Blacksmith Institute Journal of Health & Pollution Vol. 1, No.

1 Feb 2011
26
Case Study
26
Introduction
In late 2008 through early 2009
Blacksmith Institute, the Yunnan
Environmental Protection Bureau
(YEPB) and other local partners
in Yunnan, collaborated to address
severe pollution from legacy mining
and metal processing facilities in
Yunnan province, in southern China
(see Figure 1). Te area is remote and
isolated, and the local authorities
lack the experience and resources to
address the problems. Tree villages -
in Huaning County, Nan Hua County
and Wenshan County - were proposed
by YEPB because of the unique
circumstances each site presented
and because these are representative
of numerous, similar problems in
the mountains of Yunnan. Each site
has abandoned facilities located
in remote mountain communities
with owners who cannot easily be
traced. Toxic heavy metals, including
arsenic, cadmium and lead, are being
released into the local environment
from the mine operations, abandoned
Background. Tree villages in Yunnan Province were identifed to have abandoned arsenic
mines severely contaminating the local water supplies. Other villages in the Province had
similar problems causing the Yunnan Environmental Protection Bureau (YEPB) to seek
assistance in developing a remedial strategy.
Objectives. Identify the immediate hazards, develop practical remedial approaches, with
focus on human health impacts associated with contaminated drinking water. Develop
a blueprint for dealing with other isolated mine pollution problems in the mountains of
Yunnan.
Materials & Methods. A technical team from Blacksmith Institute, TerraGraphics Environmental
Engineering and Yunnan Environmental Protection Bureau (YEPB) visited the sites and
conducted environmental sampling. TerraGraphics prepared a technical review of each site,
a discussion of human health risks and objectives for remedial actions, using United States
Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) guidance for waste site evaluations. From the
recommended interventions for each site, YEPB selected a site for construction remediation.
Results. Samples of wastes, soils and water indicated high metals contamination at all three
sites. Te closed arsenic refnery in Wenshan County was selected for a demonstration cleanup
project. Subsequent analyses showed signifcant improvements in metals levels and achievement
of remedial objectives. Te site is recognized as a model for other mining sites in Yunnan.
Conclusions. Te success of the demonstration project was recognized and has provided
direction and momentum for a wider efort by the Province to address mining pollution
and water contamination challenges. It demonstrates the success of using known techniques
for environmental remediation in the US, with local partners in China responding to their
communities health and environmental problems.
Keywords. arsenic contamination, water supply, China, Yunnan, mining.
J Health Pollution 1:26-35 (2011)
processing facilities, and insecure
tailings ponds and heaps. Yunnans
wet season, that accounts for more
than 80% of the annual precipitation
(1,759 mm mean), with major
storms, fooding and erosion, causes
contaminant runof into local water
supplies and river systems. Te
project objective was to develop
practical remedial approaches for the
3 villages, and provide models for
similar mountain villages. Te focus
was on stabilizing collapsing ponds,
consolidating wastes (that were being
salvaged) into a repository in order
to prevent further contamination
of the water supply. TerraGraphics
Environmental Engineering used
United States Environmental
Protection Agency (USEPA) guidance
to develop and propose remediation
plans and stabilization and excavation
actions to reduce runof into the rivers
and agricultural felds.
Materials and Methods
Te resulting site assessments included
characterization of contamination
levels, feasibility of implementation,
and the prognosis for sustainability
of various remedies for each of the
three locations. Te project was
structured to provide direction
Remediation of Legacy Arsenic Mining Areas
in Yunnan Province, China
Ian H. von Lindern,
1
David
Hanrahan,
2
Margrit von Braun
1
1 TerraGraphics Environmental
Engineering
2 Blacksmith Institute
Corresponding Author:
Ian von Lindern
TerraGraphics Environmental Engineering
::: S. Jackson Street
Moscow, Idaho 8,8,
USA
Tel: :o8-88:-,8,8
Ian.vonLindern@terragraphics.com
von Lindern et al.
Blacksmith Institute Journal of Health & Pollution Vol. 1, No. 1 Feb 2011
