Blasting and excavation on projects may expose sulfide-bearing rocks and soil to oxygen, which can create acidic runoff (acid rock drainage or ARD) and leach metals. This can disrupt the area’s pH balance and negatively impact plants and animals. On larger-scale mining projects, ARD can pose lasting consequences to the watershed and incur long-term water treatment costs.
"any project site – a railroad, a highway, a pipeline corridor, or a mine – involving rock disturbance may be at risk for acid runoff."
Barr provides site evaluation and mitigation implementation services for ARD on many projects, including on a recent highway realignment in northern Minnesota. Due to this project, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) hired Barr to develop a guidance manual with the University of Minnesota’s Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI). The manual describes how to screen, characterize, evaluate, and mitigate acid-generating material, provides an environmental monitoring outline, and includes a geologic map to identify Minnesota areas at higher risk for acid-generating materials.
“Our team of geochemists, geologists, engineers, and environmental scientists created this valuable tool that MnDOT and other clients can leverage during their project planning phase,” says Kevin Eisen, Barr’s project lead for the manual. Because any project site – a railroad, a highway, a pipeline corridor, or a mine – involving rock disturbance may be at risk for acid runoff, planning is crucial. To learn more about the manual or mitigating ARD on your project, contact us.
Kevin Eisen is a senior geological engineer with more than 22 years of experience assisting clients with emerging contaminants, legacy contamination, and ARD evaluation and mitigation. He managed the overall development of the MnDOT PAG guidance manual and has experience in state- and federally led ARD-related projects.
Denise Levitan, former senior environmental scientist and geochemist at Barr, was responsible for evaluating ARD potential for mining, power, and public-sector clients. With a decade of experience in environmental analysis and assessment, she solved problems related to all phases of industrial-project lifecycles.
Island Lake Dam repair project wins engineering award
Barr establishes office in Reno to support client projects
Navigating new S-K 1300 reporting standard
Addressing the risks of acid-generating materials
Renewable natural gas projects turn waste to energy
Brownfields open doors for clean-energy development
Receive the latest editions right to your inbox and explore industry trends, projects, and company news.
Mining the Intermountain West: From operations to consulting
Six reasons to add RNG to your energy portfolio
Balancing power generation with air quality compliance
Wind turbine foundations now and in the future
Summarizing recent changes to NEPA
Making the most of every opportunity
Gaining real-world experience through Barr’s internship program
From a client’s perspective
Using waste heat recovery for carbon management
Minnesota's mine-reclamation legacy enters exciting new chapter
Building climate resilience through green infrastructure design
Navigating CCR compliance under recent EPA determinations
Municipal waste stream PFAS removal and destruction: Current alternatives and cost
EPA proposes rule to reduce ethylene oxide emissions from commercial sterilizers
Barr celebrates Founders Day: A CEO’s perspective
Five steps to develop a greenhouse gas inventory for agricultural manufacturing
How will the new PFAS MCLs affect NPDES permits?
Time to repower your wind energy site?
Adding lithium to mining operations: Environmental, permitting, and ESG factors
Adding lithium to mining operations: Engineering and design factors
Collecting data from the skies with reality capture technology
Green infrastructure and stacked-benefits projects
EPA proposes maximum contaminant levels for six PFAS in drinking water
Minnesota DNR releases new commercial solar siting guidance
Emerging PFAS destruction technologies
The Inflation Reduction Act: Manufacturing focus
Domestic uranium production on the rise
EPA's latest proposed rule eliminates PFAS reporting exemption
Introducing Barr’s ugly holiday sweater contest winner
Civil designs create homes for the holidays
Designing Africa's first potash processing facility
Q&A: Are mussels impeding your underwater project?
EPA begins enforcement of coal-ash disposal rule
Floodplain management expert joins Barr
From our CEO
Designing Africa’s first potash mine
The Inflation Reduction Act: Mining focus
The Inflation Reduction Act: Power focus
A deeper look into the promising new PFAS destruction approach
Tailings storage facilities: A unique challenge for a critical industry
The Inflation Reduction Act: Fuels focus
Making an impact in the Rocky Mountain Region
From Boy Scout to Senior NEPA Consultant
Stabilizing a community's backup water supply
Q&A: In your ESG journey, keep the destination in mind
Inflation Reduction Act opens door for energy investment
Reviving landings on Lake Michigan's Plum and Pilot Islands
PFAS: What’s all the hype?
Becoming an environmental engineer: A problem solver’s dream career
Siting a solar farm on brownfields, landfills, and former industrial sites
Analyzing climate change risks with GIS mapping
Explosives engineering: Is it as dangerous as it sounds?
Is biological sulfate treatment the key?
Achieving work-life balance as a female engineer and military spouse
Acid rock drainage: More than just a mining project concern?
Incorporating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategies
Developing long-term PFAS solutions
Establishing climate change adaptation strategies
Designing new tools and solutions for stormwater quality improvement
Maximizing the usefulness of big data and the Internet of Things (IoT)
Uncovering the technical challenges of paste, filtered tailings, and mine backfill
Adding value with technology-enhanced imaging
Navigating floodwater management
Harnessing the power of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technology
Delivering innovation on Department of Energy projects
Q&A: Spotlight on safety
Transforming water treatment plant design
Unlock funding for abandoned mines
Proactive permitting strategy powers solar project success
Stormwater: Underground and under control
Financing your project with federal infrastructure funding
SEC proposes broad climate-related reporting rules
Fuel standards and carbon intensity to drive profitability
New PFAS rule to have broad implications
Restoration project near Lake Superior wins top honor
Slope stabilization puts mine site back in operation
Stormwater management plan promotes sustainability
First steps toward fixing a dam
Which tailings management solution is right for your mine?
Turn the pieces into a picture with a data integration plan
"Backyard" rainwater feature reduces downstream pollutants
Modeling roadmap helps manage chloride levels
Statistics unlock answers to contamination questions
Getting started on your ESG journey? Barr can help
Water ride makes a splash at Branson theme park
Facing climate-change challenges with confidence
TRI updates include new reporting requirements
Q&A: Survey season in Michigan
Are trolley-assist haul trucks the next advancement for Minnesota mines?
Barr names Ward Swanson as president and CEO
Enhancing flood-protection measures in North Dakota
Inspecting a stormwater tunnel during river drawdown
Working with the weather during inversions