Remediation of Abandoned Mine Lands

Thursday, October 2, 2008 : 1:40 p.m.

Developing a State Park within Idaho's Bayhorse Mining District

Derek O. Forseth, PE, Dan McCracken and Sarah Weppner, TerraGraphics Environmental Engineering Inc.

The Bayhorse Mine property is a well-known “ghost town” near Challis, Idaho, that has substantial historic value. The site dates to one of the first mining discoveries in Idaho in the 1860s. The site and mines were periodically operated during the first part of the 20th century and had extensive exploration work accomplished as late as the 1980s. The “ghost town” is in relatively good condition and offers considerable interest in development as a tourist and historic site to augment Idaho Parks and Recreation’s (IDPR) Yankee Fork Visitors Center and similar sites at Bonanza and Custer, Idaho.

The mines in the surrounding mountains are striking in terms of the terrain that was accessed for mining operations, the unique mining technologies used, and the wild and scenic backcountry. IDPR purchased the property to preserve a portion of Idaho history, develop the local tourist industry’s recreational base, provide a cultural experience for Idaho’s residents and visitors, and provide an access point for back country exploration.

The site is contaminated by lead and arsenic in some areas. Initial human health risk assessments indicated substantial concern with contaminant levels and potential exposures in particular areas of the site. A risk management plan was developed that is protective of the public health and environment, yet accommodates the historic nature of the site.

This presentation focuses on the site clean-up and improvements conducted under an EPA Brownfields grant to develop the site into a State Park. The project includes a tailings pile closure, repository construction, slag grading, bridge and parking lot construction and a trail system interlinking the town site with the upper mines. In April 2008, the project was bid and construction will take place in the summer of 2008.   

Derek O. Forseth, PE, TerraGraphics Environmental Engineering Inc. Derek Forseth is the environmental infrastructure group manager for TerraGraphics. He is a professional Civil Engineer with 12 years experience in the planning, pre-design and design of complex civil projects and municipal infrastructure.

Dan McCracken, TerraGraphics Environmental Engineering Inc. Dan McCracken is an EIT who works out of the Kellogg Idaho office of TerraGraphics Environmental Engineering. Dan has worked on the CERCLA operations and maintenance program for the Bunker Hill site, is involved with mine reclamation activities, leads construction quality assurance for repository construction and supports the environmental infrastructure group at TerraGraphics.

Sarah Weppner, TerraGraphics Environmental Engineering Inc. Sarah Weppner is an Environmental Health Scientist for TerraGraphics. She specializes in human health risk assessment and exposure assessment and has experience producing Five Year Review documents for the Bunker Hill Site. She has been responsible for human exposure assessment as well as risk assessment, risk communication, and community involvement on a variety of projects.


Remediation of Abandoned Mine Lands