Mining Engineering and Compliance

SynTerra is a trusted partner for the lifecycle of a mine — and beyond.

From environmental impact assessments (EIAs) to mine rehabilitation and land restoration to the integration of renewable energy, SynTerra is a trusted partner in the lifecycle — and afterlife — of a mine.

We help clients in the aggregates, coal, industrial minerals, ready-mix, and metals sectors. Our services include exploration, feasibility studies, planning/design, engineering, permitting, and reclamation. By helping clients achieve regulatory compliance and meet sustainability goals, we enable them to focus on revenue-generating operations.

SynTerra capabilities for mining engineering and compliance

Mining engineering

Environmental compliance and permitting

Surveying and mapping

Coal refuse/slurry and tailings impoundments

Mine reclamation and post-mine land use

Litigation support/forensics

Mine seals and underground construction

Mine exploration and geology

Opacity compliance

Due diligence

Drones/UAS

Bond release and insurance claims

Hydrology/hydrogeology

MSHA compliance

Project example: Cement and concrete producer/quarry operator

Client challenge

The client, a leading producer and provider of construction materials, wanted to expand a quarry in the Southeast to include more than 1,000 additional acres for potential mining. The expansion area was adjacent to a swamp that has virgin forests and rare and endangered species, so it was important to the client to minimize the project footprint. To proceed with its planned expansion, the client would have to obtain federal and state permits for disturbance and mitigation of wetlands and streams.

SynTerra solution

SynTerra performed Phase I Environmental Site Assessments of all tracts acquired for quarry expansion. In conformance with the most recently issued guidelines, the project team mapped jurisdictional wetlands and streams on more than 1,000 acres immediately adjacent to the swamp. Working with the client and an environmental organization that is a major holder of land along the swamp, SynTerra developed plans for impact mitigation, mining operations, mine reclamation, and sediment and erosion control.

Key deliverables from the SynTerra team included Jurisdictional Determinations of Waters of the U.S.; a mining permit application for quarry expansion; and a Section 404 permit application for disturbance and compensatory mitigation of streams and wetlands. Those efforts resulted in U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approval of the Jurisdictional Determinations, as well as quarry expansion and Section 404 approvals. SynTerra also provided services related to:

RCRA permitting
Wastewater design and permitting
Solid and hazardous waste assessments and remediation
Groundwater monitoring
Land exchange transactions

Beautiful landscape in a swamp with cypress trees with Spanish moss, aerial roots and alligators. Cypress Garden, Charleston, South Carolina, USA

Kathy Webb, P.G.

Senior Market Leader | Principal

Kathy Webb, who co-founded SynTerra (then known as The Fletcher Group) in 1992, has completed remedial investigations and regulatory compliance projects associated with Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) facilities, state and federal Superfund sites, solid waste landfills, brownfield redevelopment, utility coal combustion residual (CCR) management units, and regulated industrial facilities. She has supported litigation as an expert witness related to chlorinated solvents, metals, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

Kathy is known for her practical assessment strategy with the perspective of the client’s business objectives. She routinely evaluates groundwater corrective action systems for effectiveness and progress toward achieving compliance objectives. She has co-authored a trade journal paper with case studies of low-impact remedial strategies. Kathy is a licensed Professional Geologist in North Carolina and South Carolina.

Mark Taylor, P.G.

Principal

Mark has worked more than 40 years in natural-resource based industries. His expertise includes mine geology and mine engineering, hydrogeologic and geotechnical investigations, solid and hazardous waste management, and regulatory negotiations. He has published peer-reviewed papers about coal geology, ore geochemistry, mineralogy, and solid waste management. He is a leading expert in mining and environmental permitting for litigation support.

Mark is licensed as a Professional Geologist in South Carolina, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Washington. He serves on the boards of the Upstate Red Cross and Upstate Forever. He served on the South Carolina Board of Registration for Geologists for six years. Mark holds a Master’s degree in Geological Sciences from The University of Michigan and a Bachelor’s degree in Geological Science from Harvard University.

Andrea Kehn, P.E.

Vice President of Engineering | Principal

Andrea Kehn, leader of our Civil & Environmental Engineering Business Unit, has 28 years of experience in chemical manufacturing and environmental consulting. She leads and supervises staff professionals on multidisciplinary projects for a variety of industrial clients. Andrea’s vast experience and expertise includes: air quality construction and operating permitting; air quality modeling; air permit record-keeping and reporting; Oil Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) and Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP); NPDES permitting; water quality modeling; process safety management; risk management compliance and auditing; and RCRA compliance.

Andrea is registered as a Professional Engineer in South Carolina. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Michigan Technological University.

Ruth Albright, P.E.

Vice President | Principal

Ruth has led projects for major industrial facilities throughout the Southeast and beyond. She built her knowledge of environmental regulations and their application to manufacturing operations while working for the second largest chemical manufacturing company in the United States. At SynTerra, she has expanded both her knowledge and reputation working for chemical manufacturing operations of all sizes. She has also worked extensively with other manufacturing operations, including pulp and paper, industrial equipment, pharmaceuticals, food, and automotive parts and assembly. Her experience includes air and wastewater permit compliance, solid and hazardous waste management, solid waste construction permitting, hazardous materials transportation, wastewater treatment systems, air pollution control equipment operations and maintenance, and ambient air monitoring systems.

Ruth is a professional engineer registered in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Virginia, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Michigan, Arkansas, and Kentucky. She is an active member of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce Environmental Technical Committee and serves as the chair of the water subcommittee. She has previously served as the program and committee chair for the Greater Greenville Chamber of Commerce Environmental Affairs committee. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Clemson University.