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Mine Water and Environment: Sustainability and Beneficial End-use Research
Development of an inventory
of pit lakes data and preliminary assessment of end-use options for Collie pit
lakes |
| Along with
some data held by State government departments, MiWER
researchers at ECU have extensive unpublished pit lake water
quality and ecological data for the Collie pit lakes from a
number of research projects dating back to 1995 that are not
available anywhere else. These studies include datasets for
Black Diamond, Blue Waters (Ewington 2), Lake Centaur, Lake
Kepwari, W05H, Lake Stockton, Chicken Creek pit lake and
Ewington 1 and many of the new Wesfarmer Premier pit lakes. Chemistry datasets include metals and nutrient
data, as well as basic physico-chemical data for almost all
years to 1995 (some years data is of monthly or even weekly
frequency). Ecology datasets include phytoplankton,
periphyton, zooplankton and aquatic macroinvertebrates.
Output(s): Zhao, L. Y. L.; McCullough, C. D. & Lund, M. A. (2009). Mine Voids Management Strategy (I): Pit lake resources of the Collie Basin. Department of Water Project Report MiWER/Centre for Ecosystem Management Report 2009-14, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia. 250pp. Unpublished report to Department of Water.
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Historical Ewington 1 lake. |
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Following cessation of mining, new pit lakes are forming in Collie. | Stage 1: Historic data review and analysis A desktop study will be used to collate all existing available data on the pit lakes of Collie. The companies (Griffin and Wesfarmers), consultants, government agencies (particularly DOW and DEC Bunbury), other stakeholders including researchers will be contacted for published and unpublished data. Where data is unobtainable (due to commercial considerations) a description of type of data will be contained in a meta database. Consideration will be given to completing analysis of samples that will add critical information to the data sets where this can be identified (e.g., unidentified but preserved macroinvertebrate samples). This inventory project will provide a compilation and review of existing datasets and compile existing pit lake water chemistry, ecology and social history data together in both a review document and electronic database deliverable. Stage 2: Contemporary data collection and comparison against historic data A contemporary data collection of new pit lake water quality and ecology data would be made to extend and address any knowledge gaps identified during the historical dataset compilation. This data collection will also extend available historic datasets by including pit lake fisheries and submerged aquatic plants. The entire historic and contemporary ecological and chemical data will be re-analysed as a complete dataset to provide up-to-date information on Collie pit lake management issues so as to help fill gaps determined in the review of existing data. The evaluation of chemical and biotic data over this time span will determine data trends and provide predictive data for the ongoing management of these resources under different scenarios. Stage 3: Preliminary assessment of end-use options for pit lakes. The trends analysed in stage 2 will be used to produce a preliminary assessment of end use options for the pit lakes of Collie and will clearly identify knowledge gaps. |
Research team: Lu Zhao (MiWER), Clint McCullough (MiWER), Mark Lund (MiWER)
Conceptual modelling to better understand ecological risks posed by pit lakes
To ensure greatest scientific robustness of conceptual models we held a site visits workshops with an expert panel from experts from universities and State regulatory staff to best understand how these processes are likely working in different pit lakes. This workshop identified conceptual model needs e.g., a carbon cycling model and an acidity budget model. The intent is to then present the conceptual models as diagrammatic representations highlighting the nature of relationships between parameters and processes. |
How does acidity enter Collie pit lakes? (Lake Kepwari). |
Example conceptual modelling of pit lake chemistry. |
Output(s):
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Assessment of the Effects of Pit Lakes on Human Health
Andrea Hinwood (CEM), Jane Heyworth (UWA), Lu Zhao (MiWER), Clint McCullough (MiWER), Mark Lund (MiWER)
Do pit lakes present a hazard to human health?
