Schwartzwalder Mine

The mine owner engaged True Environmental to help them achieve ongoing environmental compliance and ultimately regulatory closure of a remote former uranium mine located near Golden, CO.

True Environmental responded quickly with a multi-faceted approach including reclamation, mine dewatering, and both in-situ and ex-situ water treatment measures. Our custom-designed water treatment plant uses direct Reverse Osmosis (RO) under pressure, to minimize fouling and metals precipitation, increasing RO membrane efficiency. Combining mine dewatering, RO treatment, and in situ treatment within the mine pool allowed the owner to demonstrate hydraulic control of water within the mine workings in three months. In situ mine pool metals reduction goals were achieved within six months. The water treatment plant consistently meets the uranium MCL of 0.03 mg/L. True Environmental also completed reclamation work in a difficult, narrow canyon to minimize impacts to all stakeholders and protect the threatened Preble’s Meadow Jumping Mouse habitat.