Key Staff for Mining & Environmental Services
Mark Levin - General ManagerMr. Levin is the founder and principal owner of the firm. Mr. Levin has over 25 years of education and experience in engineering, consulting, design and construction management. Projects include mining and tunneling, mine closure, mine subsidence, underground water control, mining-related environmental effects assessment; economic and regulatory feasibility evaluations; historical mining records research; public relations and mine and prospect permitting support. Mr. Levin has served as a technical consulting resource on projects involving mines and tunnels; regulatory issues; safety or subsidence hazards; and environmental, economic or mineral resources evaluations at over 400 mine sites, in the United States, Mexico, Canada, and Peru. Mr. Levin's firm, MES, has been the construction contractor or construction project manager for tunnel/mine/mill rehabilitation, closure, development, special project or cleanup work at over 150 sites in the western United States. Prior to founding MES in 1995, Mr. Levin served as the Geosciences Division Manager for EG&G, where he was the director of a technical organization for Geology, Soils, and Groundwater studies at Rocky Flats nuclear weapons component facility, near Golden, Colorado, underground characterization and cleanup under CERCLA. Concurrently, he also project-managed the "Sitewide" environmental program, which also included treatability studies, risk assessment; analytical sample management/ database; statistical and geostatistical analysis. Mr. Levin's overall budgetary authority was approximately $35 Million per year. Previous positions held by Mr. Levin at that facility include:Clean Water Act Regulatory Programs Manager, supervising engineering and legal staff for water permitting, compliance support and oversight, and as the corporate lead negotiator for a Federal Facilities Compliance Agreement. Senior Engineer, Rockwell International, leading wastewater treatment plant and environmental containment design teams. Advanced Safety Analysis Engineer, Rockwell International, responsible for nuclear facility risk analysis and NEPA coordination Mr. Levin has previously had staff, consulting, and management positions in underground coal and hardrock mining and exploration companies. Mr. Levin began his work career as an underground miner, mine mechanic/electrician, and mine foreman, before starting his university studies to become an engineer. Education:Bachelor of Science, Mineral Engineering Mathematics (High Honors), Colorado School of Mines Master of Science, Ecological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines Master of Engineering (Engineer of Mines), Colorado School of Mines Community and Public Involvement:
In the public policy arena, Levin has been involved in support of the mining industry in numerous rulemaking and policy advisory proceedings at the federal, state, and local level. This includes participating in the working groups and hearings for drafting Colorado mine site groundwater regulations (SB-181 implementation) and new mine reclamation regulations (SB-247 implementation) following the Summitville incident. 
Willis K. Beach, P.E. - Operations ManagerPrior to joining MES in 2007, Mr. Beach operated a successful drilling and blasting contracting firm, based in Oregon. Previously, Mr. Beach designed, developed, constructed and operated mines and mills from 100 TPD to 10,000 TPD capacity. Mr. Beach's Stoping method experience includes back slice open stopes, shrinkage, long hole open stopes, sublevel long hole caving, breasting square set, breasting cut and fill, back stope cut and fill, panel caving, block caving, room and pillar, sub level pillar, and under hand cut and fill; and truck-loader and dozer-loader open pit. Haulage systems experience includes track haulage, LHD, scraper, and truck/loader systems. Milling systems experience includes a variety of gravity methods, differential flotation, CIL, CIP, and heap leaching. Some past positions of note held by Mr. BeachResident Engineer, Newmont Mining/ Granduc Mine, Stewart B.C. Canada Driving of 13 mile single heading, 48 inch gauge rail, haulage tunnel, development of 7,500 TPD sub level caving system Chief Planning Engineer/ Division Foreman, Bunker Hill Co./ Bunker Hill Mine, Kellogg ID Design of 10,000 TPD block caving system, development of ramp system, development and operation of 800 TPD sublevel stoping, and cut and sand fill stope systems Mine Manager, Day Mines Inc./ Sherman Mine and Mill, Leadville CO Design and operation of 1,000 TPD underground trackless room and pillar system at 12,500 foot elevation Mine Superintendant/ Chief Engineer, Siskon Gold Corp./ San Juan Ridge Mine, Nevada City CA Design and operation of 1,200 TPD under ground placer operation, LHD and truck haulage, room and pillar system Community and public involvement experience:
Education & Registrations:MSc and BSc, Mining Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle WA Licensed Professional Engineer, Washington, Idaho, and British Columbia 
David N. Sornborger - Equipment ManagerPrior to joining the MES team as Equipment Manager in 2009, Dave Sornborger has had extensive experience in the servicing and debugging of complex industrial machinery. Working in both the mining and heavy equipment industries for over 30 years, Dave has worked on nearly all kinds and every aspect of underground mining equipment, surface equipment and heavy machinery. Some past positions of note held by Mr. Sornborger:
Education and Certifications:Certification, John Deere Equipment Certification, Electrician
Certification, Hoistman
Certification, Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic Certification, Pilot Training
Branden G. Burden - Project Engineer/Safety CoordinatorMr. Burden joined the MES team in early 2008. Prior to this time, Mr. Burden held a key position with Mount Royale Ventures, LLC in Gold Hill, CO. Mr. Burden is currently an active member of the Front Range Mine Rescue team, which meets and trains monthly. Some past positions of note held by Mr. Burden:
Key AchievementsIntimately involved in multiple achievements and awards for a fully compliant, underground gold mine and mill, including: 2005 Sentinels of Safety, First Runner Up - Small Underground Metal Mine Group, nationwide; 2005, 2006, 2007 Sentinels of Safety recognition - Small Mill Group; 2006 Colorado Department of Natural Resources - Hardrock Reclamation Award; 2006, 2007 Colorado Mining Association - Pollution Prevention Awards; 2007 Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining & Safety - Small Underground Safety Award. Community InvolvementMap Man, Colorado Front Range Mine Rescue Team, 2007-Present Volunteer Fire Fighter, Gold Hill Fire Department, 2005-2008 EducationBSc, Mining Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO Christopher Emanuel - Project EngineerPrior to joining MES in 2009, Mr. Emanuel held a key position with Mount Royale Ventures in Gold Hill, CO. Chris' knowledge and experience in precious metals mining and milling is a valuable asset to the company. Mr. Emanuel has gained additional project management experience while working with MES. Some past positions of note held by Mr. Emanuel:Mill Engineer, Mount Royale Ventures, LLC Managed the restoration and daily operation of the Gold Hill Mill, a 50 ton per day concentrator linked to the Cash Mine in Boulder Country, Colorado. Part of a three member management team that brought a mine property from the exploration phase to production status. Major projects, daily activities and achievements included:
Community InvolvementGas Monitor Specialist, Colorado Front Range Mine Rescue Team MSHA approved mine rescue team. Maintained an active mine rescue base station while competing and practicing with other mine rescue teams in mine emergency responsive development contests. Education & CertificationB.Sc. Mining Engineering, Colorado School of Mines MSHA 40 Hr, First Aid & CPR/Adult AED (current), HAZWOPPER (2003) |