The proposed project aims to examine possible impacts of human interaction with pit lakes. The project would be conducted in three stages. The first is a literature review of the health effects of the aspects of pit lakes including chemical contamination, pH and also injury. The second stage of the work will be to attain an understanding of how and how frequently the community is exposed to the pit lakes leading to the third stage, an assessment of the risks of exposure and health impacts. Stage 3 will produce a screening health risk assessment which will identify risks, management strategies, including management trigger levels to ensure protection of human health. Government and community groups have expressed concerns about how open cut mining operations may affect human health and wellbeing through modified surface and groundwater regimes and their follow-on effects on environmental contamination and disease propagation. This project would use Collie as a case-study to investigate how the formation of pit lakes may degrade or even improve health outcomes for mining communities living with these legacies. Output(s):
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Sulfidic minerals forming in catchment of new AMD Collie pit lakes. |
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Black Diamond pit lake highwalls create a realised drowning risk. | Stage 1: Literature review of historic and new Collie pit lake characteristics, data collation of existing information and assessment of health impacts of identified parameters. This stage would require the complication of existing data on the chemical, physical and biological aspects of Collie pit lakes from the peer reviewed and available grey literature. As there is little data publicly available on Collie pit lakes, this data compilation would make extensive use of unpublished MiWER data. Project members from the MiWER team have an extensive dataset on water quality of most Collie pit lakes extending back more than a decade and intend to collect new data also which would all be available for the health study. In addition existing monitoring data will be used to determine concentrations of relevant parameters and hence their likely health effects. The literature review will outline the health effects associated with water temperature and other issues such as injury. The data collated in Task 1 will be used to identify potential chemical and biological human health risks associated with pit lakes in Collie. A further literature review will also examine physical risks such as injury, water temperature and drowning. Stage 2: Community Survey To assess the use and perceived issues of using pit lakes a community survey will be undertaken via administration of a postal questionnaire. The questionnaire will be focussed on finding out how many people use the pit lakes, the purposes for which they use the lake, how often they use the lakes and for how long they have used the lakes and how they would like to use the lakes. We will also obtain data on health issues that may be associated with pit lake water and other potential confounding factors. The questionnaire will be designed based on the literature review. The population of Collie and surrounds is 7,194 persons and it is aimed to obtain information from approximately 10% of the population. As response fractions are often low 1500 questionnaires will be posted to a random sample of residents of Collie. The selection will be based on the electoral roll. A reply paid envelope will be provided. The data collected via questionnaire will be analysed and the information will inform the screening health risk assessment in Stage 3. A report on the questionnaire will be developed and will provide the agency with a variety of information on actual and perceived issues associated with pit lakes in the area. Stage 3: Screening Health Risk Assessment. Health risk assessment is a systematic, transparent process of assessing the potential risks associated with exposure to environmental and physical parameters. It uses a standard methodology which is routinely accepted worldwide and provides managers with good information on how to prevent and minimise both actual and perceived risks. Based on Stages 1 and 2 risks will be determined based on the likelihood of them occurring, the consequence if they occur and therefore an assessment of the significance of the risk. This process also enables the development of triggers to manage issues to prevent risks from occurring. This stage will also identify any issues that require further investigation. |
Research team: Lu Zhao (MiWER), Clint McCullough (MiWER), Mark Lund (MiWER)
Conceptual modelling to better understand ecological risks posed by pit lakes
Strategic management of pit lakes as a regional resource and/or liability requires a data collection programme to advise management processes such as environmental and human health and safety. Development of a monitoring and management strategy for pit lakes and connected waters would be made through a review of the various international best practice guidelines. This study has begun with a literature review of pit lake water quality monitoring strategies. In particular, parameters identified from reviewing existing pit lake datasets and known to be important to pit lake management and eventual modelling will be a focus of a proposed monitoring strategy. A cost-effective and achievable monitoring strategy will be developed, incorporating international best practice and parameters chosen to fill data gaps will be clearly identified. Details of sampling regimes recommended for each selected parameter will be presented. Frequency and timing of sampling will be discussed and recommended. |
A water quality sampling programme is fundamental to pit lake management. |
Aquatic ecological sampling is also an important indicator of pit lake rehabilitation success. |
Output(s):
Zhao, L. Y. L.; McCullough, C. D. & Lund, M. A. (in prep). Mine Voids Management Strategy (III): A Monitoring Strategy for Pit Lakes and Connected Waters. Department of Water Project Report MiWER/Centre for Ecosystem Management Report 2010-2, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia. ??pp. Unpublished report to Department of Water.
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Assessment of the Effects of Pit Lakes on Human Health
Andrea Hinwood (CEM), Jane Heyworth (UWA), Lu Zhao (MiWER), Clint McCullough (MiWER), Mark Lund (MiWER)
Do pit lakes present a hazard to human health?
