Statement of Qualifications FULL COLOR

July 27, 2018

Statement of Qualifications for

Design of MSHA Pond P-W08-01
The Coteau Properties Company
– Freedom Mine

Beulah, North Dakota

4733 Amber Valley Pky Mike Berg, PE
Fargo, ND 58104 Principal in Charge
[email protected]

Scott Schneider, PE, CFM
Project Manager

[email protected]

18.368.0106



July 27, 2018 Water | Transportation | Municipal | Facilities

Mr. Michael Berg, Mining Engineer 701.373.7980
The Coteau Properties Company 4733 Amber Valley Parkway South
204 County Road 15
Beulah, ND 58523-9475 Fargo, ND 58104

Subject: Statement of Qualifications for Design of MSHA Pond P-W08-01

Dear Mr. Berg:

Thank you for the opportunity to submit our qualifications for providing engineering services related to the design and permitting of the MSHA
pond for the Freedom Mine in Beulah. On behalf of Apex Engineering Group, I will act as Principal in Charge for contractual matters.

Scott M. Schneider, PE, CFM will be the Project Manager.
Scott has proven experience of managing a successful MSHA pond provided hydrology and hydraulic analysis and drainage design on several
projects for municipalities in the region, as well as the State of North Dakota. He is a well-respected engineer within the water community and
has been focused primarily on surface water management for the past 18 years.

Stephen M. Hoetzer, PE will be the Sr. Engineer and will support Scott.
Steve is no stranger to the development process and regulations governing runoff and sediment control ponds as he has provided planning,
design and construction oversight on twelve MSHA ponds. His in-depth knowledge of the rules, regulations, processes and procedures that
govern the design and permitting of MSHA ponds will ensure that the project is properly and efficiently designed on time and within budget.
Steve has more than 40 years of experience.

The enclosed qualifications demonstrate our ability to lead this effort. Our team, including Terracon as our geotechnical subconsultant, has
a thorough knowledge of the permitting and design standard requirements of the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), Natural
Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), ND Public Service Commission (NDPCS) and the ND State Water Commission (NDSWC). We have
developed relationships with these regulatory agencies through previous project efforts.

Apex was founded on the principle of providing exceptional technical service to clients who recognize the value of experience, communication,
innovation and attention to detail. The vast knowledge of the team combined with our approach makes Apex the right choice for this project.
Thank you for your time and consideration in reviewing our qualifications and we look forward to working with you on this important project.

Sincerely,

Mike Berg, PE Scott M. Schneider, PE, CFM
Principal in Charge Project Manager

Table of Contents Introduction

1  Introduction Apex Engineering Group – we are a company comprised of
2  Key Issues dedicated and skilled engineers and technicians who’ve
worked together for many years. We have completed various
 Personnel Qualifications and Experience surface water management projects throughout the state. Projects
7  Related Experience ranging from urban stormwater management to the successful
14  Project Approach design and permitting of Mine Safety and Health Administration
17  Availability (MSHA) runoff and sediment control ponds.

 Estimation of Hours Our staff has experience seeing projects from inception through
19  Rate Schedule completion, allowing us complete understanding as each phase ties
into the next. Our construction experience ensures that your
result will be a project that is constructible with clear, usable
plans and specifications.

As you evaluate our technical capabilities, project experience,
personnel qualifications and project process, we believe that you
will find the Apex team brings much more than able bodies. We
are your team members, working with you to ensure that
your project needs are met and viable economic solutions
are found. Your success in obtaining MSHA, NDSWC, NRCS and
PSC approval and getting the ponds designed is what makes your
project successful for us.

- Page 1 -

Key Issues

Work with Regulatory Agencies

Part of the equation to timely completion of a project is knowing who to talk to and when. We do just that.
Apex staff have built relationships and work efficiently with individuals at the Public Service Commission, State Water
Commission, Natural Resources Conservation Service and Mine Safety and Health Administration.

MSHA Experience

We are very familiar with the processes involved in design and permitting of MSHA runoff and sediment
control ponds and have successfully completed this process numerous times. The recent MSHA pond for Falkirk
was successfully designed and permitted with no comments from the agencies. Falkirk could construct the pond on
time to meet their mining schedule. Our group has stayed up-to-date on regulations and design standards of MSHA,
PSC, SWC and NRCS. We are keenly aware that regulatory standards must be followed exactly, permit submittals must
clearly show the design meets ALL standards and each element of design has been met. Standards such as determining
if any underground mining operations are adjacent to the proposed pond or ensuring that instrumentation, inspection
and abandonment plans are included in the report package to MSHA.

