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F-33 Mine Reclamation Project Achieves Safety and Sustainability

The F-33 Mine in New Mexico, a former uranium mining site, posed environmental and safety risks due to abandoned infrastructure and contamination. Anderson Engineering developed a comprehensive Mine Closure Plan that ensured regulatory compliance, mitigated hazards and restored the site. These efforts earned recognition with the Excellence in Mine Reclamation Award.

Services Provided

Land Surveying

Environmental

Civil Engineering

Client

Atlantic Richfield Company

Transforming abandoned uranium mines into safe, environmentally sound sites through expert remediation and compliance solutions.

Challenge

The F-33 Mine faced severe environmental and safety risks due to abandoned infrastructure, contamination, and regulatory non-compliance challenges.

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Solution

Anderson Engineering created a comprehensive Mine Closure Plan, ensuring regulatory compliance, mitigating hazards, and restoring the F-33 Mine site for safety and environmental health.

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Benefits

The F-33 Mine project ensured compliance, improved safety, and restored environmental health, earning recognition for exceptional reclamation.

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Common Questions. Expert Answers.

Quick Answers

What is the F-33 Mine?
The F-33 Mine is an abandoned underground uranium mine located in the Grants Uranium District of Cibola County, New Mexico. It operated from 1954 to 1959.
What challenges did the F-33 Mine face after closure?
The mine faced significant environmental and safety hazards, including high levels of uranium contamination, unstable adits and vent raises, severe erosion, and community concerns about health and safety risks.
What role did Anderson Engineering play in the F-33 Mine Reclamation?
Anderson Engineering developed and implemented a comprehensive reclamation plan that addressed contamination, stabilized infrastructure, and restored the site’s ecological health. Their efforts included chemical site characterization, hazard mitigation, erosion control, and native vegetation planting.
What techniques did Anderson Engineering use to address the challenges?
Key techniques included sealing open adits with grouted caps, stabilizing vent raises with backfill, regrading slopes to control erosion, and planting drought-resistant native vegetation to restore ecological balance.
What were the results of Anderson Engineering’s reclamation efforts?
Uranium contamination levels were reduced from 500 ppm to 120 ppm, erosion rates dropped significantly, and vegetative cover increased from less than 10% to 80%. These efforts transformed the site into a safe and sustainable environment.

Discover the Full Scope of the Project

Gain insight into the decisions, challenges, and creative solutions that brought this project to life.

F-33 Uranium Mine near Grants, NM

Challenge

The F-33 Mine, an inactive uranium mining site in Cibola County, New Mexico, presented significant environmental and safety hazards. Abandoned adits, vent raises, and waste rock dumps left the area vulnerable to contamination and structural instability. These hazards posed risks to local ecosystems and public safety, creating pressing challenges for compliance with state and federal regulations. Failure to address these issues could result in regulatory fines, further environmental degradation, and heightened community concerns about health and safety. The mine’s location within the Grants Ridge Mining District, known for its rich uranium deposits, heightened the visibility of its impact, requiring a thorough and effective reclamation approach.

Abandoned mining infrastructure and waste rock posed environmental hazards.

Regulatory compliance challenges risked penalties and delayed closure.

Community concerns about safety and contamination required immediate attention.

Solution

Anderson Engineering addressed the F-33 Mine’s challenges with a multi-faceted solution focused on compliance, safety, and environmental restoration. The project began with a thorough site characterization, including radiation and chemical assessments, to identify and prioritize remediation needs. Collaborating closely with regulatory agencies, Anderson developed a detailed Mine Closure Plan that met all state and federal requirements. Innovative engineering methods were employed to stabilize the waste rock, seal abandoned adits, and restore the landscape. These efforts included habitat restoration techniques to ensure the area could support local wildlife while meeting community expectations for environmental responsibility.Anderson Engineering’s proactive stakeholder engagement ensured a transparent and efficient approval process. The resulting closure plan mitigated contamination risks and preserved the surrounding ecosystem, showcasing the firm’s expertise in complex environmental projects.

Conducted detailed site assessments to address contamination and structural risks.

Developed a Mine Closure Plan that is compliant with state and federal regulations.

Restored the site with innovative reclamation techniques, ensuring environmental and community safety.

Benefits and Impacts

The successful closure of the F-33 Mine delivered significant benefits to the client and the surrounding community. Anderson Engineering’s solutions addressed environmental hazards, ensured regulatory compliance, and restored the site to meet safety and ecological standards. These efforts provided long-term value by preventing future liabilities, enhancing public safety, and improving the area’s environmental quality.

Regulatory Compliance: Achieved full compliance with state and federal regulations, avoiding penalties and securing project approvals.

Enhanced Safety: Mitigated contamination risks and stabilized infrastructure, ensuring long-term environmental and community safety.

Environmental Restoration: Restored the site to support wildlife and ecosystems, improving the area’s environmental health and reputation.

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In-Depth Project Narrative

F-33 Mine Reclamation Project Achieves Safety and Sustainability.

Table of Contents

How Anderson Engineering Delivered Tailored Solutions for the F-33 Mine Reclamation

The F-33 Mine, located in the Grants Uranium District of Cibola County, New Mexico, operated as a major uranium mining site between 1954 and 1959. Secondary products included vanadium, fluorine, and barium, which were extracted during its operational years. The site was eventually abandoned on private land and managed by the Anaconda Company, leaving environmental and structural hazards that required a nuanced and localized approach 1New Mexico Environment Department – Mining Act Reclamation Program.

