Development of a Global
Acid Rock Drainage
(GARD) Guide
Phase I Project Summary
GARD Guide Steering Committee
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Clive Bell – ACMER
Rich Borden – Rio Tinto/INAP
Linda Broughton – BHP/INAP
Charles Bucknam – Newmont/ADTI
Meiring du Plessis – WRC, South Africa
Linda Figueroa – CSM/ADTI
Anne-Marie Fleury – ICMM
Ross Gallinger – IAMGOLD/INAP
Elizabeth Gardiner – MAC/MEND
Adam Jarvis – University of Newcastle, UK/PADRE
Bruce Kelley – Rio Tinto/INAP
Denis Kemp – Falconbridge/INAP/MEND
Bill Price – NRCan/MEND
Dave Salmon – Anglo American
Jos Schaekers – SA Based Consultant
Steve Slater – Rio Tinto/INAP
Gilles Trembley – NRCan/MEND
Amber Turner – INAP
David Williams – US BLM, ADTI
Chris Wolkersdorfer – PADRE/IMWA/TU Bergakademie Freiberg
Paul Ziemkiewicz – University of West Virginia
Phase I Project Objectives
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Determine and engage stakeholders
Identify existing guides
Develop GARD Guide framework
Define GARD Guide content
Determine position on INAP website
Develop action plan to develop GARD Guide
Develop terms of reference for consultants
for next phase as appropriate
Estimate costs and timeframe to produce
the GARD Guide
Phase I Activities
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Established a Steering Committee
Produced components of development plan
for review
Conducted 3 Steering Committee calls,
several individual calls and many e-mail
communications
Completed draft Phase I project report
Collected and responded to Steering
Committee Comments on draft report
Prepared INAP and GA presentations
GARD Guide Business Case
In comparison to existing ARD Guides, the GARD
Guide would be:
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Current with available scientific and engineering
understanding
Comprehensive by covering all aspects of ARD
formation and management
Global by considering geographic differences in
climate and environmental setting
User friendly with web based access and search
capability
Updatable via the web
Accessible to a broad range of readers from those
with a lower technical knowledge to experts
GARD Guide Characteristics
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Flexible to accommodate site-specific issues
Avoid duplication and build on existing guidelines
and compendiums
Be consistent and promote a systematic approach
Founded on a risk based approach
Endorse a pro-active approach and encourage
reduction and control at the source
Be a “how to” guide and not a regulatory tool or
a design manual
Be globally targeted and avoid a NA bias
Be based on proven, field tested technologies
Cater to the life cycle of a mine (cradle to cradle)
Scope of GARD Guide
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Acid rock drainage, neutral mine drainage and saline
drainage where contaminants are released from solid
to liquid phase by sulphide mineral oxidation
Includes: tailing, waste rock, underground mine and
pit walls, pit lakes, spent ore heaps and low grade
stockpiles
Applies to all commodities including base metals,
gold, coal and uranium
Does NOT include:
• Acid sulphate soils
• Dissolution of sulphate salts produced by pyrometallugical or
complex hydrometallurgical processes (eg. roasters and
autoclaves)
Definitions, Nomenclature and Accessibility
Types of Drainage Produced by Sulphide Mineral Oxidation
Typical relation to drainage pH:
Saline Drainage
Neutral Mine Drainage
Acid Rock Drainage
pH
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Typical drainage characteristics:
Acid Rock Drainage:
• acidic pH
• moderate to elevated
heavy metals
• elevated sulphate
Neutral Mine Drainage:
• near neutral to alkaline pH
• low to moderate heavy
metals. May have elevated
zinc and cadmium.
• low to moderate sulphate
Saline Drainage:
• neutral to alkaline pH
• low heavy metals. May
have moderate iron.
• moderate sulphate and
calcium
10
Target Audience
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Companies, governments, consultants,
researchers, educators, communities,
communities of interest, bankers and
NGO’s
Primary target audience is a scientist or
engineer with a reasonable background in
chemistry and the basics of civil
engineering but not necessarily specifically
related to acidic drainage.
GARD Guide Table of Contents
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The GARD Guide
The ARD Process
Corporate, Regulatory and Community Framework
Defining the Problem – Characterization
Prediction
Prevention and Control (Mitigation)
Drainage Treatment
Monitoring
Management and Performance Assessment
ARD Communication and Consultation
ARD Management and Sustainability Framework
Appendix
Figure 3 ARD Management Continuous Improvement Cycle
Mine Phase:
- Exploration - Operation
- Feasibility/design
- Closure
- Construction
- Post-closure
Consult Corporate, Regulatory
and Community Guidance
Assess Performance
of ARD Management
Develop ARD Management Plan
• characterization
• prediction
• prevention/control
• treatment
Monitor Performance
Implement ARD
Management Plan
GARD Guide Length
Chapter
GARD Guide
Equivalent BC ARD Chapter
Title Page, Executive Summary, Table of Contents etc.
10
14
1 The GARD Guide
8
11
2 The ARD Process
12
12
3 Corporate, Regulatory and Community Framework
21
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4 Defining the Problem – Characterization
22
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5 Prediction
61
30
6 Prevention and Control
57
61
7 Drainage Treatment
40
53
8 Monitoring
37
14
9 Management and Performance Assessment
38
18
10 ARD Communication and Consultation
7
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11 ARD Management and Sustainability Framework
6
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Appendix
20
49
339
262
Total
Options to Develop GARD Guide
Options to Develop GARD Guide
Options to Develop GARD Guide
Steps in GARD Production
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Select and set up web based document management system
Select method to obtain Guide technical input
Identify/confirm roles and individuals to fill the roles
Issue RFP for technical input and select technical contributor(s)
Finalize Table of Contents and knowledge maps
Develop style guide
Assemble first draft of chapters
Review chapters with Steering Committee and peer reviewers
Distribute draft chapters and post on web site for review
Test chapters with selected users in industry/government/NGO’s
Consolidate comments and produce second draft of chapters
Engage technical writer to edit chapters
Engage web author to assemble chapters for the web
Test web based Guide with selected users
Revise and “go live”
Establish Guide usage monitoring and maintenance system
Technical Contributor Options
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Single consultant
Multiple consultants by chapters (including authors
of previous guides)
Multiple consultants/authors work on chapters
(including authors of previous guides in global
working group)
Donations for chapters
Company contributions
Government research arms
Steering committee contributions
Mining associations manage chapters
Global Alliance manage chapters
Technical Contributor “strawman”
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The GARD Guide – ed/LTC with input from INAP, Global Alliance
and Steering Committee
The ARD Process – selected consultant, possibly from academia,
chosen through RFP
Corporate, Regulatory and Community Framework – selected
consultant, possibly from academia, chosen through RFP
Defining the Problem – Characterization – selected consultant
chosen through RFP
Prediction – selected consultant chosen through RFP
Prevention and Control – selected consultant chosen through RFP
Drainage Treatment – selected consultant chosen through RFP
Monitoring – selected consultant chosen through RFP
Management and Performance Assessment – selected consultant
chosen through RFP
ARD Communication and Consultation – ed/LTC with input from
INAP, Global Alliance and Steering Committee
ARD Management and Sustainability Framework – ed/LTC with
input from INAP, Global Alliance and Steering Committee
ed - editor
LTC – lead technical consultant
Document Management
Chapter
Status
Last Update
Contributor
Contact
Position on INAP website
Challenges
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Engaging a very busy industry and consulting
community
Synthesizing the vast body of information
Resolving differences in opinion
Making complex topics understandable and
useful
Ensuring broad acceptance
Funding
Time and Cost Estimate
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2 years
$250,000 US
Doable but aggressive!!
Unresolved Issues
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scope of the Guide - special metallurgical process wastes (eg.
roasters and autoclaves) and ancient oxide caps
use of the term "ARD" and other nomenclature.
organizational structure to produce the Guide.
Technical contributors:
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splitting chapters
selected contributors
single or multiple RFP’s to consultants
picking and choosing members of consultant teams
engaging past guide authors
Steering Committee drafting
use of workshops
simple, useable vs comprehensive knowledge maps
possible phased approach/trial run chapter
use of literature reviews and past Guides
role of the GA
GARD Guide roll-out step added to development plan
when to test the Guide with potential users
timeline (and cost)
Recommendations
INAP should:
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Proceed with the GARD Guide development
Address acidic, neutral and saline drainage
Target scientist or engineer reader
Produce a Guide that is:
• “how to” - not a literature summary
• web-based with extensive search capability
• less than 350 pages + appendix
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Use technical editor or lead consultant approach
Issue a RFP for at least some chapters
Develop a style guide
Establish an external peer and stakeholder review
process
Consider a phased approach to Guide development
Next Steps
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Provide guidance on unresolved issues
Review, modify and finalize GARD Guide
development report
Decide on a phased approach
Identify and secure funding
Select an option for Guide development
organization
Select editor or lead technical consultant
to manage development of the Guide
Fill the roles in the organization chart
Phase I work to complete
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INAP presentation
GA presentation
Final steering committee calls
Finalize phase I report
Expected completion – December 20, 2006
Phase I Project Budget Status
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$28,500 CDN + GST budget (included $5,500 for
optional travel/presentation)
$15,000 CDN* spent to date
$18,500 CDN* forecast to complete (assuming no
significant new items)
$10,000 CDN* forecast under budget
* Includes GST
Development of a Global
Acid Rock Drainage
(GARD) Guide
Phase I project summary
Phase I Project Objectives








