An abbreviated history of the development of the "insitu seepage treatment" (bioremediation) concept at the abandoned South Bay property

Abstract

The South Bay mine, a copper/zinc producer, was operated by Selco Inc. during the period 1971-1981. · Surface facilities were decommissioned/removed in 1987-88. · Boojum Research began "ecological engineering" work at the site in 1986, with a principal focus on minesite contamination and Boomerang Lake. · This summary is provided in support of Talisman's plan to "scale-up" insitu seepage treatment (bioremediation) in order to control contaminated groundwater seepage emanating from the South Bay tailing deposit. The bioremediation activity proposed would be confined to the existing "waste management area" at South Bay. · This summary focuses on insitu bioremediation of contaminated groundwater from the tailings area, and does not address the many other aspects of "ecological engineering" ongoing at the site. For a fuller discussion of ecological engineering at South Bay, see update reports provided earlier by Talisman entitled "South Bay Discussion (1998)" and "South Bay Progress Report (1998-2000)".