />study which determines if TDS is having a toxic effect on the stream and to develop a level of <br />TDS at the discharge point at which an instream impact is not expected. On March 29, 1993, <br />BME submitted a plan to use the Rapid Bioassessment Protocol III per EPA guidelines. <br />Under this plan, BME would test the extent of impairment, if any, on the aquatic life in the <br />White River due to the mine water discharge. It would involve sampling and testing of micro- <br />io <br />