WESTECH Environmental Services, Inc. personnel have been involved in reclamation and restoration planning for over 30 years. Reclamation and restoration are an integral part of impact minimization and project permitting. WESTECH provides expert restoration planning and implementation with native species throughout the West.

SERVICES

WESTECH designs and conducts several forms of reclamation studies. Reclamation planning occurs in the pre-disturbance phase of any disturbance including: pipeline construction, mine planning, railroad construction, road construction, oil and gas drilling, and other forms of surface disturbance. WESTECH personnel examine the site to be disturbed, particularly in reference to its geology, soils, vegetation, and surface water and ground water characteristics. These features determine environmental constraints and For major new projects this examination may involve the performance of detailed baseline environmental studies. WESTECH can also analyze the results of studies performed by other parties. The reclamation plan is developed within the requirement of applicable state and federal laws and may include an analysis of overburden amounts and swell; topsoil availability and salvage suitability (physical and chemical properties of soils, particularly as a growth medium); slope, aspect and drainage patterns; alluvial valley floor analysis; and revegetation planning that combines pre-disturbance productivity, seed availability, plant sources and the designated post-disturbance land use. Reclamation plans may be designed to restore native grasslands, xeric or mesic shrublands, forests, pastures or croplands.

Reclamation of abandoned mines or other sites includes the location of such sites through ground or aerial reconnaissance, particularly the analysis of aerial photographs and on-site interviews with knowledgeable parties. After sites are located, plans are developed to mitigate any hazards associated with each site. Mitigation alternatives might range from a "no action" choice, to low-cost fencing to prevent access by livestock, to complete reclamation and revegetation. Through its subcontractors WESTECH can design the engineering specifications packages to remove hazardous structures, recontour disturbed sites, add topsoil and provide the proper revegetation mixtures.

WESTECH, through its subcontractors, is also able to implement reclamation/ revegetation procedures. Earth moving equipment, tractors, discs, seed drills, hydromulchers, and other equipment are available to recontour and revegetate disturbed land. Soils and water analysis laboratories are used to monitor plant growth conditions, and vegetation may be quantitatively measured to monitor reclamation success.

EXPERIENCE

WESTECH Environmental Services, Inc. has been retained as a reclamation planner for many proposed or operating coal mines and hard rock mines, a major pipeline, a rail spur and several small-scale projects. In addition, WESTECH has been the primary consultant for reclamation planning in three abandoned mine areas (two for state agencies and one for a federal agency) and has received a fourth contract to locate and analyze hazards associated with abandoned mines over a large geographical area. Furthermore, WESTECH vegetation ecologists have been involved in monitoring reclamation success at several revegetated sites.