Environmental Solutions
From a Practical PerspectiveÓ
PROFESSIONAL
PROFILE
Robert
T. (Rick) Richins
_____________________________________________________________________
Education
Graduate Studies Marine Biology, Environmental Law and
Public Administration, University of Washington and Boise State University
M.S., Environmental Science & Chemistry,
University of Nevada-Reno
B.S., Environmental Biology, Albertsons College of
Idaho
Summary
Over 28 years of experience in mining, NEPA, water
quality planning, land use, water resources and industrial waste
management. Background includes
design of environmental baseline studies, EIS management permitting, due
diligence evaluations, project feasibility studies, transportation and
infrastructure needs assessments, waste management, CERCLA, water resources planning,
land use and socioeconomic evaluations.
He has managed large-scale interdisciplinary studies involving mine
waste management, industrial facilities siting, compliance programs,
reclamation and closure plans, and related community involvement programs. Mr. Richins has represented a
consulting engineering company and the mining industry in cooperative federal,
state and international rulemaking efforts involving mine wastes, nonpoint
source management, and hazardous waste transportation in Idaho, Nevada and
Alaska. He developed Native
involvement programs, a land exchange program for a mining project, and a
mitigation agreement with environmental groups for the purpose of avoiding
litigation. Mr. Richins has also
completed extensive studies in mercury and pesticide contamination involving
water quality, fisheries and sediments.
Employment History
RTR Resource
Management, Inc.
Currently Principal
of RTR Resource Management, Inc., an environmental firm in Boise, Idaho. Projects include: Kensington Alaska Gold Project EIS,
permitting and feasibility study; Illinois Creek Alaska large project
permitting and reclamation plan;
Atlanta Gold Project, Idaho NPDES permitting and transportation plan;
Golden Phoenix Minerals Ashdown, Nevada Water Pollution Control Permit and
operations/reclamation planning; and Dewey Mine, Idaho cyanidation permit, EIS
and reclamation plan.
Earthworks
Technology, Inc.
President of Earthworks Technology, Inc., an
environmental management company specializing in project permitting,
feasibility interface, environmental impact analysis, care and maintenance,
industrial site cleanup, and reclamation and closure. Projects included:
Kensington Alaska Gold Project supplemental EIS; Sealaska/ Cape Fox land
exchange; Coeur Silver Valley NPDES permitting and Coeur dÕAlene Basin NRD
settlement; and outsourcing of all Coeur dÕAlene Mines Corporation
environmental services. Other
projects included Rochester mine waste management and landfill projects; GCI
Alaska spill contingency planning; Greens Creek Alaska mine project due
diligence; Regions 1 and 4 USFS Mining Assessment and Analyses projects; and
environmental due diligence studies for acquisitions and mergers of major
gold/silver and base metal producers
(confidential clients).
Coeur dÕAlene
Mines Corporation
Senior Vice President, Coeur d'Alene Mines
Corporation. Responsible for all
environmental and governmental programs for Coeur. Experience included feasibility studies and mine
planning, environmental permitting
and EISÕs, transportation and infrastructure studies, reclamation and closure
planning and implementation.
Projects were the Kensington Gold Project in Southeast Alaska involving
permitting and optimization studies; Coeur Nevada Rochester Project permitting
and reclamation/closure planning; Coeur dÕAlene Basin CERCLA settlement
agreement in Idaho; Fachinal and Petorca Gold Mines in Chile. Involvement also included the Golden
Cross Mine in New Zealand and the Thunder Mountain Project in central Idaho,
both of whom have completed mining and reclamation/closure.
Montgomery
Watson Harza Engineers
Mr. Richins supervised mining and waste management
studies including EIS waste characterization and treatment and environmental
audits. This included experience
in 208 Water Quality Management Plan for the Regional Intergovernmental Council
in Charleston, West Virginia (industrial waste management program), waste
management studies for coal mining facilities, and water quality programs for
chemical manufacturers. Major mining
projects included Stibnite Idaho Gold Mine, Smoky Canyon Phosphate Mine,
Beartrack Gold Mine environmental permitting assessment, Thunder Mountain Gold
Mine, Idaho, and OSM regional coal mine EIS. Responsible for marketing the firmÕs regional environmental engineering
capabilities in the Northwest Region.
Regional and
National Environmental Awards
Management resulted
in numerous state, regional and national environmental awards. These include:
á AIME Environmental Conservation Distinguished Service
Award
á Wildlife Habitat Enhancement Council Award
á National Environmental Development Association Honor
Roll
á Dupont/Conoco National Environmental Leadership Award
Associations
á
Northwest Mining
Association Board of Trustees
á
American Institute of
Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers, Inc./Society for Mining,
Metallurgy and Exploration, Inc.
á Northwest Mining Association/Idaho Mining
Association/Alaska Miners Association
á GovernorÕs Appointee, Idaho Higher Education Research
Council, Idaho Board of Education
á Council of Alaska Producers, Secretary
RTR Resource Management, Inc.
1109 Main Street; Suite 480
Boise, Idaho 83702
Phone: 208-343-8727
Fax: 208-343-5115
Cell: 208-867-2419
Email: rrichins@rtr-inc.com