BioteQ Environmental Technologies Inc. is pleased to report that BioteQ has been selected by Summit County Open Space and Trails Department ("Summit County") and the Town of Breckenridge (the "Town") in Colorado to provide its technology to treat water from the Wellington Oro Mine, which is located near Breckenridge. The selection of the BioteQ proposal was approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") as the preferred technology for the site. Project commencement is subject to final contract documentation and court approvals for land acquisition by Summit County and the Town.
The Wellington Oro Mine, which is located 2 miles east of Breckenridge, operated as a zinc-silver mine and has been closed since the 1970's. Surface drainage from the mining area produces an acidic wastewater that requires treatment before discharge to the French Gulch tributary of the Blue River. The proposed BioteQ plant will be designed to recover zinc, lead and cadmium into a zinc-rich concentrate product for shipment off site for final refining. The BioteQ process offers significant benefits for this site as it does not produce any waste metal-laden sludge for long term storage at the site and produces high quality water for discharge directly to the environment.
BioteQ will be responsible for the design, construction and commissioning of the treatment plant and ongoing process maintenance on a fee basis. Lyntek, a Denver based engineering and construction company, is BioteQ's partner on the project and will provide detailed engineering and construction management services for the proposed plant as well as ongoing operational support. It is anticipated that the plant will be commissioned in 2006.
The parties have commenced discussions for a final contract to build the water treatment plant, which is subject to completion of the land purchase of the Wellington Oro Mine site and surrounding 1,800 acres by Summit County and the Town. The land purchase has been agreed between the land owners, Summit County and the Town and is awaiting final court approval.
Source: BioteQ Environmental Technologies Inc.
