United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region IV
POLLUTION REPORT



Date:
Sunday, January 4, 2004
From:
Jeffery Crowley

To:
Matt Taylor, EPA - Region 4
Shane Hitchcock, EPA - Region 4

Subject: 

Brewer Gold Mine
1/2 Mile N. of Intersection of SR 265 and CR 110, Jefferson, SC
Latitude: 34.6422000
Longitude: -80.4097000


POLREP No.:
11
Site #:
04MQ
Reporting Period:
12/05/03 - 01/30/04
D.O. #:
04001
Start Date:
11/3/2003
Response Authority:
CERCLA
Mob Date:
 
Response Type:
Time-Critical
Demob Date:
 
NPL Status:
Non NPL
Completion Date:
 
Incident Category:
Removal Action
CERCLIS ID #:
SCD987577913
Contract #
68S40205
RCRIS ID #:
 

Site Description

Please refer to previous POLREP's for backgroud information.


Current Activities

The following actions were taken during the period of record:

Members of Kemron and CMC have began capping the area of the site between the Pad 6 outflow pond and Pad 6.  This area has been chosen because of the high risk of contaminated sediment eroding into the creek.  Currently the first clay layer is being put down and a rip rap drain is being placed around the base of the hill around the Pad 6 pond to allow for drainage for surface runoff.  Gemini Services continue to treat the acid mine drainage from the Brewer and B-6 Pits.  

During the reporting period, a pilot test was conducted by members of Kemron to try and improve the operational efficiency of the water treatment system.  This pilot test was to see if a change from lime to a caustic additive would have a significant effect on reduction of sludge produced from the water treatment.  The conclusions from the pilot test were that the addition of the caustic did very little to decrease the concentrations of the constituents of concern from what the lime additive was already doing.  Also during the test, it was observed that there was very poor settling of solids.  

A bench scale test was also conducted during the reporting period to evaluate additives in combination with coagulant reagents with the acid mine drainage at the site.  This test was conducted in the field lab at the site.  Two test were conducted,  a lime slurry/flocculant bench scale test and a sodium hydroxide bench scale test.  Results of of both tests were that a  significant increase in the settling rate of the solids.


Planned Removal Actions

The following activities are planned at the site:

-Continue capping the area between the Pad 6 pond and Pad 6.

-Continue  treatment of the acid mine drainage from the Brewer and B-6 pits.

-Continue to coordinate with EPA Region 4 North Site Management Branch on future remedial activities at the site.


Key Issues

Rain at the site will continue to pose a threat of erosion until the capping of the Pad 6 area is complete and erosion control grasses are in place.


Estimated Costs *
  Budgeted Total To Date Remaining % Remaining
Extramural Costs
ERRS - Cleanup Contractor $2,274,000.00 $1,776,109.56 $497,890.44 21.89%
START $50,000.00 $0.00 $50,000.00 100.00%
ERT/REAC $200,000.00 $170,200.00 $29,800.00 14.90%
Intramural Costs
USEPA - Direct (Region, HQ) $100,000.00 $55,000.00 $45,000.00 45.00%
 
Total Site Costs $2,624,000.00 $2,001,309.56 $622,690.44 23.73%

* The above accounting of expenditures is an estimate based on figures known to the OSC at the time this report was written. The OSC does not necessarily receive specific figures on final payments made to any contractor(s). Other financial data which the OSC must rely upon may not be entirely up-to-date. The cost accounting provided in this report does not necessarily represent an exact monetary figure which the government may include in any claim for cost recovery.


response.epa.gov/BrewerGold

POLREP #11 Last Updated 2/4/2004