MINING & ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
   Specializing in underground solutions

Tunnel Rehabilitation Technical Study - Big 5 Tunnel, Boulder County, CO

As an add-on to the Captain Jack RI/FS, MES was been retained to assess the Big 5 Tunnel, which is draining significant amounts of acidic metals-laden water into a tributary of Lefthand Creek.

The key decision was whether to perform a limited rehabilitation and bulkhead the tunnel at about 500 feet in, or to rehabilitate the tunnel to 800 feet, then clear out a cave-in and perform additional reconnaissance beyond that point.

MES was the project lead. Work product included a geotechnical evaluation and ground control plan for tunnel (by Deere and Ault), designs for surface water impoundments (by Gustavson & Associates and Walsh Environmental) and a construction work plan and cost estimates.

Mining Cost Review - Gold Road Mine, Oatman, AZ

MES conducted a cost review of mining costs in order to estimate present cutoff grade. Later phases include a restart plan and capital cost estimate for several production scenarios, and discounted cash flow rate of return analysis for various restart and production rate scenarios

Underground Mine Hydrologic Reconnaissance - Dew Drop Mine, Ward, CO

MES was issued a task order to develop a mine entry safety plan and lead a mixed team of government employees and consultants to perform an underground mine reconnaissance at the Dew Drop Mine.

Mine Permit Application - Technical Support - Cash Mine, Boulder County, CO

MES was retained to provide technical assistance to manage and support of a mine permit amendment application.

Mine Site Evaluation - Highland Tunnel, Pitkin County, Colorado

MES was retained to perform a subsidence hazard investigation and supplemental environmental evaluation, including water and waste sampling, in connection with a property transaction. MES subcontracted personnel from the local Walsh Environmental field office to conduct water and waste sampling and Stone Catalyst to perform underground tunnel geologic reconnaissance and site documentation.

Mine Site Technical Support - Mine Operational History and PRP Search Reports

This project originally had a 5-year technical services Blanket Purchase Agreement that now has been extended an additional year through 2006. As a regulatory-required precursor step to environmental cleanup actions, MES has performed numerous historical records research / Potentially Responsible Party reports for BLM and the Solicitor General's Office.

This work includes chain of title review; accession and analysis of mine operational history records, including engineering reports, maps, mine inspector's reports, production records; tracing of corporate ownership, transfer and dissolutions.

Since 2002, MES has relied on mining geologist Susan Judy of Stone Catalyst Consulting as a key resource in the research and preparation of these reports.

Hoisting System Feasibility Study & Designs- Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station

MES was contracted in 2005 as an add-on to its support for rock removal for a new elevator system study, to perform the feasibility for underground tunnel rock removal and tunnel re-support for improved underground material hoisting systems for the facility.

The improved hoisting systems were for the blast valves and for hoisting replacement utility systems to the command center building roof. Critical issues included addressing rockfall and rock stability, environmental, health and safety, operational, access, security, power, ventilation, haulage, and construction feasibility concerns.

Preliminary drawings and a cost estimate were provided for the utility hoisting system rock removal. Detailed bid-ready construction drawings, specifications, and work plans were prepared for the blast valve hoisting system rock removal.

MES mining engineer Matt Collins performed underground surveying and 3-dimensional modeling of the rock cuts. Deere and Ault engineer Dr. Christoph Goss, P.E. provided a peer review of MES's specifications for rock removal, shotcreting, and rock bolting.

Mine Site Engineering Evaluation and Cost Analysis - Golden Age Mine, Boulder County, Colorado

MES was the Technical Lead for the preparation of the EE/CA for this inactive mine tunnel site, located on Forest lands. Issues include an adit draining acidic metal-contaminated water into Castle Gulch, and a large mine waste pile. MES was responsible for the identification and scoping of the remedial alternatives, and the preparation of detailed cost estimates.

New Adit Feasibility Study - Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station

MES was contracted to perform the feasibility for a new tunnel to provide alternate access route and space for a decontamination chamber for this underground defense facility.