Determine and engage stakeholders
Identify existing guides
Develop GARD Guide framework
Define GARD Guide content
Determine position on INAP website
Develop action plan to develop GARD Guide
Develop terms of reference for consultants
for next phase as appropriate
Estimate costs and timeframe to produce
the GARD Guide
GARD Guide Business Case
In comparison to existing ARD Guides, the GARD
Guide will be:






Current with available scientific and engineering
understanding
Comprehensive by covering all aspects of ARD
formation and management
Global by considering geographic differences in
climate and environmental setting
User friendly with web based access and search
capability
Updatable via the web
Accessible to a broad range of readers from those
with a lower technical knowledge to experts
Scope of GARD Guide




Acid rock drainage, neutral mine drainage and
saline drainage where contaminants are
released from solid to liquid phase by
sulphide mineral oxidation
Includes: tailing, waste rock, underground
mine and pit walls, pit lakes, spent ore heaps
and low grade stockpiles
Applies to all commodities including base
metals, gold, coal and uranium
Does NOT include:
• Acid sulphate soils
• Dissolution of sulphate salts produced by
pyrometallugical or hydrometallurgical processes
GARD Guide Table of Contents
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
The GARD Guide
The ARD Process
Corporate, Regulatory and Community
Framework
Defining the Problem – Characterization
Prediction
Prevention and Control (Mitigation)
Drainage Treatment
Monitoring
Management and Performance Assessment
ARD Communication and Consultation
ARD Management and Sustainability Framework
Appendix
Time and Cost Estimate
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2 years
$250,000 US
Recommendations
INAP should:
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Proceed with GARD Guide development that:
• Addresses acidic, neutral and saline drainage
• Targets a scientist or engineer

Produce a Guide that:
• is “how to” - not a literature summary
• is Web-based with extensive search capability
• contains less than 350 pages + appendix
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
Establish an external peer and stakeholder
review process
Consider a phased approach to Guide
development