Operation, Maintenance, & Operation, Maintenance, & Replacement of AMD Passive Replacement of AMD Passive Treatment Systems Treatment Systems •Where we’ve been •Where we are now •Where we’re heading Past, Present and Future Presented by Pam Milavec DEP Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation August 12, 2008
30
Embed
Operation, Maintenance, & Replacement of AMD Passive Treatment Systems Where weve been Where we are now Where were heading Past, Present and Future Presented.
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
Operation, Maintenance, & Operation, Maintenance, & Replacement of AMD Passive Replacement of AMD Passive Treatment SystemsTreatment Systems
Operation, Maintenance, & Operation, Maintenance, & Replacement of AMD Passive Replacement of AMD Passive Treatment SystemsTreatment Systems
•Where we’ve been
•Where we are now
•Where we’re heading
Past, Present and Future
Presented by Pam Milavec DEP Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation
August 12, 2008
Where have we been?Where have we been?
Why Operation and Maintenance?Why Operation and Maintenance?
Currently more than 259 systems in operation with a public investment of over $77 million
Experience has shown that passive systems have routine operational needs, have expected and often unexpected major maintenance requirements and will eventually need to be replaced
Failure to provide for OMR will result in the loss of restored water resources and public investment
TermsTerms Construction: Cost to build the treatment system. O & M: Operation and maintenance activities including
Water sample lab analyses ............... 10% Maintenance – repairs & supplies ..... 30% System reconstruction...................... 40%
Total O, M & R............................... 100%
(65% DEP provided, 35% local)
Guiding Principles for Projects in PennsylvaniaGuiding Principles for Projects in Pennsylvania
True Sustainable Operation, Maintenance & Replacement is based on LOCAL COMMUNITY
Ownership & InvolvementThe goal is a system of healthy
INTERDEPENDENCE & PARTNERSHIP between
government and local sponsors
OMR Support StrategyOMR Support Strategy
Local Sponsors provide routine operation and maintenance
Maintenance needs assisted by local industry, local government and/or BAMR construction staff
DEP provides funding for more significant maintenance and eventual system replacement
Where are we now?Where are we now?
Present Status:Present Status: GG projects now require OMR plans as a deliverable GG project applications that adequately address OMR receive a
higher score, particularly when non-government sources are utilized Local sponsors are expected to provide routine operations GG has an OMR project-type category and provides funding for
maintenance and replacement on a competitive scoring, annual grant, basis
WPCAMR has received a grant to fund lab analyses WPCAMR has received 2 Quick Response grants and has applied
for a third in the 2008 grant round BAMR has put together OMR task force to evaluate existing BAMR
passive treatment systems
Growing Greener O, M & R Category:Existing Facilities
Growing Greener O, M & R Category:Existing Facilities
Annual grant cycle Competitively Evaluated and Scored Evaluation and scoring criteria
O, M & R plan conceptually soundPublic-private support with local government, residents, industry, etc.Maintenance/replacement essential for continued environmental benefit
WPCAMR Lab Analysis GrantWPCAMR Lab Analysis Grant $166,000 grant provides funding for lab analysis by
local labs: Mahaffey Lab (Grampian) & G&C Lab in Summerville
Currently covering 7 counties: Allegheny, Armstrong, Butler, Clarion, Clearfield, Indiana and Jefferson
Requires an OMR plan Has been underutilized Grant expired 6/30/08; an extension has been
requested but no decision has been made yet
WPCAMR Quick Response GrantWPCAMR Quick Response Grant Started in 2006 A mechanism to quickly provide GG funds to local sponsors when
failure to act quickly will likely result in serious environmental consequences or will contribute to further damage of a project
Current grant has a remaining balance of $189,000 and has been extended to 6/30/09
2007 grant adds $100,000, with an end date of 2010 WPCAMR has applied for a new grant for the 2008 round of GG Applications are available on the GG web site – search under
“quick response” key words The application process is relatively streamlined and
straightforward
Quick Response (continued)Quick Response (continued) Completed applications, with a contractor’s cost estimate
attached, are submitted to the DMO Watershed Manager Watershed Manager and District Mining Manager must approve
project and forward to WPCAMR WPCAMR sends letter to applicant stating whether funding is
