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E² Inc. |
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E² Inc. recently completed an assessment of potential future use opportunities at the Iron King Mine-Humboldt Smelter NPL site in Arizona, focusing on opportunities for siting renewable energy projects at the former mine site.
This analysis evaluated the feasibility of using renewable energy technologies to meet potential on-site light industrial/commercial electricity demand or to generate grid-tied electricity. In particular, the pre-feasibility assessment included a characterization of site physical features and surrounding land context (topography, infrastructure, site cleanup considerations) that might impact future use of the site for renewable energy development; provided an adaptive renewable energy development framework for a site; and evaluated renewable energy markets, opportunities and challenges for the site. The Iron King Mine-Humboldt Smelter NPL site encompasses areas of contamination from two separate facilities: the Iron King Mine and the Humboldt Smelter. Due to past mining and smelting operations, arsenic, lead and other metals have contaminated soil, sediments, surface water and ground water at levels above background concentrations. EPA is currently conducting a feasibility study to evaluate cleanup options for the site. EPA will utilize this assessment as part of its larger cleanup process to develop cleanup alternatives consistent with a future renewable energy project at the site.
Evaluating the viability of renewable energy-based post-mining land uses at former mine properties is at the center of EPA’s efforts to facilitate the reuse of contaminated properties and active and abandoned mine sites for renewable energy generation. E2 Inc. is providing technical and analytical support to EPA in its effort to help site stakeholders explore alternative energy opportunities through reuse planning processes and pre-feasibility energy analyses. |