27
Case Study
27
and momentum for a wider efort
by the Province to address mining
pollution and water contamination
challenges. Te Wenshan site was
subsequently selected by YEPB for
remedial construction. Improvements
included construction of a retaining
wall for tailings storage, revegetation,
drainage diversions and access
controls. Pre-remediation testing of
runof at Wenshan to adjacent streams
confrmed arsenic levels of 1.07 mg/l,
about 21 times the relevant limit of
0.05 mg/l. Testing of arsenic content in
the drainage systems afer remediation
was 0.048 mg/l, representing a twenty-
fold reduction.
Tis project is considered by the
Yunnan authorities as a successful pilot
for a broader remediation program
for toxic pollution problems related
to metal mining in the mountains
of Yunnan. It demonstrates the
success of using known techniques
for environmental remediation in
the US, with local partners in China
responding to their communities
health and environmental problems.
A technical team from Blacksmith
Institute, TerraGraphics Environmental
Engineering, Yunnan EPB and local
governments, visited the three mine
related sites.
EPB provided access to
expertise and contacts at Provincial,
Prefecture and County levels, as well
as local institutes. Te three sites
visited were Huaning, Nan Hua, and
Wenshan. Samples of wastes, soils and
water were obtained and analyzed.
USEPA guidance used for waste
site evaluation was used for the site
analyses.
1
Te steps include:
1. Evaluate the three sites for a pilot
remedial action project.
r Assess site conditions with respect
to contamination levels, migration
potential, and threats to human
health and the environment.
r Assess the prognosis for substantially
reducing risk and ongoing or
potential, exposures through
remedial or intervention activities.
r Assess the feasibility for
implementing efective remedies.
r Assess the resources available
to, and the capabilities of, local
agencies and associates to
undertake the work.
2. Establish Remedial Action
Objectives for each Site.
3. Evaluate proposed remedies and
recommend remediation for the sites.
4. For the site selected by YEPB for the
demonstration project, a complete
remediation plan was proposed,
with preliminary cost estimates
in U.S. dollars at U.S. market
prices. Yunnan partners developed
appropriate revisions based on
local costs, available resources and
capabilities. Te fnal project was
developed incrementally consistent
with funding and local constraints,
with the hope that by building on
experience and successes, the site
can be permanently closed. Specifc
activities in this incremental
approach include:
r Site visits by local technical
specialists to identify immediate
measures that can be initiated
using local resources (e.g. ditches
to divert drainage from critical
dumps)
Design of simple isolation
or remediation measures for
the contaminants that can be
discussed and approved before
implementation. Tese designs take
into account the access dimculties
and maximize the use of readily
available resources.
r Implementation of agreed measures
r Evaluation of the efectiveness
and implementability of the
Wenshan
County
Wenshan Prefecture
Figure 1 Location of Wenshan County in
Wenshan Prefecture in Yunnan Province, China
von Lindern et al.
Remediation of Legacy Arsenic Mining Areas in Yunnan Province, China
Blacksmith Institute Journal of Health & Pollution Vol. 1, No. 1 Feb 2011
28
Case Study
measures, and development of a
comprehensive program by YEPB
to address similar sites in the
Province.
Results
A comprehensive and detailed
technical report was prepared by
TerraGraphics and shared with YEPB
and local authorities.
2
Te report
presented a technical review of each
site, and assessment and discussion of
human health risks and objectives for
remedial actions. Recommendations
for practical interventions were
addressed, including preliminary costs,
for each site. Tis report provides not
only an analysis for each of the three
areas, but also a blueprint for dealing
with the other isolated mine pollution
problems in the mountains of Yunnan.
Huaning Mining/Smelting Waste
Recovery and Recycling Plant:
Tis factory-recovered zinc oxide
from mine and smelter waste through
a rotary kiln fuming process. Large
residues of ash and slag accumulated
around the plant during its operational
history. Yunnan omcials had earlier
been informed that the plant was
closed, however there was evidence
that the site was in use for reprocessing
at the time of TerraGraphics visit. Te
