The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, has awarded Nobis Engineering, Inc. a 5-year contract to perform environmental remediation services at the Elizabeth Mine Superfund Site in Strafford, Vermont.
The Elizabeth Mine Superfund Site is an abandoned copper mine and is recognized as one of the largest and most intact historic mining sites in New England. The mine was operated from the early 1800s until its closure in 1958 with more than 3,000,000 tons of ore mined.
The mine area is a source of heavy metals and sediment impacts to the Copperas Brook and Lord Brook watersheds, which all discharge to the West Branch Ompompanoosuc River and eventually flow into the Connecticut River.
Under this $25 million contract, Nobis will manage and perform the consolidation and capping of mining waste in the Lord Brook Source Area to minimize the discharge of contaminants to Lord Brook.
Prior to consolidation and capping activities, the South Mine and South Open Cut pit lakes will be dewatered and steep exposed bedrock slopes will be stabilized and blasted.
Disturbed areas will be restored with a natural soil cover and a variety of seed mixtures to encourage the return of native species, said Nobis.
Additional tasks will include operation of the active water treatment system located at the toe of the on-site tailing impoundment, installation of a passive treatment system to replace the active water treatment system, and adit closure activities.
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