Personnel Qualifications and Experience

The reputation of our staff is built on providing high-quality deliverables and outstanding client service. Our team

has more than 30 (seems wrong) collective years of experience providing hydrologic and hydraulic

design, embankment and spillway design, and successfully permitting MSHA runoff and sediment control
ponds. Individual team member qualifications are highlighted in pages 3-6.

Project Team

Our people have built solid relationships by successfully completing projects together with many long-term clients.
We show our clients what to expect and deliver on that expectation. It takes hands-on experience to thoroughly
understand water. We have that. You can rely on our team and trust our judgment and engineering.

- Page 2 -

Mike Berg, PE Scott Schneider, PE, CFM

Principal in Charge Project Manager
[email protected] [email protected]

Mike will serve as Principal in Charge and oversee your As project manager, Scott will pro-actively manage
your project and interact with you to coordinate
project. Mike is a Principal and Senior Engineer schedules and report progress. Scott will be the first
point of contact, responsible for keeping the project
at Apex with over 21 years of experience. He on schedule, day to day oversight and involved in
overall planning and design efforts. Scott has 18
has served as the project manager for sanitary years of experience managing multiple civil
engineering projects with his primary focus
sewer system planning projects in Bismarck, being surface water management. He provides water resource solutions for
stormwater infrastructure, hydraulic/hydrologic analysis and design, and modeling
Minot, Dickinson, and Jamestown and managed among others, and he has designed and constructed numerous projects that started
in the study/planning stage. Scott recently managed the successful design and
the design and construction of many large lift permitting project for the Falkirk MSHA Pond. His in-depth knowledge of surface
water management will provide valuable knowledge to the hydrologic and hydraulic
stations, gravity sewers and forcemains. Mike is involved in the hydraulic design of analysis of the MSHA pond. His project management and communication skills,
attention to detail, and ability to lead teams through multiple projects are evident in
all large wastewater lift stations. He spent the early part of his career working for recent efforts such as the Tavis Road Stormwater Pump Station projects for Burleigh
County.
manufacturers in the water/wastewater industry as a design and field engineer and
Scott’s recent project experience includes:
project manager gaining extensive experience testing and trouble-shooting existing Falkirk MSHA Pond P-R06-01, Falkirk Mining Company, ND
Queen City Dam Hydrology Study, NDSWC
pump stations and planning, designing and commissioning new pump stations. North Washington Street Regional Stormwater Embankments, Bismarck, ND
South Washington Street Flood Control Gate Rehabilitation, Bismarck, ND
Mike’s recent project experience includes: Tavis Road Stormwater Control Structure and Pump Station, Burleigh County
Tavis Road Flood Control Project, Burleigh County, ND 2012 Missouri River Flood Response and Action Plan, Bismarck, ND
South Washington Street Gate Rehabilitation, Bismarck, ND 2011 Missouri River Flood Planning Assistance, Bismarck, ND
Lift Station 1 Evaluation, Dickinson, ND 2011 Flood Contingency Planning, Fargo, ND
South Gravity Sewer, Dickinson, ND Flood Planning, Mandan, ND
Sanitary Sewer System Evaluation Study, Dickinson, ND Lake Shore Estates Drainage Analysis, Mercer County WRD
West Suburb Area Plan, Dickinson, ND Coyote Creek Channel Diversion, Mercer County WRD
Water Reclamation Facility Reuse Booster Station, Dickinson, ND Brander Drain Improvements, Bottineau County WRD
West Gravity Sewer Phases I & II, Dickinson, ND
West Dickinson Area Plan, Dickinson, ND
Lift Station 12 Upgrade and Forcemain, Dickinson, ND
Lift Station 14 and Forcemain Improvements, Dickinson, ND
Lift Station 5 Improvements, Dickinson, ND
West Pump Station and Forcemain, Dickinson, ND
Influent Pump Station, Dickinson, ND
Water Reclamation Facility, Dickinson, ND
3rd Street Sanitary Sewer Improvements, Minot, ND
North Minot Lift Station Improvements, Minot, ND
Master and Control Lift Stations, Minot, ND
Collection System Planning, Minot, ND
Sanitary Sewer Evaluation Study, Minot, ND