size of the residue piles had increased
noticeably, new equipment had been
installed and the kiln was still warm
at the time of the visit, indicating recent
operation. Te site could no longer be
considered abandoned and initial plans
for intervention had to be reconsidered.
Table 1 shows 0.3% lead and 1% zinc
in the pond sediments (bulk XRF).
Analysis of the fnes screened from
these samples showed 171 - 413 mg/kg
arsenic, 321 m/kg cadmium and 0.7%
lead.
Water-related contaminant transport
was occurring on the downhill
slopes from the ash dumps. Te
property abuts agricultural lands on
the remaining sides and no access
controls are evident to restrict entry
or trespass from those directions.
Ash was noted in the feld adjacent
to the water holding ponds. Tere is
signifcant possibility of catastrophic
failure of the makeshif holding
pond and release of massive loads of
accumulated contaminated sediments
to the lower drainage. Leaching of
contaminants to the lower drainage
and contamination of groundwater
are also possible. Te accumulation
of large ash dumps on-site represents
a potential human health exposure
and threat of contaminant migration
to the lower valley. Tis could occur
through runof, leaching, or
mechanical movement via wind
or sloughing. Catastrophic failure
is a long-term consideration. Te
more recent promiscuous dumping
presents additional problems. Tese
materials are not being deposited
in any organized or logical fashion
and will have to be reshaped or
relocated in the future. Te variety
of ash characteristics in the more
recent dumps suggests that some
experimental batch operations have
been undertaken. Tis could result in
ash products of varying toxicity, leachate
potential, and stability characteristics.
Principal human health risks at
Huaning:
r On-site residue storage poses
continued threat of contaminant
migration (runof, leaching, wind/
sloughing)
r Failure of the dumps and makeshif
sludge pond resulting in transport
down the drainage
r Ingestion of sediments eroding
from site
r Direct contact with site wastes
r Consumption of contaminated
water
r Inhalation of airborne particulates
Remedial Action Objectives (RAOs) for
Huaning:
r Stabilize on-site wastes to prevent
contaminant migration
r Develop source controls
to minimize leaching into
groundwater
r Establish on-site controls to
minimize exposures during
operation
r Investigate secondary uses for
ash product as an aggregate
amendment
r Establish adequate disposal facilities
to permanently retain the ash
r Of-site: determine degree of
of-site contamination; include
sampling and exposure assessments
Figure 2 Dam at Nan Hua Site
von Lindern et al.
Blacksmith Institute Journal of Health & Pollution Vol. 1, No. 1 Feb 2011
29
Case Study Remediation of Legacy Arsenic Mining Areas in Yunnan Province, China
Nan Hua Arsenic Mining and
Smelting Site:
Tis is a former arsenic trioxide mine
and processing plant that closed in
2000 (Figure 2). An estimated 50,000
tons of arsenic residue and 500 tons
of rock remain on the site, covering
an area of around 53,000 m
2
. Te
site is located at the head of a valley
about 5 kilometers (km) upstream
from the nearest village. Access to
the site is not restricted. Te waste
piles were unstable and their collapse
could easily release toxic materials
into the local water supply. In October
2004, residents from Long Tan Village
(population about 1400) transported
residue by trucks and dumped it
outside the local government omce
to protest the pollution caused by the
waste remaining at the site.
Several of these waste areas were
sampled and all were severely
contaminated. Table 2 summarizes
the contamination results by both
bulk sample XRF and <150 um sieved
laboratory methods. Many of the
samples collected show extremely high
arsenic concentrations, are corrosive
in nature, and should be considered
hazardous and extremely toxic.
Process area soils associated with
the ores from the mine ranged from
15% to 22% arsenic for bulk soil XRF
analysis. Zinc and lead concentrations
were as high as 2% and 0.3%,
respectively. Reject ore piles, oxidized
ores that could not be burned in the
furnace, showed 15% arsenic, 2% zinc
and 3.4% iron in bulk XRF results.
Te surface of these piles appear to
be armored, but there is substantial
water erosion evident and exposed
surfaces show signifcant portions of
fnes subject to suspension by both
wind and storm water runof. Mining
waste materials were dumped below
the adits and have accumulated with
other sloughing materials behind
the dam in the lower drainage. A
