Carissa Gold Mine Restoration Project Wins NAAMLP Hardrock Award

We proudly announce that the Carissa Gold Mine reclamation project, a collaborative effort led by the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality Abandoned Mine Land (AML) Division with significant contributions from RESPEC, has been honored with the 2024 National Association of Abandoned Mine Land Programs (NAAMLP) Hardrock Award.

Mill and hoist houses

Our Mining & Energy team worked diligently to restore the historic Carissa Gold Mine near South Pass City, Wyoming, while mitigating significant safety hazards. This award recognizes the project’s commitment to preserving a vital part of Wyoming’s mining heritage, all while safeguarding the public and protecting the environment.

The Carissa Gold Mine, which operated during the 19th-century gold rush, became a centerpiece of state efforts to reclaim and restore AMLs. Acquired by the State of Wyoming in 2003, the site presented significant challenges, including hazardous materials, structural instability, and mine openings that posed safety risks. RESPEC was entrusted with this multiyear project and led the efforts to make the site safe for public use.

One of the most pressing challenges was remediating the Carissa Mill Building, where hazardous materials such as arsenic, lead, and mercury vapor were detected. To address these risks, our team implemented a rigorous cleanup plan that included the safe removal of contaminants and structural stabilization of the building. This was followed by encapsulating contaminated surfaces, ensuring long term safety for visitors and staff.

Additionally, RESPEC secured several high-risk mine shafts and openings, including the operating shaft and glory hole, using innovative techniques like polyurethane foam (PUF) plugs and rock wedge plugs to mitigate falling or entrapment hazards. These efforts have made the area safe and enjoyable for the public. Through this work, the Carissa Gold Mine has been preserved as a state park and transformed into valuable educational resource for sharing Wyoming’s rich mining history.

“I believe this project is exceptional,” says Brett Drake, who manages RESPEC’s reclamation projects. “Many of these projects get closed without much notice, but Carissa stands out as an active state park. Over the past decade, 34,000 people, including 8,200 schoolchildren from Wyoming, have visited the site. It helps you see the significant impact that AML funds can have. We’re preserving a piece of history and educating and protecting our communities.”

This project is a testament to RESPEC’s commitment to delivering exceptional engineering solutions that balance safety, preservation, and historical accuracy. We are honored to be a part of this project and thank all the partners, stakeholders, and contractors who contributed to this landmark achievement.