approved or not If approved, applicant has contractor complete repairs,
Watershed Manager reviews and approves repairs, WPCAMR then disperses funds to applicant and applies to DEP for reimbursement
Must have signed landowner access and permits, if needed
Types of Projects funded:Types of Projects funded: Damage caused by storm events – damage to ditches, berms,
intake structures and spillways (most frequent cause of funds needed has been damage due to storm events)
Non-storm related berm and pipe damage Sludge removal from compost Replacement of valves Repairs to a stream bank stabilization project after a storm event
(non-AMD project) 11 projects funded so far; costs have ranged from $2,800 to
$55,000
BAMR’s OMR TaskforceBAMR’s OMR Taskforce Established to address OMR needs of BAMR-constructed
passive treatment systems In Cambria office, 2 teams have been established that include
engineers and geologists Have completed 2 evaluations and are currently working on 2
more Most problematic sites are given top priority, but the goal is to
develop an OMR workplan for all 24 systems designed and constructed by the Cambria Office
Harrisburg staff is focusing on BF projects designed there, while Wilkes-Barre staff will be working on projects built by BAMR in their District
Reports will eventually be posted on BAMR’s web site
BAMR AMD Project OMR Report Format 5/14/08
BAMR AMD Project OMR Report Format 5/14/08
Project BackgroundProject number, name, twp., county, receiving streamIdentify what the goal of the project was and general background of the project Project info Project design info – design methodology, design flow and qualityProject description - describe the treatment system including each individual treatment cell Status of routine operations, past maintenance and retrofitsStatus of restoration efforts in the watershed and partner viabilityProperty owner info and status of BAMR access rightsAttachments: (if on-line, links may be used to locate this info)
System water quality data spreadsheet in a standardized formatStream survey report or data, if available (post-construction)As-builts (to be completed by Inspectors/Designers/Surveyors)Monitoring map indicating sample point ID and location O & M/monitoring planTopographic map depicting treatment system locationDirections to site
Performance Evaluation and Recommendations:Evaluation:Water quality data trends (may want to depict with graphs or other visuals)Results of field review (include a discussion of any analysis or field tests completed by BAMR as part of this evaluation)Summary of current status of systemDiscuss whether project goals were accomplishedRecommended Options:Retrofit/major repair to be designed in-house and bid outRetrofit/major repair to be designed through the passive design consultant contract and bid outRetrofit/major repair to be undertaken by the BD crewContinue current operationModify current operation, including operational or monitoring modificationsAbandon system, remove treatment system and restore areaScope of Work for Recommended Option (if applicable)Narrative or list of work neededEstimated cost (identify funding source, if known)Materials list (type and quantity), for BD projectsAttach needed drawings or schematicsPost-construction follow up ReportOnce recommended work is completed, a follow-up report is to be completed and attached that includes costs and success of recommendation Each time a performance evaluation is initiated, the above sections should be repeated under the new date
Where are we going?Where are we going?
Draft Set-Aside Position Paper:Plan to Address OMR
Draft Set-Aside Position Paper:Plan to Address OMR
Successful Growing Greener Applicants to handle routine operations
DEP to provide mechanism to fund emergencies and non-routine maintenance; current Quick-Response program provides a template
DEP to develop appropriate application to seek grants for complete or partial system replacement
Funds also will be provided to BAMR for Commonwealth-constructed systems and “orphaned” systems
FundingFunding
DEP has committed $2 million this year to support OMR Set-Aside funding increases under re-authorized SMCRA will
likely be a source of funding for DEP support of OMR The DEP will make funding decisions based on OMR costs for
current systems and what the projected costs will be for future systems; current estimates are that the OMR need is $2 million/year, thereby requiring approx. $46 million to be deposited into an interest-bearing fund, based on current financial scenarios – just for the passive systems currently operating
Set Aside funds used in this manner will not be available to construct treatment facilities, thereby reducing the overall funding available for AMD abatement and treatment projects