water sample, from the lower adit
discharge, contained 73 mg/l arsenic,
an extremely high concentration
(Table 2). Most of the runof from the
entire site seems to have been routed
naturally, or through diversions, to
the area behind the lower dam. Te
capacity of the dam appears to be
exhausted and the volume behind
the structure is flled with sloughed
material from the upper drainage,
waste piles and process areas. Tere is
severe erosion in the main drainage
above the site and sediments from the
As As Cd Cu Fe Mn Zn Pb Pb Ni
171
413
71100
85500
86000
227000
191000
171000
48500
384000
131000
2680
2330
2180
4860
10200
ND
321
36.0
81.3
88.5
50.1
19.5
28.5
25.2
1940.0
63.1
37.6
56.6
18.3
64.1
805
320
7650
2500
5880
5490
3760
1360
3050
596
70300
9090
217
213
341
482
28700
16
260
89000
95000
150000
220000
200000
100000
30000
>35%
160000
1800
1800
2600
3700
83000
95
3700
1700
2900
2000
2000
600
520
280
N/A
5700
150
180
220
300
9800
72
280
540
590
860
1300
1200
660
200
N/A
2000
2400
3400
2000
2200
3300
2400
5900
710
920
540
1300
700
850
920
N/A
2600
6700
7300
2700
4100
2100
17000
110000
32000
35000
34000
39000
74000
30000
83000
N/A
100000
270000
230000
560000
270000
240000
5.7
160
550
420
520
690
330
260
120
N/A
350
BD
BD
21
76
190
310
10000
10000
15000
21000
11000
3200
3500
790
N/A
1000
23000
32000
4900
15000
2300
Residue large slag pile
Residue slag ponding area
Residue/smelter bottom ash
Residue/smelter bottom ash
Reject ore dump
Hoist area soil
Crusher area soil
Parking area soil
Factory entrance soil
Composite furnace material
Composite furnace material
Surface composite small pond
Surface composite large pond
Surface composite below dam
Lower road soil composite
Rubble composite soil
Location Sample
Huaning Site
HU-R-01
HU-R-03
Nan Hua Site
HU-R-02
HU-R-02R
NA-S-01
NA-S-03
NA-S-04
NA-S-05
NA-S-06
Wenshan Site
WS-2-06
WS-3-07
WS-R-02
WS-R-03
WS-R-04
WS-S-01
WS-S-05
Lab Results, EPA 6020A
(mg/kg)<150 m sieved Bulk Samples XRF Data, (mg/kg)
Table 1 May 2007 Samples; Metals Results
von Lindern et al.
Blacksmith Institute Journal of Health & Pollution Vol. 1, No. 1 Feb 2011
3
Case Study
erosion in upper sections are a large
contributor to the material collecting
behind the dam.
Furnace residues were collected
from beneath the furnaces and were
dumped down slope across the main
entry road from the smelter. Tis
material was sampled and shows
8.9% and 9.5% arsenic for the residue
from the smelter bottom ash and a
replicate sample. Te material has
been subject to pyro-metallurgical
processes, is likely oxidized, has ash
like constituency with large amounts
of fnes and is highly toxic. Tese
residues are located on a steep slope
(>30o) and are subject to both wind
and water erosion.
e Remedial Action Objectives (RAOs)
for Nan Hua were:
r Stabilize on-site wastes to preclude
of-site migration of contaminants
(includes measures to prevent
catastrophic dam failure)
r Develop appropriate source
controls to minimize leaching of
arsenic to surface and groundwater.
Tis includes capping of waste piles,
repositories, and contaminated
process areas and diversion of
surface waters from repositories
and dust caps.
r Establish appropriate Institutional
Controls to prevent unauthorized
access, salvage and scavenging.
r Of-site actions: Determine the
degree and extent of of-site
contamination and exposure
to human populations; include
sampling of of-site environmental
media and assessment of exposures
and, potential absorption by the
local population.
e principal health risks at Nan Hua
were:
r Catastrophic failure of the lower dam
r Ingestion of sediments eroding
from the site
r Direct contact with site wastes
r Consumption of contaminated water
r Inhalation of airborne particulate
Remediation options suggested
by TerraGraphics (TG) included
stabilizing existing waste piles using
local clay and gravel sources and the
excavation and armoring of diversion
channels to prevent further erosion
during the rainy season.
Wenshan Arsenic Renery Complex
(Plants 1-4):
Tis site is an extensive former mining
complex, consisting of four arsenic
processing plants several kilometers
apart (Figures 3-6). Te complex
was operational from 1958-2004 in
Wenshan County. Wenshan Site 4 is
the original factory opened in 958. It
employed a beehive kiln technology
in which the kilns were charged with
ore and charcoal and were fred in
batch operations. Oxidized arsenic
fume was recovered from cooling
chambers and residues were shoveled
I I II II III III IV IV V V
Sample
Data
Drinking
Water
0.05
0.01
0.05
0.01
0.001

