Mine Engineer / Project Manager
Resume:
Edwin C. Lips, P.E.
Litchfield Park, AZ 85340
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SUMMARY:
Having more than 30 years of experience in operations management, mine planning, and safety, I am a versatile mining engineer whose experience includes work in precious metals, base metals, industrial minerals, and aggregates; an effective manager, skilled in the management and oversight of mine development, ongoing operations, and final reclamation. I also have experience in management of all phases of the mining operation and am particularly skilled in mine planning, equipment selection, and economic evaluation.
EXPERIENCE:
Tetra Tech Golden, CO
Principal Mining Engineer/Sr. Project Manager 2010 – Present
Mining Engineering Technical Lead, Project Manager
Principal Mine Engineer and Project Manager responsible for the oversight and management of multiple Feasibility, Pre-Feasibility and PEA studies for both Open Pit and Underground Projects. Projects included precious metal, base metal, and industrial mineral operations located worldwide. Studies involved developing mine plans for open pit and underground, fleet productivity analysis, trade-off studies, site/infrastructure planning, process design and environmental studies.
Managed and contributed to a variety of projects including due diligence reviews of multiple projects and properties worldwide. Projects included greenfield (desktop) reviews, operating (on-site) reviews and brownfield reviews.
Brown and Caldwell Phoenix, AZ
Project Manager/Principal Mining Engineer 2005 - 2009
Managed a variety of projects including State and Federal agency approved mine reclamation and closure plans, resource evaluation and mine planning studies, design projects, permitting, and due diligence/transactional audits.
Experience in multiple materials including Base Metals, Industrial Minerals, and Aggregates. Projects included managing multiple resource evaluation, mine planning and reclamation planning projects; managing multiple due diligence, permit reviews, environmental assessment (EA) and Phase 1 projects; multiple Asset Retirement Obligation projects that included complete mine plans, reclamation plans and cost estimation. Responsibilities included client relations, engineering design, budgeting, cost control, and document preparation.
Kentucky Solite Corporation Brooks, KY
Asst. Plant Manager - Quarry, Raw Processing, E. H. & S. 1999 - 2005
200K Ton per year Expanded Shale Lightweight Aggregate Operation
Re-Opened and operated an expanded shale plant that was shutdown for 3 yrs. Hired and trained an entire new workforce. Plan, budget, and coordinate the daily, and long-term, raw material supply, and finished material inventory, along with all plant environmental, health, and safety needs.
Designed and successfully implemented a long term mine and reclamation plan (20+ yrs) that has dealt with the changing demands of the company and of the contractors.
Designed and successfully implemented a quality control laboratory program that included a sampling plan, lab procedures, reporting program, and training of lab personnel.
Successfully designed and implemented, a MSHA Part 46 safety-training plan (trained and oriented all employees) based on BBS concepts (resulting in multiple year periods with no LTA).
Quarry and Raw Processing Departments consistently under budget by >10% annually.
US Silica Company Mill Creek, OK and Berkeley Springs, WV
Operations Superintendent, Regional Mine Planner 1997 - 1999
1.0MM Ton per year Silica Sand Mining and Processing Operation
Planned, budgeted, and coordinated the day-to-day and long-term activities of all production and maintenance personnel engaged in the mining and processing of whole grain silica sand.
Organized and implemented training in operator job combination and quality (resulted in a 50% decrease in ISO9002 findings and customer initiated complaints), maintenance (resulted in a 10% improvement in mechanical availability), and safety (plant accidents decreased to 33% of prev. rate).
Successfully implemented an ore blending program designed to utilize all remaining reserves and avoid quality induced production shortfalls while a new mining area was being developed.
Identified shortfall in reserves - which cut remaining life of mine in half (2 yr shortfall), diagnosed and reported probable causes.
Designed a long term mine and reclamation plan (18 yrs), and equipment requirements.
Managed the exploration and developmental core drilling program.
Rhone-Poulenc Soda Springs, ID
Senior Mining Engineer, Mining Engineer 1990 - 1997
18.0MM Tons per year Phosphate Mine (Open Pit, Truck and Loader Operation)
Responsible for: Project Design/Management; short, mid, long-term Mine Planning; Production Scheduling; Budgeting; Cost Estimation; Capital Expenditures; Ore Reserve Estimation, and Government Agency Interaction.
Developed a long term mine and reclamation plan (25 yrs.) and assisted in a later Whittle 4D modification to the mine plan which increased ore reserves by 40%. Facilitated the government approval process resulting in minimal waiting and plan changes.
Performed an equipment selection (mining fleet optimization) study and assisted in the creation of a zero based budget which resulted in a 50% decrease in operating costs, and a 500% increase in production.
Communicated daily with mine operations to expedite development of the ore body, and the location of access roads. Responsible for supervision and performance of all surveying activities and exploration drilling.
Produced a monthly production/model comparison, along with the following annual reports: annual mining plan, annual exploration plan, and annual actual ore tons to model tons reconciliation.
Unocal - Molycorp Inc. Mountain Pass, CA
Mine Engineer, Mine Foreman 1985 - 1989
3.0MM Tons per year Lanthanide Mining and Processing Operation (Open Pit Truck and Loader)
Performed: short and long-term Mine Planning, Ore Reserve Estimation, Production Scheduling, Mine Capital Expenditures, and Drill / Blasting Design. [Developed a 20 Yr. mining plan, with equipment requirements. Performed a geostatistical study of the orebody (proved out by reconciliation with actual blasthole assay results). Organized and implemented a drilling and blasting cost reduction study, resulting in reduced drilling costs by 50% per ft. drilled, and reduced total drilling and blasting costs by over 33%. Supervised and coordinated the activities of production personnel engaged in mining and crushing operations.]
Koppen Mining Services Winston, MT
Mine Engineer 1982 - 1983
Underground Gold and Silver/Lead mines (2 operations). Designed and implemented mining method, maintained mine/mill production records, and smelter royalty reports. Designed ore reserve estimate. Handled all MSHA and State environmental functions.
EDUCATION:
Montana College of Mineral Science & Technology Butte, Montana
Graduate Studies in Mining Engineering. 1983 - 1984
Thesis Topic: Dry Stacking Methods of Tailings Disposal.
Montana College of Mineral Science & Technology Butte, Montana
Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering 1982
Union College Cranford, New Jersey
Associate in Arts: Engineering option 1980
ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:
Arizona Professional Engineer (Mining), Certificate #47670, Expiration Date: 03/31/2017
Alaska Professional Engineer (Mining), Certificate #14445, Expiration Date: 12/31/2015
Nevada Professional Engineer (Mining), Certificate #022863, Expiration Date: 12/31/2015
Software proficiency include:
oMine Design programs - SURPAC (Gemcom), QUARRY (Gemcom), SurvCad,
oOptimization programs - Whittle 4D,
oCAD programs - AutoCAD, DesignCad,
oMS Office - Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint
MSHA qualified instructor (Unlimited) for Surface and Underground Safety training Parts 48 and 46.
Certified Surface Mine Supervisor - State of Oklahoma (1997 – 1999).
Licensed Blaster in San Bernardino County, California (1987 - 1989).
Licensed Emergency Medical Technician in Nevada (1987 - 1990), and Idaho (1990 - 1996).
American Heart Association CPR instructor (1988 - 1989).
References and additional information will be provided upon request.
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