Closure and Reclamation Services
The Best Water Treatment Plan Is Not Needing One.
Closure planning ends long-term liability.
Successful closure achieves chemical stability with designs that prevent contamination from forming in the first place. When you achieve physical and chemical stability, you walk away with confidence.
Our Closure Philosophy
Physical Stability
Structures withstand erosion over geological timescales.
Chemical Stability
Source controls prevent acid generation and metal leaching, eliminating perpetual treatment.
Oxidation zone diagram (Source: Ritchie 1994)
Key Services
Mine Water Management
- Diversion vs. treatment decisions made easy
- Clean water is routed around closed facilities
- Long-term management needs evaluated
Long-Term Treatment Options
- Minimal maintenance required for biological and abiotic systems
- Designs last decades, not years
Pit Lake and Waste Facility Design
- Designs are engineered for natural attenuation
- Geochemical conditions favor contaminant sequestration
Cover Systems
- Oxygen and water barriers minimize infiltration
- Acid generation is cut off at the source
Cemented Paste Tailings and Backfill
- Cementation stabilizes reactive materials
- Underground paste backfill immobilizes metal and provides geotechnical support
Isotope Monitoring
- Stable isotopes (δ³⁴S, δ⁸²Se) trace microbial processes
- Data confirm remediation mechanisms and natural attenuation rates
Ecological Monitoring
- Reclamation reaches the desired state through continual assessment
Support for Failing and Abandoned Mines
You don't need to start at the beginning. We support:
- Failing treatment systems that need rehabilitation
- Abandoned sites that need remediation guidance
- Aging infrastructure that need optimization
Why Closure Matters From Day One
- Reduce long-term liability through source control emphasis
- Build community confidence with sustainable postclosure plans
- Eliminate perpetual treatment through chemical stability
- Meet financial assurance requirements with demonstrable closure paths