0.05
0.01
0.1
1.0
0.005

6 - 9
0.05
0.05
0.1
1.0
0.005

0.3
0.1

0.1
0.05
2.0
1.0
0.005

0.1
0.1
2.0
1.0
0.01

0.005
0.005
0.05
0.01
0.0001

0.1
0.05

6.5 - 8.55
0.01
0.01
0.5
0.05
0.001

0.2
0.05

0.05
0.05
1.0
1.0
0.01

0.3
0.1

5.5-6.5,
8.5-9
0.05
0.1
5.0
1.5
0.01

1.5
1.0

<5.5,
>9
>0.05
>0.1
>5.0
>1.5
>0.01

>1.5
>1.0

mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
s/cm
8,24
72,46
<0.01
0.019
0.012
<0.005
123
0.03
0.04
16.55
6.0 - 8.5
0.01
0.01
1
1
0.01

0.2
0.05

Unit
Table 2 Nan Hua Water Quality Results
Surface Water

Ground Water
Water Quality Classication: Grades I & II, can be used for all purposes. Grade III, can be used for drinking water and for industrial and agricultural use. Grade
IV, mainly used for industrial and agriculture use, aer treatment it can also be used for drinking water. Grade V, cannot be used for any water purpose.
http://www.asiawaterproject.org/water-crises/water-facts/diminishing-water-supplies-across-the-nation/
Remediation of Legacy Arsenic Mining Areas in Yunnan Province, China
Item
pH
Arsenic
Lead
Zinc
Copper
Cadmium
Suspended Solids
Iron
Manganese
Specic Conduc-
tance
von Lindern et al.
Blacksmith Institute Journal of Health & Pollution Vol. 1, No. 1 Feb 2011
31
Case Study
from the kilns and dumped over the
hillside next to the parking lot. About
60,000 tons of residue are estimated
for this dumpsite. Te factory supplied
arsenic trioxide (As2O3) for poison
gas weapons with an original capacity
of 300 tons/yr As2O3. Other product
lines and more modern technology,
principally to serve the pesticide
market, were added and by 1987
capacity had increased to 2000 tons/
yr As
2
O
3
. In 1987, the facility was
expanded to include metallic arsenic
production. From 1987 to 2003
annual production was 3000 tons/
yr of As
2
O
3
and 600 TPY of metallic
arsenic. In 2002 the surrounding area
was designated a national biodiversity
reserve and the county government
ordered the factory to be relocated.
However, the accumulated waste from
over 40 years of smelting operations
remained on site and continued to
threaten the local environment.
Following the failure of a tailings
pond in 2000, a joint team from the
Prefecture EPB and Water Resources
Bureau, undertook limited eforts to
stabilize the residues by constructing a
retaining dam. Te initial work was in
response to an incident that occurred
afer local heavy rains. Te site is
located on the top of a mountain with
numerous terraced agricultural ponds
(largely rice felds) located down the
hillside. Water from the upper ponds
sequentially discharges downhill to the
next pond for more than 5 kilometers
providing water to hundreds of village
farms. When the dam burst in 2000,
arsenic residues entered the uppermost
terraces and proceeded downhill
severely impacting dozens of the
terraced farms, killing 27 water bufalo.
Testing of local streams that provide
irrigation water for several hundred
farms, showed more than 1.0 mg/l
arsenic. Te rice paddies downstream
would have been particularly afected
as rice accumulates arsenic from water
and soil and is a staple food in this
region
3
. Although acute efects from this
incident in the local human population
were likely, they were unrecorded due
to a lack of fundamental environmental
health monitoring in the area.
Various waste materials are found
throughout the site. Tese can be
generally categorized as i) buildings
and structures, ii) contaminated
process areas, iii) waste water ponds,
and iv) residue ponds. Several of these
waste areas were sampled and all
were severely contaminated. Table 1
summarizes the bulk XRF and sieved
sample results. Table 3 contains results
from extraction tests conducted for
the Wenshan County Monitoring
Station. Tese results indicate the
waste materials are capable of releasing
signifcant amounts of arsenic to
surface and groundwater. Many of the
samples collected show extremely high
arsenic concentrations, are corrosive
in nature, and should be considered
hazardous and extremely toxic.
Product material collected from within
the furnaces at Wenshan Site 2 ranged
from 16% to in excess of 30% arsenic
by XRF, indicating severe potential
hazards associated with any salvage or
demolition activities. Contaminated
process areas at Wenshan Site 1
include the road surfaces, plant areas
