Barr was hired to complete Phase I environmental site assessments of properties a confidential client is considering for construction of a mining and processing facility. The properties totaled more than 20,000 acres, were under the control of approximately 50 different owners, and were largely inactive or used for timber management. Some of the parcels, however, had long histories of iron ore and taconite mining and processing.
The assessment included a regulatory review; an inspection of previously developed portions of the property; a review of historical aerial photographs and maps; reviews of previous investigations; interviews with site managers, city staff, and state agency staff; review of topographic maps; and a review of well and boring records and a geologic report. These tasks enabled Barr to evaluate the properties in detail to identify target locations for onsite field reconnaissance work and efficiently review the property area for potential environmental conditions based on an understanding of the changes in land use that occurred over time on the properties. Our report detailed its findings and the environmental conditions of the properties, helping the client tailor its property acquisition plans to avoid areas of potential environmental concern and determine how to manage former mining areas.