When the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers needed to restore the site of an abandoned copper mine in eastern Vermont, it called on Northwoods Excavating to handle the remediation. The job entailed capping the mine and laying a bed of vegetation atop the former environmentally unsafe area to restore the land to its original beauty.
The job has spanned 10 summers and is scheduled for completion Nov. 16, 2012.
To navigate the soft, fragile ground around the site, a standard dump truck wasn’t the best solution because it would leave behind deep ruts. After years of using other dump trucks without satisfaction, Northwoods Superintendent Tim Ulman met with Denny George, a sales representative for Anderson Equipment, East Montpelier, Vt.
For the 2012 season, Ulman and George chose Hydrema 922C and 922HM trucks to work on the job site. This fleet of trucks has low unladen weight that can drive on soft surfaces without causing damage.
“Hydrema trucks have high-floatation tires, are lightweight and easy to move around,” said George. “All these features are extremely important when working on soft soil and atop the liners covering up the tailings piles.”
In 2003, the reclamation began for the abandoned Elizabeth Mine site in the village of Strafford, Vt. Crews primarily worked from April through October annually on the project’s environmental remediation. Work subsided during the winter months.
In capping the mine, remediation was needed, not just for the abandoned shaft, but also to remove the “tailings:” the debris left behind from extracting the copper ore from the surrounding rock.
Landfill caps minimize water getting into the often-contaminated tailings piles. The liners provide a suitable base to grow the vegetation required to cover a former mine site. This land can be very fragile and soft due to past use.
A fully loaded truck usually requires a hard surface to avoid tire track ruts, but Ulman said that both the Hydrema 922C and 922HM models have 6-wheel drive and low ground pressure. They are designed to work on soft surfaces, making them effective for mine remediation projects.
“The Hydrema 922C and 922HM models will work well both early and late in the season without generating any worry in regards to ground damage,” Ulman said.
In addition to low unladen weight, the 922 has a performance/weight ratio that meant Northwoods didn’t have to sacrifice power for the lower weight, Ulman said.
“The 922C’s cab sits high on the truck body and has an inclined narrow hood for optimal visibility,” said George.
Hydrema also offers optional back-up cameras to help operators see what is happening in traditional blind spots to help eliminate accidents.
Hydrema designed its 922 models with a wide tipping angle. This wide angle, combined with the ground clearance of the body, can provide cycle times faster than traditional dumps. The machines are made of high-tensile Hardox steel, providing the strength needed for various work conditions. Its low ground pressure of 11.3 psi (77.9 kPa) and low weight of 31,500 lb. (14,288 kg) allow it to operate in different types of soil conditions, as well as snow. The truck is equipped with a bed that holds up to 15.7 cu. yds. (12 cu m) of material, and is powered by a 6.7-L Cummins QSB, 24 valve, Tier III engine, which is rated at 264 hp (196.8 kW).
Northwoods plans to complete the project Nov. 2012.
“We’re just about finished with all of the work on this project, thanks to the Hydrema 922 trucks,” Ulman said. “We will definitely use Hydrema trucks on future projects.”
Northwoods Excavating was founded by Gary Ulman in 1985 in Thetford Center, Vt. In addition to mine reclamation, the company conducts excavation services, roadwork, pond excavating, land clearing, tree stump removal, land and pond reclamation and small commercial work. For more information, call 802/785-3162.
Hydrema is an international group of companies, which design, manufacture and market earthmoving equipment. Founded in 1959, with production facilities in Weirmar, Germany, Hydrema consists of a broad network of sales and service facilities, with subsidiaries in all major western European countries. In 2005, Hydrema established its North American headquarters in Atlanta, Ga., and has since grown its dealer network throughout the United States and Canada. For more information, call 404/614-1747, or visit www.hydrema.us.
For more information on Anderson Equipment and the Hydrema products in stock, call 802/223-9089, or visit www.andersonequip.com.
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