- Page 3 -

Chelsea Nible, PE Jennifer Malloy, PE, CFM, LSIT

Project Engineer Planning and Design Engineer
[email protected] [email protected]

Chelsea will be the main design engineer for the Jennifer will assist Chelsea with the design efforts.
MSHA pond. She will lead the hydrology and Jennifer leads the Water Resources group in
hydraulics modeling effort and she is very proficient the Bismarck office. Jennifer has 11 years of
in HEC-HMS modeling. Her recent experience engineering experience with a primary focus
with the runoff and sedimentation calculations on and water resources and transportation.
for the Falkirk MSHA pond will be beneficial She is also a registered land surveyor in training and
for this MSHA pond project as it will follow the a certified flood plain manager. Design experience
same permitting design requirements. Chelsea includes storm sewer design, urban infrastructure
specializes in hydraulics and hydrology. Since graduating with a Master’s Degree, design, rural and urban highway plans (conceptual, preliminary, right of way, and
she has been working as a project engineer focusing on hydrologic and hydraulic final design), small site plan development to residential subdivisions (conceptual to
modeling for large urban stormwater projects, culvert evaluations for NDDOT construction). Hydraulic/hydrologic modeling and design. These projects included
and County projects and water resource district water management projects. She alignment, culvert evaluation, grading, signing, traffic control, and cost estimates
has also been a Resident Project Representative on various projects including a among others.
stormwater pump station and a regional stormwater facility project. Chelsea has
eight years of experience. Jennifer’s recent project experience includes:
Falkirk MSHA Pond P-R06-01, Falkirk Mining Company, ND
Chelsea’s recent project experience includes: South Bismarck Watershed Stormwater Improvements, Bismarck, ND
Falkirk MSHA Pond P-R06-01, Falkirk Mining Company, ND North Washington Street – Regional Stormwater Improvements, Bismarck, ND
South Bismarck Watershed Stormwater Improvements, Bismarck, ND Hay Creek Sanitary Sewer Trunk Line Extensions, Bismarck, ND
South Washington Street Flood Control Gate Rehabilitation, Bismarck, ND North Washington Storm Sewer and Sanitary Sewer, Bismarck, ND
North Washington Street Regional Stormwater Embankments, Bismarck, ND South Washington Street Floodgate Rehabilitation, Bismarck, ND
Liberty Township Road Rehabilitation, Mountrail County Yukon Drive Watermain Improvements, Bismarck, ND
ND Hwy 40 - Jct. US 2 N to S of Tioga Overpass, near Tioga, ND Lake Shore Estates Drainage Analysis, Mercer County WRD
Kimball Bottoms Boat Ramp Construction and Restoration, Burleigh County Tavis Road Stormwater Improvements, Burleigh County, ND
Kniefel Landing Boat Ramp Restoration, Burleigh County Dredge Outlet to Missouri River, Burleigh County, ND
Outlet Dredging to the Missouri River, Burleigh County FEMA FY 2015 Risk MAP
2013 Missouri River Flood Response and Action Plan, Bismarck, ND FEMA FY 2011
Tavis Road Stormwater Pump Station, Burleigh County Riverwood Drive/Mills Avenue, Bismarck, ND
West Lift Station and Forcemain, Dickinson, ND

- Page 4 -

Stephen Hoetzer, PE

Senior Technical Advisor
[email protected]

Steve will provide valuable assistance through his knowledge of State and Federal regulations as well as personal relationships built
throughout his work in the industry. Steve successfully completed the planning, design, permitting and construction of several
MSHA runoff and sediment control ponds for the North Dakota Mining Industry. He was the Senior Project Engineer on the
recently constructed MSHA Pond at Falkirk Mining Company that received approved permits from the agencies without delay.
Steve is a senior water resources engineer with more than 40 years of water resources experience across the state of North Dakota. Focusing
on surface water control facilities, Steve has designed city storm sewer projects, stormwater pumping plants, surface water storage facilities,
major agricultural drainage systems, and runoff and sediment control dams for surface coal mines. He also brings a wealth of knowledge in
construction and construction management.