and furnace line areas, the main
parking lot and the numerous rubble
piles throughout the area. Process
area soils associated with the rubble in
the old furnace line areas showed 8%
arsenic for bulk soil XRF analysis. Zinc
concentrations ran to 2% with lead as
high as 1%. All of the road, process
and parking lot surfaces are aggraded
and contain signifcant amounts of
fnes. Samples in these areas showed
1800 to 3700 mg/kg arsenic and .5%
to 3.2% zinc. All samples showed
signifcant iron content ranging to
10%-51%. Furnace residues collected
from Wenshan Site 2 contained more
Remediation of Legacy Arsenic Mining Areas in Yunnan Province, China
Figure 4 Factory at Wenshan Figure 3 Surrounding Area, Wenshan Site
von Lindern et al.
Blacksmith Institute Journal of Health & Pollution Vol. 1, No. 1 Feb 2011
32
Case Study
than 30% arsenic. Tese are extremely
dangerous levels of arsenic in its most
toxic form.
Principal human health risks at
Wenshan:
r Failure of the residue pond
resulting in transport down
drainage and into water supply
r Ingestion of sediments eroding
from site
r Direct contact with site wastes
r Consumption of contaminated
water
r Inhalation of airborne particulates
Remedial Action Objectives (RAOs) for
Wenshan:
r Stabilize on-site wastes to prevent
contaminant migration
r Develop source controls
to minimize leaching into
groundwater
r Establish on-site controls to
minimize exposures during
operation
r Establish adequate disposal facilities
to permanently retain the ash
r Of-site: determine degree of
of-site contamination; including
sampling, exposure assessments
Contaminant Screening
Arsenic is the predominant
contaminant of concern for the
Nan Hua site and Wenshan Sites.
Potentially signifcant concentrations
of lead and zinc are also present
at these sites, but are of reduced
signifcance relative to arsenic. Lead
is the most signifcant contaminant at
the Huaning Site with arsenic in lesser
amounts than at Nan Hua or Wenshan.
Te arsenic concentrations indicated
are extremely high and exceed typical
cleanup criteria by several orders
of magnitude. Many of the sources
contain a signifcant fraction of small
particles, and the arsenic present is
likely oxidized in inorganic trivalent
form. Tis combination results in
increased solubility, bioavailability
and toxicity. Tese waste materials
on this site are among the most
toxic forms of arsenic. Te sources
are poorly controlled and subject to
transport in the air, surface waters
and groundwater. Of-site migration is
occurring, and exposures to both site
visitors and downstream/downwind
receptors are of probable health
signifcance.
At the request of the USEPA, the
National Academy of Sciences (NAS)
reviewed the state of science for
estimating risks associated with arsenic
in drinking water. In its 1999 review,
the NAS recommended lowering the
50 g/l maximum contaminant level
(MCL) for drinking water standard
based the risks of skin, lung, and
bladder cancer from drinking water
containing inorganic arsenic. Te
USEPA promulgated a new health
standard for arsenic based on recent
epidemiological fndings associating
arsenic exposure with an increase in
these internal organ cancers. Te fnal
rule lowered the MCL from 50 g/l to
10 g/l.
4
Typical cleanup criteria for
these types of sources in the United
States range from less than 25 mg/kg
to 250 mg/kg arsenic in the fne soil
fraction (Federal Register, 20001).
Tere have been numerous arsenic-
contaminated site remediations under
Superfund in the U.S. Tere has been
some inconsistency in cleanup levels
between states and the USEPA Regions
based on site-specifc risk assessments.
For example, the Record of Decision at
the ASARCO Globe Plant in Denver,
CO required a soil action level for
arsenic of 70 mg/kg. Te remedy
further included voluntary cleanup to
the upper limit of background (defned
as 28 mg/kg).
5
Other residential soils
cleanup action levels for arsenic at
similar sites are Sharon Steel, UT (70
mg/kg)
1
; ASARCO Tacoma Smelter,
WA (230 mg/kg)
1
; and the Bunker Hill
Site, Smelterville, ID (100 mg/kg).
1,6-8
Figure 6 Waste dumps, Wenshan Site 4 Figure 5 Rening Process Area, Wenshan Site 1
von Lindern et al.
Blacksmith Institute Journal of Health & Pollution Vol. 1, No. 1 Feb 2011
