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8 <br /> - - ECONOMICS _ `_ _ ' '`• - <br /> The utility of a technology, regardless of its promise and <br /> capability, must be judged by its economic viability. ` ProMac Systems <br /> is a proven commercial technology whose survival depends on its cost ' <br /> effectiveness and reliability to-customers. <br /> Three major market - segments of - the mining industry can benefit <br /> from the use of bactericides. They are: ' (1) - active mining <br /> operations, (2) final reclamation. at active operations, and (3) <br /> reclamation of abandoned mined land. The economics�of each segment <br /> vary as each has- different end goals. <br /> Active_ operations are concerned with preventing future acid <br /> drainage problems while minimizing _ the costs of existing treatment. <br /> Goals for final reclamation are to reduce total reclamation costs, to <br /> prevent acid mine drainage from the site, to reduce or eliminate water <br /> treatment costs, and to minimize maintenance and monitoring. Also, the- . <br /> operator wishes to obtain acceptable vegetation to obtain bond release <br /> and future mining permits. <br /> - End - goals for the -reclamation of abandoned mine land vary - <br /> slightly. Goals--- include minimizing health - risks, preventing water <br /> pollution, controlling wind and water erosion, obtaining aesthetically <br /> acceptable vegetation, and minimizing maintenance and monitoring <br /> -efforts- and-costs.---- <br /> The cost of-ProMac Systems treatment is site-specific. Treatment <br /> - costs _ for - reclamation can vary-from $1200 per--acre.for-a- 40-acre spoil <br /> area to $4,000 per acre for a 5-acre,. highly pyritic waste rock dump <br /> (Rastogi and Sobek, 1986) . Bactericides offer several cost offsets. <br /> Liming can be drastically reduced because the system limits future acid <br /> generation. Lime requirements - may be as high as 100 tons per acre <br /> without - the system,' while -this requirement may be reduced to-ten to <br /> twenty tons per acre with the system. Soil cover depth can be reduced <br /> to minimum depths, such -as - eight inches, which reduces reclamation <br /> costs associated with borrow areas or transportation costs of imported <br /> soil. <br /> Bactericide( promote healthy,- - lasting vegetation and protect <br /> against acid burnout. Maintenance costs associated with reseeding and <br /> fertilizing as well as -.erosion control also are reduced. Treatment <br /> costs of acid waters generated at these sites are substantially <br /> reduced, up to 98% (Rastogi, et al, 1987) . Based on costs- gathered <br /> from various sources,-.Table-3 shows the potential for cost savings with <br /> bactericide treatment. Bactericides-. may save up to 30% in upfront <br /> costs (Table 3) depending upon'-' the site. Future savings which are <br /> somewhat intangible_ are,not summarized. <br /> The chemical' spray.-may--, be used exclusively- at active operations <br /> such as:-preparation ' facilities, product storage areas,--snow disposal <br /> .E°rt5:..,...'T::_ �i._J.L1_J4-i�:7J� �:�5 t_��"£=�:...`.-`.'S:. ':FSt.:,„i+•i <br />