Stephen’s recent project experience includes:
Falkirk MSHA Pond P-R06-01, Falkirk Mining Company, ND
South Washington Street Flood Control Gate Rehabilitation, City of Bismarck
Tavis Road Control Structure and Pump Station, Burleigh County
North Washington Street Regional Stormwater Embankments, Bismarck, ND
2011 Missouri River Flood Planning Assistance, Bismarck, ND
2012 Missouri River Flood Response and Action Plan, Bismarck, ND
Flood Planning, Mandan, ND
Flood Contingency Planning, Fargo, ND
Lake Shore Estates Drainage Analysis, Mercer County WRD

Some specific projects that are applicable to Steve’s water expertise gained prior to joining Apex include:
 Planned, designed, permitted and provided construction observation and certified 10 MSHA runoff and sediment control dams.
 Planned, designed, and provided project construction on 21 major agricultural drains for 9 county water resource districts.
 Special engineering consultant to the Garrison Diversion Conservancy District (“C” District) on engineering and environment issues for 10 years.
 Setup the “C” District’s original O&M program for the operation and maintenance of irrigation features constructed by the federal government (2-year program).
 Design and drainage engineer for the North Dakota State Water Commission responsible for the structural design of dams and other water control facilities.
 Developed drainage project for major agricultural project.
 Worked with the state engineer to set up an agricultural drain permitting system for the state of North Dakota.
 Project Engineer for the initial Devils Lake Watershed Study.
 Designed lake regulation structures for meandered lakes across the state of North Dakota.

- Page 5 -

Josh Jeske Because you require quality and experience...
Apex gives you senior-level specialists,
Project Technician
[email protected] veterans of the industry, to work on your project.

Josh is a Civil Engineering Technician at Apex Engineering Group with 16
years of experience. He will provide the drafting for the design team. Josh is well-
versed in computer aided drafting and design including ACAD—Civil 3D, Arc View
and SketchUp software applications. Josh has experience with both field inspection
and surveying.

Josh’s recent project experience includes:
Overgaard Lateral Extension Drain – Bottineau County WRD
Russell Drain Improvements – Bottineau County WRD
Baumann Drain Extension – Bottineau County WRD
Stone Creek Phase 2 Improvements – Bottineau County WRD
Stone Creek Lateral A Improvements – Bottineau County WRD
Hurdsfield Legal Drain Improvements – Wells County WRD
Egg Creek Hydrologic & Hydraulic Services – Ward County Highway Department
General Sibley Park Septic System Improvements – Bismarck Parks and Recreation
Wastewater Treatment Facility Improvements – City of Medora

Subconsultant - Terracon

Apex Engineering will utilize Terracon, as a subconsultant to perform
the geotechnical investigation and the embankment stability analysis

as required by the State and MSHA. Steve Smith, PE
(Update) from Terracon regularly works with our Apex team. Terracon

provides geotechnical testing services to Coteau on an as-needed basis. By
including firms that have a specific understanding in specialized areas, they help us
to more efficiently complete identified project tasks. We have built strong working
relationships and clear expectations of each other through past projects. Under the
project management component, Apex will ensure that all deliverables are consistent
with the quality that we believe in, and that you should expect.

- Page 6 -

Related Experience

- Page 7 -

Project Qualifications and Experience

The Apex team has a wide range of engineering experience, MHSA Runoff and Sediment Control Ponds
whether it is detention or retention ponds, storm sewer,
pumping plants or roadways, we have the resources to complete  Owner Pond
your project. By teaming with Terracon, we can provide soil Falkirk Mining Company P-R06-01
investigation, embankment design, stability analysis and other Falkirk Mining Company P-R36-01
geotechnical and material testing capabilities. BNI Coal Company Pond 22-10
BNI Coal Company Pond 08-01
MSHA Pond Experience Otter Tail Power (operators) Tipple Fill Pond #30
Otter Tail Power (operators) Pond #52
The Apex team has strong MSHA Pond experience; Scott, Couteau Properties Company P-D12-01
Chelsea, Jennifer and Steve all worked on the Falkirk MSHA Pond Couteau Properties Company P-D18-01
P-R06-01. Couteau Properties Company P-D15-03
Couteau Properties Company P-D34-04
Senior Technical Advisor Steve Hoetzer has planned, designed, Couteau Properties Company P-H-25-01
permitted and provided construction observation for 10
additional MSHA runoff and sediment control ponds between
1980 and 2000 as the owner and design principal of American
Engineering, PC. The MSHA ponds were constructed at three
surface coal mining operations and one power plant in central
North Dakota. Five of the ponds belong to Coteau Properties
Company. Each pond was built under unique circumstances –
one embankment served as a coal stockpile area (tipple storage),
three as dragline haulroads and one adjacent to the City of
Center, ND had to meet NDSWC high hazard dam standards.