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Case Study Remediation of Legacy Arsenic Mining Areas in Yunnan Province, China
Analysis of Alternatives
Te remedial action alternatives
were evaluated using 3 general
criteria - Long-term efectiveness and
permanence; implementability; and
cost. Te remedial actions considered
at each site included:
r No action
r Institutional Controls
r Excavation and Removal
r Disposal
r Barriers and Site Controls
r Surface Water Controls
r Reprocessing
Recommended remedial actions
were provided for each of the
Wenshan Sites. Te recommendations
considered long-term efectiveness,
construction issues, and level of efort,
but did not consider estimated costs,
prior to input and participation of
YEPB and local government omcials.
Prevention of catastrophic failure was
considered the top priority. Large
releases of contaminated material
that occur during a food event would
cause the greatest impact on humans
and the environment. Te second
priority was stabilizing the industrial
site from contaminated surface water
runof, fugitive dust, and human contact.
Addressing potential catastrophic
failure is a primary concern at
Wenshan Site 1. Te process
residue pond had failed in the past
and represents the greatest risk of
catastrophic failure. Te primary
focus should be to consolidate
the industrial facility to address
contaminated runof, fugitive dust,
and human contact. Tree approaches
were recommended to address
catastrophic failure and surface water
infltration. For Wenshan Sites 2 and
4 remediation recommendations
focused on sediment containment
and soil barriers to minimize fugitive
dust. Under the recommendations,
the structures should be salvaged and
demolished in place, or disposed of
at Wenshan Site 1. Both sites would
receive soil barriers around the
industrial facilities afer some site
grading and local drainage controls
are established. Te upper waste
piles near the entrance roads at both
sites should be graded to drain water
towards the new drainage ditches and
capped with soil and gravel surface.
Te toe of the waste pile slopes should
be stabilized with rock armoring to
mitigate lateral migration. Te streams
and dams below the waste piles should
have waste material excavated and
placed in a small repository above the
stream foodplain. Tis design also
incorporates containment features
such as old foundations into the design
to protect the disposal site.
Te degree and extent of of-site
contamination and exposures to local
populations is unknown. Sampling of
soils, water, sediments, food supplies
downstream and biological monitoring
(urine samples) could be obtained
to ascertain the extent of of-site
contamination.
Pilot Project Implementation
On the basis of these analyses, the
priorities for the pilot project were
reviewed. Afer consultation with local
level governments, it was agreed that
the frst physical intervention should
be in Wenshan County, where the
two highest priorities for the local
government were Site 1 and Site 4.
Te initial intention was to implement
the remediation plans designed
by TerraGraphics as Option 1 for
Wenshan Site 1 (Figure 7) as a
demonstration project, intending
to use this as a model for future
activities.
9
A complete remediation
plan had initially been estimated at
U.S. market prices.
2
Te major costs
were northeast pond relocation
($72,000), industrial site and drainage
remediation ($165,000) and northwest
pond repository closure ($233,000)
for a total of $470,000. Later updating
of the costs using local prices showed
that a large premium was required for
the remoteness of the location, which
signifcantly increased the unit costs of
materials and equipment.
Te funds immediately available were
a grant through Blacksmith Institute
for $20,000, which the local authorities
in Wenshan agreed to match with
an additional $80,000 in equivalent
currency. (Tis refects government
policy that external grants normally
be matched at the level of 4:1.) Tis
initial budget of $100,000 was not
adequate for the Wenshan 1 work but
was sumcient to complete Wenshan
4 as pilot and to serve as a model
for additional work by county and
provincial authorities in other sites.
Zn Mn Cd Fe Pb As pH Cu
0.13
0
2.9
0
5.2
7.5
0.94
0
0.05
0
2.5
4.4
0
0
0.02
0
0.06
0.20
42
0.56
4.2
0.64
1.3

