Transcon’s experience with active mining operations includes ensuring NEPA compliance during exploration, expansion, and improvement activities. We have worked on the related infrastructure such as transmission lines, water line alignments, cultural resource studies, wildlife studies, and public outreach, before finally performing reclamation when the project was done. On the historic side, Transcon has been actively working with the Utah Division of Oil, Gas, and Mining’s (UDOGM) Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program (AMRP) for over a decade. We survey abandoned mines for cultural resources important to the history of mining in the region as well as animals such as bats and wood rats that are using the abandoned mine as a home. We then make recommendations for preserving these important historic or wildlife components while also allowing the mine to be closed to potentially dangerous public exploration.

Transcon was hired by the UDOGM AMRP to provide cultural resource evaluations for abandoned mine openings and associated structures and other debris within the Hiawatha Mining Complex. Ranchers, hunters, recreationalists, and other members of the public were accessing the mine workings and historic features at Hiawatha, which posed a hazard to public safety. For this reason, UDOGM initiated a program of closing mine features that were considered hazardous. Prior to closure, Transcon evaluated the mine openings and associated features for their historic significance and eligibility for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), as well as assessments of potential impacts from reclamation activities.

Drake Cement proposed to conduct quarrying activities on 54 acres of Prescott Forest Service lands, including a conveyer system, quarry operation facility, and access road. A transmission line and gas pipeline on U.S. Forest Service land was also proposed for connection to the private property. Drake Cement retained Transcon to conduct environmental compliance activities for the proposed project. We conducted biological and cultural surveys as part of an Environmental Assessment in addition to public scoping.

Transcon conducted a Class III (intensive pedestrian) requested by the UDOGM AMRP to evaluate 103 abandoned mine openings. The mine openings require evaluation of their historic significance and eligibility for inclusion on the NRHP as well as assessments of potential impacts from reclamation activities. Our biologists also conducted bat presence/absence and habitat assessment surveys in order to give recommendations for closures to assist AMRP staff in determining appropriate closure methods for each mine.

Transcon performed bat presence / absence surveys for Spectrum Engineering, observing bats and/or bat sign in over 60 percent of the mines that were surveyed. Cultural surveys were conducted at 19 locations to evaluate 46 abandoned mine openings slated for closure by the UDOGM AMRP. Of the 17 recorded sites, 5 are recommended as Eligible for NRHP listing under Criterion A for their relationship to significant events in American history, namely uranium mining during the Post World War II and Cold War eras.

Recommendations for best mine closure methods

Bat presence/absence surveys

Mine inventories

Archaeology surveys

NEPA documentation

Biology survey and monitoring

Public scoping

Groundwater studies

Air quality

Third-party roles

Roads analysis

Mitigation activities

Agency coordination

Fire remediation

Permitting

Aquatic resources delineation

GIS

Raptor surveys

Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans

Plans of Development

Visual resources

AnA Enterprise

Anderson Basalt

Brimhall Sand and Rock Company

Bromide Mining, LLC

BRS, Inc.

Civil Science, Inc.

Custom Rock and Excavation, LLC

Drake Cement

Enviroscientists, Inc.

Fisher Industries

FNF Construction

Gold Springs, LLC

Hatch Construction

Himes Consulting

Interstate Brick

Lilac Solutions

Mercator Minerals, Ltd.

Mineral Park, Inc.

Orizon IPE, LLC

Salt River Materials Group

Spectrum Engineering

Star Point Enterprises, Inc.

Stirling Bridge Cement Company

Sunshine Concrete and Materials

URS Corporation

U.S. Forest Service

Western Area Power Administration

Western Resources Development

Yuma County Department of Public Works