Steve Hoetzer insight on the agency design requirements and
MSHA design report requirements will be extremely valuable for
the team.

The list to the right includes 11 MHSA runoff and sediment
control ponds completed along with the owner and pond
number:

- Page 8 -

SERVICES PROVIDED
Survey 

Gate Inspection 
Control Gate and Structure Design 

Erosion Control Design 
Construction Observation 

DATES
2013-2014

South Washington Street Flood Gate Rehabilitation

Burleigh County, North Dakota

OVERVIEW
The South Washington Street Flood Control Gate is one of the main components of existing permanent flood
protection for South Bismarck. The gate structure, in its closed position, prevents Missouri River flood waters from
backing into the South Bismarck Stormwater Channel and inundating streets, private properties and businesses.
The existing FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) recognizes this structure as providing protection from the 1%
chance flood event. The gate was damaged from operation during the 2009 and 2011 flood events; thus
requiring rehabilitation of the gate.

PROJECT DETAILS
Apex staff completed a thorough review and inspection of the gate structure, installed in 1969, and prepared an
inspection report. A recommended work plan was submitted to the city to rehabilitate the flood control gate.

Through consultation with Hydro-Gate and others, it was determined that the existing gate could be
rehabilitated and did not require replacement. One of the challenges with rehabilitation was removal of the
gate from the structure. A cast-in-place concrete slab was originally installed over the gate itself which was used as
the work platform for the operators. This slab had to be removed in order to remove the gate.

Once the gate was removed from the structure, an inspection determined that the rollers were froze and needed
to be removed and reworked. The gate itself and seals were in very good condition. However, the roller gate rails
were severely corroded and needed to be replaced. A new lifting platform was designed using steel beams and a
bar grate decking. New lifters and gate stems will be installed. The southwest wing wall failed during the 2011 flood
event and required replacement.

- Page 9 -

North Washington Street SERVICES PROVIDED
Regional Stormwater and Sanitary Improvements Urban Stormwater Master Planning
Modeling
City of Bismarck, ND Design
Construction
OVERVIEW
Apex Engineering was retained in 2012 by the City of Bismarck to develop plans and specifications DATES:
for the regional stormwater and sanitary improvements within the North Washington Street 2012-2015
Watershed. The watershed, which is a sub-watershed of Hay Creek watershed, was originally master
planned in 2004 with an update completed in 2007. The master plans were previously modeled using HEC-1 CONTACT:
software. Michelle Klose
701.355.1704
PROJECT DETAILS
The first phase of the project included the development of an InfoSWMM model of the 1500-acre sub-
watershed. The InfoSWMM model provided the city and its constituents with the benefit of a
dynamic stormwater management model including structures and detention ponds. The City
of Bismarck’s GIS was used as background data within the InfoSWMM model to provide a to-scale model
of the watershed. Existing stormwater infrastructure was directly imported into the model. Apex built
the proposed conditions model that utilized the future land use and proposed stormwater
management features of the watershed. The regional stormwater improvement project was constructed
in 2014 and 2015.

SERVICES PROVIDED
Hydrologic Evaluation
InfoSWMM Model Development
Stormwater Master Planning
Detention Pond Design
Culvert and Storm Sewer Design
Inlet Drop Structure Design
Open Channel Design
Regional Sanitary Sewer Trunk Sizing, Routing and Design

