Mining Projects
Hydrological Studies: Uranium Mines
Southwestern Colorado and Utah Western Water & Land designed and implemented hydrological studies including baseline groundwater monitoring programs in accordance with Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety (DRMS) requirements for several uranium mine properties in southwestern Colorado. The programs consisted of the development of a hydrologic conceptual models, the collection of five quarters of groundwater samples, and interpretation of the chemistry results. Read more... |
Groundwater Discharge Permit
Uranium Mine, Utah In support of the re-development of a uranium mine in southeastern Utah, Western Water & Land prepared a Groundwater Discharge Permit that was submitted to the Utah Division of Water Quality, Department of Environmental Quality. The permit was needed to meet DEQ requirements for withdrawal and treatment groundwater during mine dewatering. Read more... |
Uranium Mine Land Assessment: La Sal Creek Watershed Project
San Juan County, Utah, & Montrose County, Colorado WWL technically directed, and implemented the La Sal Creek Watershed project which was conducted on behalf of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to address human health and ecological risks associated with former operations at five abandoned uranium mine sites in eastern Utah and western Colorado. Read more... |
Probable Hydrologic Consequences: Refuse Disposal Study
Open Pit Coal Mine, Northern Arizona Western Water & Land, Inc. was tasked with an in-depth study of hydrologic impact associated with the disposal of wash-plant refuse materials at a large open pit coal mine facility. The work was part of a mine permit renewal effort and included and initial task of delineating the optimum disposal area at the mine site followed by a detailed assessment of potential hydrologic impact. Read more... |
Hydrologic Impact: Aggregate Mine
La Plata County, Colorado Western Water & Land performed a hydrologic impact assessment for an aggregate mining company in western Colorado. The assessment was required to support an application for an amendment to an existing mine permit. The study focused on the potential impacts to private well owners as a result of dewatering operations at the mine. Read more... |
Tracer Study and Acid Rock Drainage Treatment
Kayenta, Arizona Two projects are being implemented to assess and treat mine groundwater drainage. Western Water & Land personnel designed and implemented a groundwater tracer test to evaluate source water contributions from two pond impoundments to a nearby spring. An analytical flow and transport model was used to design the tracer tests. Read more... |
Water Rights Acquisition & Plans for Augmentation: Sand & Gravel Mines
Mesa, Montrose, La Plata, Garfield, Moffat, Eagle, Pitkin Counties, Colorado Western Water & Land provides the technical services required to obtain and manage water rights in connection with sand and gravel mining operations throughout Water Divisions 4, 5, 6, 7. These projects are commonly initiated by working with our clients and their legal counsels to develop the optimum strategies for management of water associated with mine operations. Read more... |
Mine Land Screening Assessment Workshop: U.S. Forest Service
Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, & Gunnison National Forests WWL conducted a one-day workshop for U.S. Forest Service personnel responsible for acquisition, management, and maintenance activities on Forest Service Lands impacted by former mining and milling operations. The workshop was requested by the Forest Service in response to its ongoing acquisition of numerous patented mining claims throughout the GMUG National Forests. Read more... |
General Mine Land Assessments: Abandoned/Inactive Mine Lands
Ouray, San Miguel, San Juan, & Gunnison Counties, Colorado WWL has performed more than 25 abandoned/inactive mine assessments throughout western Colorado and eastern Utah. The studies are designed to assess the liabilities associated with the sites by evaluating whether the sites pose any potential threats to human health and the environment, and if so what actions are warranted to mitigate or otherwise reduce the threats. Read more... |
Mine Water Discharge Management: Inactive Oil Shale Mine
Garfield County, Colorado WWL is conducting closure activities for a former oil shale mine in western Colorado. Mine water chemistry and discharge monitoring and management is a major component of our closure responsibilities. Groundwater discharges from the mine as “retort water” and as “mine water”. Retort water refers to groundwater that has come in contact with the underground retorts (large chambers used for retort testing), and “mine water” refers to groundwater discharging from portions of the mine workings in which retorting had not been performed. Read more... |
Mine Discharge - Passive Treatment: Abandoned/Inactive Mine
San Juan County, Colorado Western Water & Land prepared an Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis (EE/CA) for the Elk Tunnel abandoned mine site located in the Cement Creek drainage near Silverton, Colorado. The EE/CA, developed in accordance with EPA’s Guidance on Conducting Non-Time Critical Removal Action Under CERCLA, focused on the treatment of acid mine drainage from a collapsed adit at an elevation of approximately 10,000 feet above mean sea level. Read more... |
Water Chemistry Monitoring:
Oil Shale Research, Development, and Demonstration Project Rio Blanco County, Colorado Western Water & Land provides ongoing water chemistry services to one of the leading oil shale research organizations conducting RD&D operations in the Piceance Creek Basin in northwestern Colorado. Our firm was selected for the project based on our hydrologic expertise, our reputation with the state (Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety) and federal (U.S. Bureau of Land Management) agencies overseeing operations, and our extensive knowledge of geologic and hydrologic conditions within the basin. Read more... |
Radiological Characterization
Moab, Utah A subsurface soil investigation was conducted in support of the baseline radiological soil characterization at the Moab Mill Site located near Moab, Utah. The purpose of the characterization was to provide the data needed to assess radiological levels as well as the lateral and vertical extent of contaminated soil in areas where subsurface contamination was expected on the basis of site history and operational practices. Read more... |
Uranium Mill Tailings Repository Conceptual Design
Southeastern Utah This project involved a uranium mill tailings repository conceptual design, focusing on hydrogeologic characterization and groundwater flow and projected contaminant transport modeling at the repository site as well as geochemical characterization of leachate from the existing mill tailings piles to be moved to the repository. Site hydrogeologic characterization was completed through compilation and interpretation of site hydrological data, including detailed geologic and hydrologic evaluation of data associated with over 80 soil borings, drill holes, and well completion logs within a one square mile area. Read more... |
Numerical Groundwater Modeling
Tuba City, Arizona Western Water & Land developed and constructed a numerical groundwater model for over 65 square miles of terrain near Tuba City, Arizona. The work was conducted for MACTEC-ERS, the prime contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy Grand Junction Projects Office. The project involved the development of a local-scale model (Phase II) from a previously completed site-scale model (Phase I). Read more... |