Forest Rose Mine Reclamation

Forest Rose Mine is an abandoned silver and lead mine. It contained tailings that were impounded in Dunkleburg Creek, waste rock piles, collapsed mining structures, and collapsed adits (passageways). Herrera worked with Montana DEQ and the USDA Forest Service to characterize the onsite waste. We developed a XX (SAP/QAPP) and health and safety plan (HASP) to investigate human health and environmental exposures to the contaminants of concern; reduce contaminant mobility; and mitigate impacts on Dunkleberg Creek and the environment. We also conducted a Site Investigation and developed an EE/CA. After a preferred alternative was selected and presented to the public, we developed a design for offsite removal of mining structures, removal of tailings and waste rock and placement in a repository on Forest Service land, capping the repository, revegetating the mine site and repository, backfilling and regrading open adits, and regrading and reconstructing a portion of Dunkleberg Creek as a step pool system for grade control and fish passage. Herrera provided engineering oversight during the contractor bidding process and construction oversight during the reclamation. We continue to monitor groundwater and vegetation at the repository and former mine sites.