Mine Debris Consolidation and Disposal Southwestern, Alaska

The Red Devil Mine produced mercury from 1921 to 1971 and was registered in 1987 under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). This mine has been the subject of numerous waste clean-up efforts, removal actions, and sampling investigations.

For this project, we established a primary control network using a static Global Positioning System (GPS) and differential leveling techniques. Site-specific secondary control was surveyed, as needed, using conventional (optical) methods.

We performed material computations to ensure that consolidated contaminant backfill would fit and not interfere with the Red Devil Creek water table. Borrowed materials were used to cap the monofill landfills, and quantity computations were performed as well.

Project plan drawings were updated through each phase of the job. Scheduling was dependant on the excavation contractor; three trips were required to complete the fieldwork. The final as-built survey of the site was conducted and tied into a U.S. Boundary Survey located directly across the Kuskokwim River.

We used conventional survey equipment for the majority of the survey tasks. For this project we performed the following:

• Primary project control and monumentation surveys;
• Preliminary topographic surveys and quantity calculations;
• Construction and grading layouts; and
• Final as-built surveys of the completed sites for Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) permitting purposes.

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