Work involved addressing geotechnical, environmental, health and safety, operational, ventilation, power, debris removal, access, security, blasting and other construction feasibility concerns as well as providing preliminary drawings and a cost estimate.

The study scope included construction of a new tunnel, including blasting of rock for a tunnel entering between the two main blast doors, at a distance of not more than 10 feet and within 20 feet of critical utilities and security infrastructure at the other end.

MES researched ACOE and USBM technical literature from the original facility construction to determine the frequency response to blasting. Sub-consultant Gordon Revey, P.E. used modern regression methods on the historic seismography data to derive a more accurate site seismic constant and developed preliminary shot designs.

MES in-house staff worked with sub-consultants Don Deere, P.E. and Dr. Christoph Goss, P.E. on tunnel geotechnical issues and on the production of the preliminary drawings.

Remedial Action Construction Dispute - Technical Assistance

MES was retained by a governmental entity's construction project manager and its Attorney General's office to provide advice in the matter of a dispute over remediation costs and contractor performance. Site involved a former mineral processing facility with numerous responsible parties and well over $10 million in response costs. Dispute involved adequacy of contractor's services in the context of unexpectedly large amounts of radioactive waste which were excavated and packaged.

Underground Oil Shale Mine Evaluation - Anvil Points Mine, Garfield County, CO

MES wrote an underground entry safety plan, conducted an underground mine evaluation and searched for hazardous materials left in this former government research facility. Work also involved mapping and documenting hazardous materials, and provided sampling and removal services. MES escorted government and consultant teams through the mine workings.

Mine Acquisition Due Diligence - Large Copper Mine, Western US

MES was engaged by a larger firm to provide advice and environmental and reclamation permit issues identification in the context of a large corporate acquisition of a copper mine property.

Tunnel Inspection - Strickler Water Tunnel - Teller County, CO

MES performed a reconnaissance inspection of the Strickler water tunnel and wrote a technical memorandum documenting the condition of the tunnel, together with repair alternatives as a technical demonstration to CSU.

Design Engineering and Construction Management – Burlington Mine VCUP, Boulder, County, CO

MES was retained as a sub-consultant to Walsh Environmental to provide mine closure design and construction management services for the Burlington Mine Voluntary Clean-Up (VCUP) project, on behalf of Honeywell, Inc. This project won the 2005 Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology Mine Reclamation Award.

This project involved the closure of a number of deep shafts and subsidence features, interception and diversion of alluvial groundwater, and consolidation and capping of mine waste.

MES's work included review of mine maps and historic records and analysis of potential subsidence and water flow paths, assistance with selection of closure options, coordination of the design team (preparation of design drawings and specifications), bid package preparation, assistance with review of contractor's proposals, as well as construction management of the contractor in the field.

Ongoing supplemental work includes other sites in the vicinity with a possible history of activity by entities in the Honeywell corporate ancestry. Issues include water drainage, mine waste, and mine physical hazards.

Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study (RI/FS) - Captain Jack Mine Site

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment announced the selection of the winning team for the $550K Captain Jack Mine RI/FS, which included MES as a key subcontractor under Walsh Environmental. MES' work scope includes underground mapping and sampling, limited rehabilitation for technical studies, and assistance with evaluation of alternatives for controlling adit drainage, waste rock management and other remedial actions.

Mine & Mill EE/CA Technical Reviews

MES was contracted to perform technical peer review of draft Engineering Evaluation / Cost Analysis (EE/CA) documents prepared for the US Bureau of Land Management in relation to evaluating the alternatives for cleanup of various individual inactive mine and mill sites on federal land.

