MINING & ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
   Specializing in underground solutions

Uranium Mine Closure & Waste Pile Cleanup -Fair Day Mine, Boulder County, CO

MES provided final engineering and construction services for the closure of the tunnel into this inactive uranium mine, removal of radioactive waste rock from the proximity of the stream, installation of run-on and run-off controls, piping system for experimental passive treatment system, and revegetation.

MES utilized its own forces as well as subcontractors Ramstetter Excavating (earthwork), EME Solutions (civil and drainage engineering) and Walsh Environmental (revegetation specifications) to successfully execute the project ahead of schedule.

Mill Site Demolition - Lombard Mill, Clear Creek County, CO

MES completed the demolition of this historic but hazardous mill structure in 2004, with additional site work anticipated for 2006.

Mill Site Cleanup - Dibbins Mill Site, Clear Creek County, CO

MES conducted supplemental soil sampling and contaminant concentration mapping using an X-Ray Fluorescence instrument, and developed final construction plans for this lead and mercury contaminated site. Revegetation specifications and plans were provided by subcontractor Maureen O'Shea-Stone at Walsh Environmental and sampling, mapping and project management were provided by Susan Judy of Stone Catalyst Consulting.

MES also removed the surficial waste, hauled it to a repository constructed on site, and capped the site. Work was carefully performed to avoid damage to an historic assay furnace chimney on the property.

Mill Site Revegetation and Access Control - General Herkimer Mill Site, Clear Creek County, CO

MES provided completion of work, including revegetation and installed fencing and gates for this mill site which was partially cleaned up by another contractor several years earlier.

Mine Site Cleanup - Sydney Tunnel, Clear Creek County, CO

MES performed re-grading of mine waste, removal of failed tunnel closure, construction of an underground drain system in tunnel portal and installation of a new tunnel closure, design and construction of a waste repository with engineered liner and sub-grade interceptor trench system, construction of a lined surface drain channel, and revegetation. Revegetation specifications and plans were provided by subcontractor Maureen O'Shea-Stone at Walsh Environmental and sampling, mapping and project management were provided by Susan Judy of Stone Catalyst Consulting.

Mine Waste Repository - Gem Site, Clear Creek County, CO

MES, working with sub-consultant John Jankousky, P.E at EME Solutions, completed the design and construction of a mine waste repository and drainage system.

Mine Waste Cleanup Project – Little Six #2, Clear Creek County, CO

MES and subcontractor McCollum's Excavating Service, accomplished the consolidation of numerous mine waste piles from the Virginia Canyon drainage into the repository, under an EPA-funded contract issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Mine Waste Pile Removal - Virginia Canyon, Clear Creek County, CO

Mine waste removal, drainage reconstruction, reclamation of an abandoned mine site as part of an Orphan Site Demonstration project developed n conjunction with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the US EPA, and funded by ASARCO, Inc.

This work was performed under winter conditions at an elevation of about 8,500 feet. The dump was adjacent and into the streambed, which was frozen. We loaded the ARD-generating material onto trucks, and hauled it to a landfill 65 miles away, where it was amended with fly ash and buried. The site was then regraded and hydromulched. This was a high visibility project, and had lots of official and unofficial visitors.

Mine Site Water Treatment System - Wellington/Oro Mine, Summit County, CO

MES constructed water and electrical utility installations in support of an experimental lime injection system for the in-situ treatment of groundwater at this inactive high altitude mine site, located near Breckenridge, Colorado.

Mine Closures – Various Sites

Oliver Twist Project; closure of approximately 30 inactive mine portals and shafts. Elevations to12,000’ on flanks of Mosquito Pass.

With the exception of the American shaft, the mines in the closure project were closed using standard grouted rock bulkheads, concrete panels, backfill and corrugated metal pipe and grate door closures.

The project included the underground shaft collar stabilization and polyurethane foam grouting of American shaft at the London Mine near Alma, Colorado. The purpose was to effect both a safety closure and to retard groundwater ingress and provide shaft collar stabilization and closure. Working at over 11,000’ elevation under a historic headframe structure which could not be disturbed, MES’ crew hung from ropes to stabilized or removed rotten shaft cribbing, stripped ladders and landings, installed a bottom form and steel dowels into the shaft ribs, installed a 40 foot thick vertical shaft plug to seal off water ingress at the colluvium/bedrock contact.

Sunshine Project; closure of approximately 45 inactive mine portals and shafts.

Closures included backfills, bulkheads, installation of precast concrete panels, and installation of bar grating over shafts and adits. Elevations were at 8,500’.

One unique closure was for a large tunnel which had a roof fall impounding water just in by the portal. MES designed and constructed a closure utilizing both horizontally and vertically emplaced precast panels, with a door access. Three vertical panels were placed onto a horizontally laid panel, and doweled into the sculpted bedrock tunnel brow using grouted rebar dowels. The structure provided a lockable access with pump platform for the local fire department to store and draw approximately 360,000 gallons of emergency water from the mine.

MES used subcontractor McCollum's Excavating to perform a portion of the work scope.

Soda Creek Project; closure of approximately 60 inactive mine portals and shafts. Installed remote mountain area mine closures involving concrete panels, welded grates, & grouted rock bulkheads. Elevations were at approximately 8,500’.

Storke Yard Demolition - Reclamation, Lake County, CO

This work entailed demolition blasting of large reinforced concrete foundations formerly used for mining structures. It was completed in close proximity to State Highway 91, and a building which could not be damaged, and also was partially under a high voltage transmission line. MES was hired for 2 weeks on a T&M basis to do one foundation. Completed initial work and was assigned several months of additional work at substantial cost savings over lowest fixed bid.