RMC Colorado Environmental Mine Reclamation Remediation Cultural Resources Professional Consulting Services Consultants

Home Page Environmental Projects

Time Critical Removal Action - Doctor Mine Site

Project Description:

A time critical removal action (RA) was performed at the Doctor Mine Site. The RA was performed to consolidate mine waste material, contour waste material and clean fill, remove a waste-rock access road, construct drainage diversion ditches to control mine water discharge, and revegetate the consolidated waste rock, access road, and former mill site.

The Doctor Mine is located approximately 12 miles northwest of Empire, Colorado, along the West Fork of Clear Creek. The site is found on the Forest Service map of the Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests at T3S, R76W, Section 23, in the northwest ¼ of the northeast ¼ section at an elevation of 10,880 feet. The Doctor Mine is located in the Daily Mining District.

Project - Time Critical Removal Action - Doctor Mine Site

The geology of the site consists of Silver Plume granite. Ore from the upper adit contained lead-zinc and a small amount of chalcopyrite and pyrite. The mine site consists of two collapsed adits, one of which discharges mine water over the waste-rock pile and into the West Fork of Clear Creek. There is one waste-rock dump that contains approximately 1,000 cubic yards of waste rock. There was a mill on-site, but only the foundation remains today. There are about 250 cubic yards of mill tailings that were discharged near the mill foundation and have eroded into the upper end of a shallow wetland. Another 500 cubic yards of tailings were deposited along the bank of the West Fork of Clear Creek

In accordance with the USDA Forest Service Task Order and the Site Safety and Health Plan, all project objectives were achieved. RA work tasks commenced on August 15, 2006 and concluded on September 1, 2006. Project achievements included:

Preparing a complete draft and final Site Safety and Health Plan for USDA Forest Service review and approval prior to implementing removal actions.
Excavation and transportation of 250 cubic yards of mill tailings from the mill site to the waste rock dump.
Excavating and transporting 185 cubic yards of soil/rock from the former access road to the waste rock dump.
Excavation and transport of 500 cubic yards of tailings adjacent to Clear Creek to the waste rock dump.
Contouring and capping of waste pile with clean borrow material. Reseeded capped material to match existing surface conditions.
Constructed water diversion ditches to direct mine water discharge around the consolidated waste pile.
Removal of tailings from lower wetland and subsequent revegetation with native sedge grasses and willow clumps to restore native wetland conditions.
Reconstruction of the West Fork of Clear Creek to match existing stream conditions noted above and below the site. Reconstruction included placement of new pools and stream meanders as well as construction of an adjacent flood plain complete with rock base, topsoil, and willow clumps to match adjacent conditions.
Implemented Best Management Practices (BMP’s) to control erosion and reduce sedimentation throughout the project duration.
Preparing a complete draft and final report for approval by USDA Forest Service for review and approval.

Based upon achievement of project objectives, RMC recommended that no further action is necessary at the subject site.

Key Personnel: David Groy, Jennifer Hussey, Brian Sweet, Keith Schoeman, Claude Murray