The proposed project aims to examine possible impacts of human interaction with pit lakes. The project would be conducted in three stages. The first is a literature review of the health effects of the aspects of pit lakes including chemical contamination, pH and also injury. The second stage of the work will be to attain an understanding of how and how frequently the community is exposed to the pit lakes leading to the third stage, an assessment of the risks of exposure and health impacts. Stage 3 will produce a screening health risk assessment which will identify risks, management strategies, including management trigger levels to ensure protection of human health. Government and community groups have expressed concerns about how open cut mining operations may affect human health and wellbeing through modified surface and groundwater regimes and their follow-on effects on environmental contamination and disease propagation. This project would use Collie as a case-study to investigate how the formation of pit lakes may degrade or even improve health outcomes for mining communities living with these legacies. Output(s):
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Sulfidic minerals forming in catchment of new AMD Collie pit lakes. |
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Black Diamond pit lake highwalls create a realised drowning risk. | Stage 1: Literature review of historic and new Collie pit lake characteristics, data collation of existing information and assessment of health impacts of identified parameters. This stage would require the complication of existing data on the chemical, physical and biological aspects of Collie pit lakes from the peer reviewed and available grey literature. As there is little data publicly available on Collie pit lakes, this data compilation would make extensive use of unpublished MiWER data. Project members from the MiWER team have an extensive dataset on water quality of most Collie pit lakes extending back more than a decade and intend to collect new data also which would all be available for the health study. In addition existing monitoring data will be used to determine concentrations of relevant parameters and hence their likely health effects. The literature review will outline the health effects associated with water temperature and other issues such as injury. The data collated in Task 1 will be used to identify potential chemical and biological human health risks associated with pit lakes in Collie. A further literature review will also examine physical risks such as injury, water temperature and drowning. Stage 2: Community Survey To assess the use and perceived issues of using pit lakes a community survey will be undertaken via administration of a postal questionnaire. The questionnaire will be focussed on finding out how many people use the pit lakes, the purposes for which they use the lake, how often they use the lakes and for how long they have used the lakes and how they would like to use the lakes. We will also obtain data on health issues that may be associated with pit lake water and other potential confounding factors. The questionnaire will be designed based on the literature review. The population of Collie and surrounds is 7,194 persons and it is aimed to obtain information from approximately 10% of the population. As response fractions are often low 1500 questionnaires will be posted to a random sample of residents of Collie. The selection will be based on the electoral roll. A reply paid envelope will be provided. The data collected via questionnaire will be analysed and the information will inform the screening health risk assessment in Stage 3. A report on the questionnaire will be developed and will provide the agency with a variety of information on actual and perceived issues associated with pit lakes in the area. Stage 3: Screening Health Risk Assessment. Health risk assessment is a systematic, transparent process of assessing the potential risks associated with exposure to environmental and physical parameters. It uses a standard methodology which is routinely accepted worldwide and provides managers with good information on how to prevent and minimise both actual and perceived risks. Based on Stages 1 and 2 risks will be determined based on the likelihood of them occurring, the consequence if they occur and therefore an assessment of the significance of the risk. This process also enables the development of triggers to manage issues to prevent risks from occurring. This stage will also identify any issues that require further investigation. |
Research team: Clint McCullough (MiWER), Mark Lund (MiWER)
Can Australian pit lakes be used for sustainable enduses for mining companies, communities or the environment?
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Being a finite abstraction, “sustainable mining” is something of an oxymoron for what is inherently unsustainable activity. Nevertheless, in an era of increasing recognition of environmental and social damage through an ever-growing scale of mining coupled with increasing corporate social conscience for these activities, the mining industry usually works to reduce operational risk and retain its “social licence to mine” the community resource through a variety of strategies. |
Conceptual beneficial end uses for pit lakes that have already been explored in Australia. |
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AMD in the Czech Republic; mine pit lakes and their waters are usually considered a liability. |
For best sustainable management of lease resources for companies, communities and the environment, pit lake management should be more than simply parochial meeting of regulatory criteria to lease relinquishment. Assessing current and potential end uses for pit lakes is an important, yet little-recognised way, in which significant benefits to all three of these stakeholder groups can be made over an indefinite long-period of time, and in a mutually beneficial fashion. Output(s):
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Research team: Clint McCullough (MiWER), Douglas Hunt (CUT), Louis Evans (CUT)
What planning and regulatory involvement if required to develop pit lakes into beneficial end uses?
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Social licence to mine is encouraging much greater emphasis on sustainability and contribution to the local community of a post-mining landscape than ever before. Development of a pit lake resource into a beneficial end use depends upon input from the mining company involved, the local community and also relevant regulatory agencies. Planning must ideally occur before the first hole is dug, and from then on it should be regularly updated as economic and social climates change. |
Wedge Pit lake in the Goldfields Region provides water for the nearby town of Laverton. |
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Mine pit lakes relinquishment needs to be considered before beginning and during operational mine life. |
The most successful pit lake beneficial end uses have arisen when mining companies have engaged the desire and expectations of local communities in a supportive regularly environment to go beyond compliance; instead to leave a very positive mining legacy behind that they can be proud of. Output(s): |
Research team: Naresh Radhakrisnan (MiWER), Clint McCullough (MiWER), Mark Lund (MiWER)
What are the characteristics of Australian pit lakes and how do compare to those of other countries?
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The MiWER team have been invited to contribute a book chapter on “Mining lakes in Australia” to an upcoming publication. The title of the book, published by Springer, is “Acidic Pit Lakes - legacies of coal and ore mining”. The proposed book will be a revised version of the now 10 year-old well-recognised publication by the same publishers. The chapter will highlight knowledge of mine pit lakes in Australia. Main topics planned to be covered in the chapter are the total number of mine lakes, type of mining, physical, chemical and some biological characteristics, any remediation and rehabilitation approaches planned or already carried out, remediation drivers and the socio-economic aspects of the mine lakes etc. |
Australia has many highly acidic and also highly saline lakes as a result of its arid climate. |
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With mining booming in Australia, mine pits are forming larger and more ubiquitous pit lakes than ever before. |
We hope that this chapter, to be published in 2009, will serve as a useful tool for industry, regulators and researchers alike. Output(s): Kumar, R., McCullough, C.D. and Lund, M.A. (in prep). Mining lakes in Australia. In: “Acidic Pit Lakes - Legacies of Coal and Ore Mining”. Edited by Walter Geller and Martin Schultze. Springer Publishers.
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