Environmental regulation and public scrutiny present unique challenges to the mining industry.
SWCA’s expertise in environmental regulatory compliance and natural and cultural resource management has been a powerful tool in helping mining companies secure approval for their coal, hard rock, sand, and gravel mining efforts as well as reclamation and restoration operations. We understand the challenges of domestic and international market cycles, water resource supply and protection, and the public’s perception of the mining industry.
We offer one-stop shopping for environmental services, strong relationships with regulatory agencies, and in-depth knowledge of environmental laws and regulations. Having provided permitting support for some of the nation’s largest mining operations, we can help both project owners and the public understand the effects of mining operations on environmental resources.
Association Involvement
• American Exploration and Mining Association (AEMA)
• California Construction and Industrial Materials Association (CalCIMA)
• Montana Mining Association
• Nevada Mining Association
• New Mexico Mining Association
• Rocky Mountain Coal Mining Institute
• Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation (RMMLF)
• Wyoming Mining Association
Relevant Services
- Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act
- Clean Water Act (CWA)
- Clean Air Act (CAA)
- National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
- Endangered Species Act (ESA) / Section 7
- National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) /Section 106
- Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)
- Environmental Monitoring Plans
- Environmental Management Systems
- Mine Permitting
- Mine Plan Support
- Resource Inventories and NEPA Support for Land Exchange
- Fish and Wildlife Habitat Mitigation Planning and Implementation
- Water Quality Monitoring and Bioassessment Services
- Air Quality and Noise Services
- Geochemical Characterization and Mine Waste Management
- Control of Weeds and Other Exotic Species
- Closure and Reclamation Planning and Monitoring
- Stream and Riparian Habitat Restoration
- Stakeholder Engagement and Strategic Communications
- Cultural Resources
- Indigenous Relations and Ethnography
- Historic Documentation
- Geospatial Data
Meet The Experts
Relevant Case Studies
Mining
SWCA Helps Sevier Playa Potash Project Reach Major Milestone
Since 2011, SWCA has been providing Crystal Peak Minerals, Inc. with federal, state, and local agency coordination, resource studies, and plan of development support for their Sevier Playa Potash Project in Utah.
Endangered Species Act Compliance
Got Species? Endangered Species Act Tools & Tips
Once a species is protected by the Endangered Species Act, activities that negatively impact those species could require authorization from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. SWCA tracks threatened and endangered species issues closely and offers the following tips for staying ahead of the game.
Uranium Mining
Deposits and Withdrawals: Evaluating the Impacts of Curtailed Uranium Mining in Northern Arizona
A surge in uranium prices in the late 2000s led to a huge influx of new mining claims on public lands in the vicinity of Grand Canyon National Park. That influx led to concerns about the potential impacts. Learn how SWCA assisted the Bureau of Land Management in completing the required environmental impact statement (EIS) that would provide the basis for a decision about whether mining should be allowed.
National Historic Preservation Act
Getting Back to Nature: Copper and Cultural Resources at the Holden Mine
Tucked in a deep valley in Washington state’s Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest and bordering the Glacier Peak Wilderness sits tiny Holden Village, an inspiring place to renew and connect with nature. It is also the site of the old Holden Mine that left behind 8 million tons of tailings from copper extracting operations. Archaeologists, historians, and architectural historians from SWCA’s Seattle office worked to help avoid, minimize, and mitigate effects to the Holden Mine site during the remediation.
Water
Back to the Future: Turning Back the Clock on Clean Water Act Jurisdiction
In the late 1980s, life was simple: DeLoreans, parachute pants, Michael J. Fox in theaters. Life under the Clean Water Act was simple as well. Over the last three decades, a lot has changed.
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