Mine Engineering Evaluation / Cost Analysis - Ute Ule Mine, Hinsdale County, CO

MES performed underground mine water and tailings sampling, limited mine rehabilitation, underground surveying and hydrologic evaluation, identification of several remedial options, and other services in support of the Engineering Evaluation / Cost Analysis (EE/CA) for the Ute-Ule mine near Lake

Mining Claim Validity Determination / Expert Witness work

In support of mineral contest litigation MES performed an extensive review of Government's and Claimant's geologic and economic data, conducted a site examination, and provided expert testimony related to the non-feasibility of mining an unpatented narrow-vein gold prospect with measured resource grades averaging less than 0.3 OPT and located in a remote wilderness area.

Abandoned Mine Site Inventory - Construction Project Management and Technical Services, Various Sites, CO

MES provided engineering services for mine reclamation, project development and construction management which consisted of research, field location of approximately 325 mine openings, GPS surveys, development of project GIS database and maps, identified land status of inactive mine features, categorization of the openings, and selection/design of appropriate closure technique, preparation of specifications, bid documents, and construction management of contractors to State for mine reclamation contracts. .

The five components of the project included:

1. Inventory and closure of very remote high altitude mines along the a 26-mile segment of the Henson Creek drainage from Lake City, Colorado to the summit of Engineer Pass for the Bureau of Land Management as the funding agency to DMG. Some of this work was supported by pack mule hauling of supplies into remote and Wilderness areas.

2. Inventory and closure of very remote and high elevation mines in the Buckskin Gulch drainage west of Alma, Colorado. This work utilized helicopters for transport.

3. Inventory of remote and high elevation sites in the vicinity of Creede, Colorado for USFS as funding agency to DMG.

4. Design and construction management of a waste landfill closure, where uranium tailings and municipal garbage had been placed into an inactive surface coal mine site. This portion of the work scope was performed by sub-consultant John Jankousky, P.E., then at Parsons (now at EME Solutions).

5. Peer review of standard State of Colorado construction specifications for mine closures.

Mine Site Technical Support - Roy Pray Tunnel, Hinsdale County, CO

In collaboration with co-consultant Dr. John Abel, P.E., MES performed: underground mine water characterization (mapping, sampling, flow measurements); underground mine bulkhead and grouting planning; investigation of underground conditions.

Radioactive Waste Bulkhead Design Technical Review – WIPP Site

MES was retained to perform a technical peer review of the Department of Energy's proposed modifications to the seals for the closure of the transuranic waste panels at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) site, near Carlsbad, New Mexico.

Sub-consultants Dr. John F. Abel evaluated the proposed enhancements, concentrating on bulkhead and masonry wall stability, and Dr. D.R. Morgan evaluated changes in the proposed concrete mix and grouting formulations.

Tunnel Inspections - Yak Drainage Tunnel, Lake County, CO

MES was contracted to perform annual tunnel inspections, together with maintenance recommendations, for a 3-year period. In addition to these professional services, MES was also contracted to perform the necessary repairs.

Mine Subsidence Evaluation – Aspen, CO

MES performed a subsidence hazard evaluation for new development on former mining property at the base of Aspen Mountain.

Mine Property Evaluation – Nil Desperandum Mine, Boulder County, CO

Nil Desperandum Mine – As sub-consultant to Enpro, MES provided evaluation services and report for an expanded Phase 1 assessment related to the donation of this property to the University of Colorado.

Subsidence Evaluation – Boulder County, CO

MES performed a subsidence hazard evaluation for new development in the Sunshine District.

Underground Evaluation

MES performed an assessment of the underground conditions and potential sludge release liabilities associated with an inactive mine site, together with an engineering report and cost estimate for alternatives to reduce risk of catastrophic release.

Environmental and Economic Assessment - Colorado

MES twice has conducted detailed environmental liability and economic feasibility analyses of ongoing gold advanced prospects or production operations and in each case provided reports advising the investors.

Permitting Review and Public Relations – Colorado

MES performed permitting review, community relations and construction management for an underground gold mine rehabilitation and bulk sampling project after a previous operator had turned the local community against the project.

Economic Evaluation - Colorado

MES performed an economic evaluation of an underground rare-minerals property in Colorado.