Lisa Burgess Speaks on Collaborative Reclamation at RMMRC 2026

Lisa Burgess will present "Collaborative Reclamation: Implementing Negotiated Settlements in the Bonita Peak Mining District" at the Rocky Mountain Mining Reclamation Conference (RMMRC).

She will speak on Monday, August 31, 2026, at 11:35 a.m. MT. Geosyntec's Sarah Walker, PhD, PG, will also attend the conference, which takes place on August 30 through September 2 in Durango, Colorado.

Lisa and Sarah will be at Geosyntec's booth to connect with professionals about mine reclamation, closure planning, and environmental management solutions. Geosyntec is a Bronze Sponsor of this event.

Lisa is a Project Geologist based in Colorado who focuses on environmental consulting and geology to support projects involving mining, water quality, hydrogeology, regulatory compliance, and data management. Her field experience includes soil and water sampling, drilling and well installation, construction oversight, and air monitoring. In addition, she brings technical writing, document review, and project management skills, including support for monitoring reports, geohazard analyses, and regulatory reports.

RMMRC brings together professionals from the mining, environmental, regulatory, and academic communities to explore innovative approaches to mine reclamation and restoration. Centered on the theme "Rocky Mountain Resilience: Reclaim, Reprocess & Reimagine Mining," the conference fosters collaboration on water quality protection, mine lands remediation, and sustainable resource management through technical presentations, field tours, networking opportunities, and discussions on industry best practices.

Abstract: "Collaborative Reclamation: Implementing Negotiated Settlements in the Bonita Peak Mining District"

The Ben Franklin Mine site is located near the town of Silverton in Eureka Gulch, a tributary to the Upper Animas River drainage, and was included in the interim record of decision (ROD) for the Bonita Peak Mining District Superfund site. Geosyntec worked with the property owner to negotiate an Administrative Settlement and Order on Consent (ASAOC) with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). The objectives of the ASAOC were to facilitate water quality improvements and reduce potential risks to human health and the environment due to safety concerns at the site. Emphasis on a proactive relationship with regulators created a cooperative working environment, which facilitated rapid regulatory approval and implementation of the ASAOC, with assistance from the Colorado Division of Reclamation and Mine Safety. Reclamation efforts were performed at the site in 2019, and the USEPA accepted completion of work in 2025. An ASAOC for a second mine site included in the interim ROD, the London Mine, was approved by the USEPA, and work was implemented in 2021. This presentation will provide an overview of the project and highlight its key successes.

More Information on Mining Reclamation

Learn more about RMMRC 2026.
For more information about collaborative reclamation and negotiated settlements, contact Lisa at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Learn more about Lisa: Lisa Burgess