0
0
0.02
0
0.20
2.2
2.2
20
2.2
23
26
50
3.9
8.5
3.8
9.5

0
0
0.09
0
11000
55
03/09/2005
03/09/2005
03/09/2005
03/09/2005
03/09/2005
10/26/1998
Sampling Date
Furnace N 3
Furnace N 4
Furnace
Big Furnace
Joint Plant
Arsenic Plant in Wenshan County (Site 1) Waste Residue from water (mg/l) sampled on
Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometer in China
Table 3 Wenshan Hazardous Waste Extraction Test
von Lindern et al.
Blacksmith Institute Journal of Health & Pollution Vol. 1, No. 1 Feb 2011
34
Case Study
Te remediation was mainly carried
out in the dry season between Nov.
2008 and March 2009. Te main
components consisted of construction
of a retaining wall to create a
stable tailings storage area and the
installation of an impermeable liner.
Arsenic residues were moved to
this area and placed in compacted
layers to ensure stability. Te surface
of the completed storage area was
vegetated, using local species suited
to the conditions. Drainage ditches
were installed along the sides of the
storage area to divert surface water
fows. Access control was provided
to deter scavenging operations, until
resources are found to complete
full restoration of the site. Yunnan
Environmental Development Institute
(YEDI) Omcials and the Blacksmith
Institute country representative met
with local omcers of both the Wenshan
Prefecture and Wenshan County for a
feld inspection and confrmed that the
primary remediation objectives had
been met.
Surface water drainage samples were
taken by Wenshan County EPB, at the
request of Blacksmith Institute, to
provide a baseline level against which
the post-remediation contamination
could be compared. Te reported arsenic
concentration in the drainage from
the sites prior to remediation was 1.07
mg/l, or 21.4 times the limit (0.05
mg/l). Testing of arsenic content in
the drainage systems afer remediation
(according to the local EPB) was 0.048
mg/l, just within the limit (0.05 mg/l).
Tis represents a twenty-fold reduction.
Te local EPB are planning more robust
sampling during the rainy seasons to
better assess the ofsite transport of
contaminants. Continued environmental
monitoring is also planned.
Te YEPB noted several
implementation challenges. Final
contracted physical remediation costs
were higher than those estimated
due to the access challenges of such a
remote site with poor road conditions,
increases in some detailed technical
estimates, and additional overhead
and local taxes. However, Wenshan
County provided a larger contribution
than originally expected, minimizing
overall budget impacts. Te logistics
of working far from the capital, on
roads which become impassable
in the wet season, proved to be a
signifcant constraint. Despite the best
eforts of all involved, coordination
across continents and several layers
of government was dimcult and time
consuming. Blacksmith Institutes
appointment of a China Country
Coordinator (in Beijing) simplifed the
day-to-day monitoring and reporting. A
full time, management/technical person
in Kunming would have been desirable
in order to ensure better communication
with the local authorities and more
regular supervision.
Conclusions
Overall, the project was recognized
as providing important lessons in
remediation, summarized by local
omcials, as follows:
e success of the pilot project has
been recognized by authorities at all
levels in Yunnan and has reinforced
the value of the approaches and the
potential for developing the broader
programme [of remediation]
9
.
A large part of the success of the
pilot is also due to the commitment
and eforts of the Wenshan County
Government, with the backing of
Wenshan Prefecture and the Province.
According to the Wenshan County
EPB, there are at least fve old
smelters in the county which need to
be addressed and an estimated one
million tons of polluted materials
requiring stabilization or recovery. Ten
specifc white arsenic residue dumps
have been identifed by the EPB. In
addition to the eforts at the Wenshan
County level, Wenshan Prefecture
is preparing a comprehensive plan
to address related issues in all the
counties. Te new National policy on
environment protection in rural areas
provides a favorable context to move
ahead on remediation eforts.
Blacksmith Institute and YEDI will
continue dialogue with Wenshan
omcials about possible ways to provide
technical and fnancial support to
the remediation eforts; discussions
will also be renewed with Huaning
and Nan Hua Counties on the sites
identifed there. A follow-up visit by
the Blacksmith Institute Technical
Team is planned in order to review the
work and to discuss lessons learned from
the demonstration project at Wenshan.
Acknowledgements
Contributors to this project included
the Kadoorie Charitable Foundation
of Hong Kong (now the Millipede
Foundation), Blacksmith Institute
(US), Yunnan Environmental
Protection Bureau (China), local
authorities in Wenshan County
(China) and TerraGraphics
Environmental Engineering, US.
Partners and Aliations
Ian von Lindern (CEO,
TerraGraphics; Blacksmith Institute
Technical Advisory Board Member)
David Hanrahan (Blacksmith
Institute, New York)
Margrit von Braun (TerraGraphics;
University of Idaho)
Peter Hosking (Regional Coordinator,
Blacksmith Institute)
Mike Sauer (Technical Advisor,
TerraGraphics)
Zhou Bo (Director, Yunnan
Environmental Protection Bureau)
Henry Voigt (Senior Advisor, Yunnan
Environmental Protection Bureau)
von Lindern et al.
Blacksmith Institute Journal of Health & Pollution Vol. 1, No. 1 Feb 2011
35
Case Study
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von Lindern et al.