Reclaiming an Abandoned Uranium Mine

When you think of mining in Alaska, uranium may not be the first thing that comes to mind. But in the remote reaches of Alaska’s Prince of Wales Island, an abandoned uranium mine has laid untouched for decades. Once Alaska’s only producing uranium mine, the former Ross-Adams Mine closed operations in the 1970s. The abandoned mine, now an open pit with accessible portals and stockpiled radioactive ore, has become a source of safety hazards and environmental concerns in the Tongass National Forest.

With the abandoned mine situated on U.S. Forest Service land, the U.S. Forest Service mandated a comprehensive cleanup to address issues and protect the public and local wildlife. To accomplish this, the mine owner, Newmont, reached out to RESPEC to help start the reclamation process.

Reclaiming the site involves several critical steps, starting with creating suitable access to the mine. The initial plans for wide, gently sloped roads proved too costly, which led us to a more economical design. The revised roads are narrower at 18 feet with safety berms designed to accommodate specialized vehicles capable of handling steep grades.

To address the radioactive contamination directly, RESPEC has devised a plan to safely move radon-emitting rocks back into the mine’s portals, which are then sealed with clean material to prevent further radioactive leakage. This phase directly tackles the primary source of contamination.

Following the resealing of these areas, a three-year monitoring phase will begin to certify that the radon levels are effectively controlled. If this phase proves successful, the next step will involve dismantling the access roads and reintegrating the land with the surrounding forest, leaving little trace of the mine or the roads used during the cleanup.

How we handle the remnants of past industrial activities, particularly in sensitive environments like Alaska’s forests, underscores our commitment to environmental stewardship. RESPEC’s work with the U.S. Forest Service and Newmont is a prime example of how we can help our clients achieve ecological restoration even in challenging conditions to ensure safety and sustainability. As the project progresses, ongoing adjustments and close monitoring will be key to its success, reflecting a proactive approach to environmental management and engineering.