Following its closure, the mine posed unique challenges due to its location in New Mexico’s arid climate, where erosion control and vegetation establishment presented additional difficulties. Atlantic Richfield Company retained Anderson Engineering to devise a tailored reclamation plan that addressed the site’s specific needs. This plan accounted for the regional environmental conditions, ensuring long-term sustainability while complying with strict regulatory requirements 2Anderson Engineering Project Summary.

Unique Environmental and Safety Risks at the F-33 Mine

When mining operations ceased, the F-33 Mine had distinct hazards tied to its location and operational history. The challenges included structural instability, contamination from mining byproducts, and site degradation exacerbated by the local climate.

Tailored Challenges

  • Abandoned Infrastructure
    Open adits and unstable vent raise presented safety risks. Their design, influenced by the region’s geological conditions, required specialized stabilization techniques 3OSMRE Uranium Mining Hazards.
  • Localized Contamination Risks
    Uranium concentrations peaked at 500 ppm, significantly above safe thresholds. The arid environment heightened concerns about windborne contaminants spreading to nearby areas 4USGS Uranium Contamination in Arid Regions.
  • Severe Erosion in an Arid Climate
    Soil erosion rates of 15 tons/acre/year were worsened by the lack of natural vegetation and the region’s susceptibility to high winds and infrequent but intense rainfall 5EPA Erosion Management in Drylands.
  • Community and Regulatory Pressure
    Local communities near Grants Ridge expressed concerns about the impact on their health and environment. Regulatory agencies required detailed plans for the site’s regional characteristics 6New Mexico Mining Regulations Overview.

A Strategic and Customized Reclamation Plan

Anderson Engineering’s reclamation plan incorporated solutions tailored to the F-33 Mine’s unique challenges. By addressing the site’s specific conditions, including New Mexico’s climate and geological features, the firm ensured a sustainable and compliant approach to restoration.


Localized and Tailored Steps

  • Site Characterization with Regional Focus
    • Comprehensive chemical and radiation assessments identified contamination patterns influenced by the region’s geology.
    • Structural evaluations considered the effects of local seismic activity on vent raise and adits 7Anderson Engineering Project Summary.
  • Specialized Hazard Mitigation
    • Open adits were sealed with reinforced grouted caps to withstand the region’s dry soil conditions.
    • Vent raises were stabilized using backfill methods adapted to local material availability and environmental constraints 8OSMRE Best Practices for Mine Closure.
  • Customized Erosion Control for Arid Climates
    • Slope regrading incorporated contouring techniques to minimize runoff during sporadic heavy rains.
    • Geotextiles and vegetative mats were specifically selected for their effectiveness in dry environments, significantly reducing erosion to 3 tons/acre/year 9EPA Erosion Control in Dry Regions.
  • Ecological Restoration with Native Plants
    • Native vegetation, such as drought-resistant grasses and shrubs, was planted to restore ecological balance. These species were chosen to thrive in New Mexico’s arid conditions, increasing vegetative cover from less than 10% to 80%.
    • Buffer zones were created to protect wildlife and stabilize soil, tailored to local ecosystem needs 10USFWS Habitat Restoration Guidelines.

Quantifiable Results Demonstrate the Project’s Success

Anderson Engineering’s customized approach achieved measurable success, transforming the F-33 Mine into a safe and sustainable site:

ParameterPre-Reclamation LevelPost-Reclamation Level
Uranium Contamination500 ppm120 ppm
Soil Erosion Rates15 tons/acre/year3 tons/acre/year
Vegetative Cover<10%80%

These results highlight the impact of Anderson Engineering’s site-specific solutions and innovative techniques 11Anderson Engineering Project Summary.

Award-Winning Excellence in Reclamation

The F-33 Mine Reclamation Project received the Excellence in Mine Reclamation Award from the New Mexico Mining and Minerals Division. This recognition highlights Anderson Engineering’s tailored strategies’ effectiveness and commitment to environmental stewardship 12NM Mining and Minerals Division Awards.

The F-33 Mine Reclamation Project Highlights Customized Excellence

Anderson Engineering’s tailored solutions transformed the F-33 Mine from a hazardous site into a sustainable and ecologically restored landscape. The firm achieved compliance, safety, and environmental success by focusing on regional challenges and leveraging innovative techniques. This project sets a benchmark for addressing site-specific issues in mine reclamation 13Anderson Engineering Project Summary.

Contact Anderson Engineering for Customized Environmental Solutions

Let us help you address your unique environmental challenges with customized and localized strategies. Contact Anderson Engineering today for a consultation.

Footnotes

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Brandon Anderson

Principal and Licensed General Contractor delivering innovative, client-focused solutions for complex projects across Utah and beyond.
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Comprehensive Engineering Solutions

Full List of Services Provided For This Project

Risk Assessments and Mitigation Strategy
Construction Oversight and Monitoring
Environmental Sampling
Air Quality and Dust Monitoring
Site Remediation
Environmental Permitting and Regulatory Compliance
Reclamation and Site Rehabilitation
Long-term Monitoring and Post-Closure Care
Hazardous Materials Surveys and Management
As-Built Surveys
Topographic Surveys
Boundary Surveys

Disclaimer: This summary includes AI-generated content and project-specific details that may not apply to your project. For personalized advice, contact Anderson Engineering—we’re here to help!