Using Treated AMD for Frack Water the Antrim Experience

Transcription

1 Using Treated AMD for Frack Water the Antrim Experience

2 Antrim No. 1 Mine Discharge

3 The Babb Creek Watershed Antrim Treatment Plant Babb Creek Location Babb Creek Wilson Creek SWP 09A Pabnd.shp Miles

4 Discharge Characteristics Antrim/Backswitch combined discharge averages 2,000 gpm; 99 th percentile low flow = 899 gpm. Comprises nearly 50% of pollution load to Babb Creek. Combined flow varies from 800 to 10,000 gpm. Backswitch average flow 100 gpm; max thru pipeline is 250 gpm.

5 Antrim Treatment Plant Time Line: 1980s - Antrim Mining Company remines the Bloss Coal over the preexisting Antrim #1 and Backswitch mines DEP determines that Antrim s mining has degraded the discharges and orders treatment to current effluent limits. Antrim signs CO&A and builds predecessor treatment plant. Plant includes a 4800-ft gravity flow pipeline built in 1991 combining the Backswitch and Antrim Discharges at a collection sump. CO&A requires treatment trust to be established within 5 years.

6 1990 Antrim Treatment Plant The Antrim Mining Company constructed a treatment plant to treat the Antrim No. 1 and Backswitch Discharges.

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8 Antrim Treatment Plant Time Line contd 1996 Antrim Mining builds new plant using clarifier rather than ponds to remove metals and eliminate pumping Antrim Mining funds $1.5 million trust. Treatment operations taken over by Babb Creek Watershed Association under agreement with DEP and Trustee, Woodlands Bank of Williamsport miles of Pine Creek below confluence with Babb removed from impaired waters list due primarily to operation of the Antrim Treatment plant.

9 1996 Antrim Treatment Plant

10 Antrim Treatment Plant Time Line contd through 2009 a total of 16 individual projects costing approximately $10,000,000 completed throughout the Babb Creek watershed miles of Babb Creek removed from impaired waters list.

11 2003 Anna S Treatment Project Passive treatment of the Anna S discharges and Hunters Drift is being done as part of a $2.5 million project funded by Growing Greener and OSM.

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13 Babb Creek receives its first fish stocking in over a century.

14 In 2009, Babb Creek was taken off of PA s 303(d) list of impaired waters.

15 Facts about the Antrim Discharge and Treatment Plant Plant treats on average about 900 gpm; 1,500 gpm maximum capacity. Plant releases lime slurry at higher flow rates. Very efficient treatment ($0.26/thousand gallons) due to use of a lime waste product. Annual O&M $121,694

16 Antrim Treatment Trust Trustee is Woodlands Bank, Williamsport, PA. Trust value at the beginning of 2012 was $1, Annual O&M (2011) is $121,694. Trust receives a portion of a Waste Mgmt. tipping fee dedicated to Babb Creek projects. Fully funded value should be $2,981,464. Trust fund runs out of money in 2027.

17 Hummmmm so what about using our AMD to help finance future treatment operations?

18 Advantages of Mine Discharges More consistent flow during droughts mine discharges, especially ones from mine pools, tend to have much lower flow variability. SRBC permit fee waived for AMD sources. Discharge may be more favorably located than other sources.

19 Advantages continued Provides public benefit through avoided AMD treatment. Adverse water-quality impacts due to withdrawal avoided. Can provide funding for long-term O&M.

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22 Disadvantages of Mine Discharges May require advanced treatment to meet industry requirements. Must meet standards for storage in unregulated impoundments. Difficult to compete with direct withdrawals of stream water. Access for withdrawal may be more difficult.

23 Water withdrawal facility on Babb Creek.

24 The search for long-term O&M: SRBC docket for water withdrawal for use as frack water obtained September 10, Allows for 0.5mgd average monthly (500 gpm maximum) withdrawal from Antrim and Backswitch discharges combined. Requires minimum pass-thru of 460 gpm. Proposals solicited for potential water users.

25 The search for long-term O&M: HydroRecovery proposal submitted March 31, 2010, lease executed January 5, Provides for minimum payment of $112,000/year. Maximum water use results in $345,750/year. Lease automatically renews every two years, can be renegotiated every ten years. Max term is 30 years.

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28 HydroRecovery, Inc. AMD treatment facility 40-acre facility for treatment and storage. Construction started November, Chemical precipitation plus nanofiltration to remove sulfates.

29 Antrim Trust Projections 6.09% rtn $10,000,000 $9,000,000 $8,000,000 $7,000,000 No Frack Water Minimum Payment Maximum Payment 2-Year Minimum Payment Full Funding $6,000,000 $5,000,000 $4,000,000 $3,000,000 $2,000,000 $1,000,000 $-

30 Facility construction temporarily suspended, April 2012.

31 Some strategies for using AMD for frack water:

32 Some strategies for using 2 AMD for frack water: Discharge must be in areas with a need for frack water.

33 Some strategies for using 2 AMD for frack water: Discharge must be in areas with a need for frack water. Consider costs of treatment low sulfates and ++ ions preferred.

34 Some strategies for using 2 AMD for frack water: Discharge must be in areas with a need for frack water. Consider costs of treatment low sulfates and ++ ions preferred. Must be able to access site and have sufficient space for truck traffic or pipeline.

35 Some strategies for using 2 AMD for frack water: Discharge must be in areas with a need for frack water. Consider costs of treatment low sulfates and ++ ions preferred. Must be able to access site and have sufficient space for truck traffic or pipeline. Obtain SRBC water withdrawal docket up front.

36 Some strategies for using AMD for frack water: 2 Discharge must be in areas with a need for frack water. Consider costs of treatment low sulfates and ++ ions preferred. Must be able to access site and have sufficient space for truck traffic or pipeline. Obtain SRBC water withdrawal docket up front. You re not selling water, you re providing access to water.

37 Continued operation of the Antrim Treatment Plant is the Keystone to Babb Creek s continued restoration.