Characterization, Cleanup, and Revitalization of Mining Sites

Training and Events

Highlights

Slides from EPA's December 2025 Good Samaritan Mine Cleanup Program webinar on the Good Samaritan Remediation Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act are available to view online. The webinar covers the scope of the program, highlights key aspects of the law, discusses the program's permitting process and NEPA review, and explains the program's goals and implementation timelines.
Proceedings from the June 2025 Mine Water Solutions Conference, featuring papers on mine water characterization, treatment, and closure water management, are available for review.
ITRC's new guidance, Reuse of Solid Mining Waste identifies best management practices and potential solutions for addressing technical and regulatory barriers to the reuse of waste materials. Case studies illustrate a range of mining waste reuse scenarios.
Recorded presentations from the May 2025 Mine Design, Operations & Closure Conference featuring papers on remediating abandoned mine lands and mine water management are available to view online.

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Upcoming Internet Seminars
Upcoming Meetings
Archived Internet Seminars, Videos, and Courses
Additional Web-Based Training Archives

Upcoming Internet Seminars

ITRC: Reuse of Solid Mining Waste
March 12, 2026 | 1:00 - 3:00 PM EDT

Learn about considerations for reusing mining waste, potential applications for the reuse of solid mining waste, and mineral beneficiation and processing technologies.

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Upcoming Meetings

Nevada Water Resources Association 2026 Annual Conference
February 3-5, 2026 | Las Vegas, Nevada

Suggested topics for this conference include mine water management, impact and stewardship, and advancements in water science and tools.
2026 SME Annual Conference & Expo
February 22-25, 2026 | Salt Lake City, Utah

Proposed topics for the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, & Exploration conference include tailings management and managing mine wastes.
2026 Canadian Land Reclamation Association (CLRA) Alberta Conference and Remediation Discussion Workshop
March 3-5, 2026 | Edmonton, Alberta

The theme of this conference is "The Science and Art of Reclamation: Exploring the technical, ecological, cultural, and creative dimensions of land reclamation." CLRA and Alberta Innovates will host a Remediation Discussion Workshop ahead of the conference.
2026 SME Conference
April 14-16, 2026 | Duluth, Minnesota

The Society for Mining, Metallurgy, & Exploration conference will explore a wide range of topics including tailings management, managing mine wastes, and sustainable mine water mgmt. A short course titled, "Reclamation Today: Adding Value and Connection by Repurposing Mined Lands", is planned.
Water in Mining Global Summit
April 20-22, 2026 | Vancouver, Canada

Event will explore managing mine water with sustainability, community engagement, and technical excellence.
West Virginia Mine Drainage Task Force Symposium
May 5-6, 2026 | Morgantown, West Virginia

This symposium will cover new developments in mine drainage research, treatment and control practices.
Mine Design, Operations and Closure Conference
May 11-14, 2026 | Butte, Montana

Suggested topics for this conference include closure and reclamation.
6th International Congress on Planning for Mine Closure
June 2-4, 2026 | Santiago, Chile

This annual, international forum provides a conference where executives, professionals and academics can learn and analyze strategies and tools that allow for planning throughout the life of a mine, including closure and post-closure monitoring and maintenance.
American Society of Reclamation Sciences Annual Meeting
June 7-11, 2026 | Laramie, Wyoming

Event will include field tours, workshops, and technical sessions on reclamation, restoration, and reforestation of abandoned mine lands.
27^th World Mining Congress
June 24-26, 2026 | Lima, Peru

Suggested topics for this conference include post-mining areas, reclamation and revitalization.
International Mine Water Association Conference
July 5-10, 2026 | Gangwon Province, South Korea

Suggested topics for this conference include acid mine drainage, mine closure, passive and active mine water treatment, and legacy issues related to abandoned mines.
Mine Closure 2026
September 15-17, 2026 | Melbourne, Australia

Proposed topics for this international conference include contaminant remediation and impact management and ecosystem reconstruction.
British Columbia Technical and Research Committee Symposium
September 21-24, 2026 | St. John, British Columbia

This symposium will address a range of planning, implementation, and monitoring practices during reclamation.

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Archived Internet Seminars, Videos, and Courses

Visit these links for copies of the presentation materials.

