Mining Reclamation/Remediation Overview

In the United States, heavy metals contamination from abandoned coal and hard rock mines has polluted 180,000 acres of reservoirs and lakes and 12,000 miles of streams and rivers. In the western United States, it is estimated that there are more than 300,000 abandoned mines. It has been estimated that cleaning up these polluted waterways and mines will cost US taxpayers between $32 and $72 billion.

Not only is contaminant collection and treatment very costly to the environment, it is a major cost for the mining industry. According to T.D. Pearse, Resource Consulting, Site stabilization costs can be as high as $166,000 per acre. At the Summitville, Colorado mine Superfund site, mitigation has cost the state of Colorado and the EPA in excess of $250,000 per acre.


MT2 Answers the Call for Mine Remediation

MT2 developed ECOBOND®, which is a proprietary treatment that effectively remediates mines. Once applied to the heavy metals contaminant rock area, the reaction of the ECOBOND® with the metals should be complete within 24 to 48 hours. The significance of this is that ECOBOND® treats the source of the problem. There are technologies that compete with ECOBOND® such as hydrated lime and potassium permanganate. However, these other technologies treat the symptoms and not the source of the heavy metals contamination problem.

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