Restoring the Community Fabric — Planning Redevelopment of the US Finishing/Cone Mills Superfund Site (May 2022)
Ehrenfeld AML Pilot Reclamation/Recreation & Watershed Improvement Project (December 2021)
Ecosystem Services — Benefits and Considerations for the Cleanup of Contaminated Mine Sites (September 2021)
Mining Webinar Series: Assessment and Rehabilitation of Humid Region Mine Sites and Wastes (May 2021)
Mining Webinar Series: Evaluation of Rotating Cylinder Treatment System™ at Elizabeth Mine, Vermont (March 2021)
Revegetation of Mine Wastes in Arid Environments: Linking Above- and Below-Ground Performance (August 2020)
Eagle Mine Superfund Site Case Study (January 21, 2020)
Substrate Longevity and Long-Term Performance of Biochemical Reactors for Passive Treatment of Mine-Impacted Water (November 25, 2019)
Mine and Mineral Processing Virtual Workshop: Session 1 Site Characterization; Session 2 Emergency Management; Session 3 Innovative Technologies and Strategies; Session 4 Big Data (October 2019)
Considerations for Bulkheading Drainage Mine Tunnels (October 2019)
Long-Term Performance of Biochemical Reactors for Passive Treatment of Mine-Impacted Water (April 23, 2019)
Successful Implementation of Biologically-Based Passive Remediation Systems (May 1, 2018)
Ecological Revitalization at the Henry's Knob Former Mining Site (March 6, 2018)
Matching Biochar Characteristics with Metals-Contaminated Soils to Effectively Reduce Metal Bioavailability at Mining Sites (November 7, 2017)
FRTR Presents...Heavy Metals-Mining Site Characterization and Treatment Session 3 (August 10, 2017)
FRTR Presents...Heavy Metals-Mining Site Characterization and Treatment Session 2 (July 26, 2017)
FRTR Presents...Heavy Metals-Mining Site Characterization and Treatment Session 1 (July 10, 2017)
Overview, Lessons Learned and Best Practices Derived from Independent Optimization Reviews of Superfund Mining Sites (May 24, 2017)
Re-imagining the Future of Mining Sites (December 7, 2016)
Passive Treatment of Mining-Influenced Water: From Bench Scale to O&M (November 14, 2016)
NEPA and Mining 101, Part 3: Regulatory Process & How the Public and Tribes can Engage (June 8, 2016)
NEPA and Mining 101, Part 2: Mining Environmental Concerns and Issues (May 24, 2016)
NEPA and Mining 101, Part 1: Mining Fundamentals (May 12, 2016)
CERCLA Section 108(b) Proposed Rule for Hard Rock Mining (April 29, 2016)
Identifying the Potential for Methylation of Mercury at Mining Sites (2 hours) (March 29, 2016)
Screening, Testing, and Application of Residuals and Byproducts for Remediation (December 2, 2015)
Remedial Action, Remedy Performance, and Long-Term Land Management at the Anaconda Smelter NPL site (June 4,2015)
Mine Tailings Fundamentals: Current Technology and Practice for Mine Tailings Facilities Operations and Closure, Part 1 and Part 2 (May 19, 2015)
Water Treatment: Iron Mountain Mine and Bunker Hill Mining and Metallurgical Complex Superfund Sites (December 17, 2014)
Mining Remediation and Sustainability (November 17, 2014)
Using Biosolids and Coal Combustion Products for Soil Remediation at Mining Sites (July 24, 2014)
Soil Amendment Applications and Mine Site Restoration Impacts on Soil Ecosystem Services (May 7, 2014)
NARPM Presents...Ecological Revitalization Using Natural Materials (May 14, 2013)
Mining-Influenced Water: Treatment Technologies (February 6, 2013)
Mining-Influenced Water: Environmental Issues, Remediation Research, and Tools for Estimating Remediation Cost (September 19, 2012)
Technology Transfer and Training Resources for Mining Sites (June 13, 2012)

Other CLU-IN Webinars

Considerations for Bulkheading Draining Mine Tunnels (October 25, 2019)
EPA Office of Science Policy's and Mineral Processing Virtual Workshop Session 4 - Big Data (October 23, 2019)
EPA Office of Science Policy's and Mineral Processing Virtual Workshop Session 3 - Innovative Technologies and Strategies (October 16, 2019)
EPA Office of Science Policy's Mine and Mineral Processing Virtual Workshop Session 2 - Emergency Management (October 9, 2019)
EPA Office of Science Policy's Mine and Mineral Processing Virtual Workshop Session 1 - Site Characterization (October 2, 2019)
Mining Site Metals: Exposure Pathways and Bio-Assays (September 3, 2013)
Mine Tailings: Enumeration and Remediation (January 11, 2012)
Phytostabilization of Mine Tailings in Arid and Semi-Arid Environments (July 25, 2007)

EPA's Region 10, ORD, and OSRTI hosted a three-part workshop series on hardrock mine geochemistry and hydrology in 2013. The goals included enhancing participants' understanding of the key issues regarding water chemistry predictions, identifying potential sources of contamination from mine sites, and describing practices to mitigate or reclaim facilities to protect natural resources. Presenters included experts from EPA Headquarters, Regions, and ORD; the U.S. Geological Survey; and the U.S. Forest Service. The workshops were open to all agencies, tribes, consultants, and the general public, and are now archived and available for streaming. Supplementary materials and resources provided by the instructors are also available for download below.