- Page 10 -

SERVICES Falkirk MSHA Pond P-R06-01
Planning 
Falkirk Mining Company - Underwood, ND
Design 
Construction Administration  OVERVIEW
Apex Engineering planned and designed the MSHA Sedimentation Control Pond P-R06-
SPECIAL TASKS 01 for the Falkirk Mining Company. The dam and reservoir is designed to control the sediment
MSHA, PSC and NDSWC Permitting and and runoff from a 1,132-acre watershed during active mining and reclamation. The design was
completed in accordance with established Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA)
Regulations guidelines and the applicable portions of the North Dakota Public Service Commission (PSC) and
North Dakota State Water Commission (SWC) regulations. The dam and reservoir is located 11 miles
DATES southwest of Underwood, ND in the SW ¼ of Section 6, T144N-R83W.
2014-2015
PROJECT DETAILS
CONTACT The primary purpose of the pond is to control the amount of sediment and runoff during
Adam Ourada the active mining phase and during reclamation of the mined lands. The dam and
701.250.2602 reservoir are designed to control the various storm events up to the 100-year event. The
dam embankment has 2.2 feet of freeboard at 30% of the PMP (6.4 inches). The dam embankment
is 900 feet long, 32 feet high, with 5:1 side slopes. The embankment contains 120,000 cubic yards of
compacted earth fill. The principle spillway is a 23-foot-high concrete riser with a 282-foot-long, 36-
inch HPE discharge pipe with a maximum capacity of 190 cfs. The emergency spillway is a 100-foot-
wide grass spillway east of the left dam abutment with a maximum capacity of 3,000 cfs.

The entire upstream face of the embankment is protected by rock riprap. The reservoir has a
maximum storage capacity of 360 acre-feet. This structure was built in 2015 and remains in
use by Falkirk Mining. Apex provided assistance in the construction administration phase related to
shop draw review and site visits as requested by the owner.

- Page 11 -

Tavis Road Flood Control Project SERVICES PROVIDED
Hydraulic Analysis using XP-SWMM
Burleigh County, ND Secured Funding from NDSWC
Grade Raise and Pavement Design
OVERVIEW Control Gate and Structure Design
Following the 2011 flood event, Burleigh County identified the Tavis Road causeway as the location Outfall Piping and Outlet Structure Design
for the alignment of future permanent flood protection. Burleigh County retained Apex to provide the Erosion Control
engineering services to accomplish flood mitigation and prevention due to intimate involvement in previous Pump Station Planning and Design
flood events. Construction Observation

PROJECT DETAILS DATES
The Tavis Road causeway was modified to be used as a flood control structure and the location to 2012-2014
pump internal runoff from South Bismarck and Burleigh County during a Missouri River ice jam or
open water flood event. Apex used the City of Bismarck’s existing XP-SWMM model to determine the 60-cfs
(38.8 mgd) pumping rate requirement for the contributing watershed. Many scenarios were created in the model
to analyze various design events. Inundation mapping was created for the upstream Riverwood Golf Course and
adjacent homes. Submersible style axial flow pumps were selected for their low level of required maintenance
and the inherent ability to easily remove and reinstall the pumps as needed.

From the modeling process, it was determined the best solution to protect both private property and
public infrastructure was to modify the existing box culvert through the causeway to include a 16-
foot wide flood control gate. The roadway was raised to the required freeboard, and three, 24-inch forcemain
pipes with an outlet headwall and erosion control mats were installed to protect the embankment. A 60-cfs
pump station was constructed as a utilitarian cast-in-place concrete structure. Submersible style, axial flow pumps
were selected for their low level of required maintenance and the inherent ability to easily remove and reinstall
the pumps as needed. The pump station is designed to remove internal stormwater from South Bismarck and
Burleigh County by pumping the stormwater from the protected side to the river side of Tavis Road.

- Page 12 -

SERVICES Queen City Dam Hydrology Study
Watershed Evaluation 
Hydrologic Modeling  City of Dickinson, ND
Spillway Hydraulic Modeling 
OVERVIEW
HEC-HMS Modeling  In May of 2016, the North Dakota State Water Commission retained the services of Apex
Dam Safety  Engineering to study the hydrology of Queen City Dam. Queen City Dam (Water Permit Number
01374) is classified as a high hazard dam located in the NW ¼ of Section 8, Township 139 North,
DATES Range 96 West of Stark County. It is owned and maintained by the City of Dickinson. The
2016 purpose of the project was to provide a hydrologic analysis of the dam to determine
compliance with dam safety criteria and for subsequent dam break modeling.
CONTACT
Karen Goff, PE PROJECT DETAILS
ND State Water Commission The Queen City Dam is a high hazard dam located southwest of Dickinson, North Dakota and
701.328.4953 was originally constructed by the Northern Pacific Railroad in 1899 as a reservoir to supply water
for their steam engine locomotives. The original dam was constructed of rolled earth-fill over
timber crib pilings. In 1965, spring runoff overtopped the dam and washed a portion out. The
dam was rebuilt in 1967, with a new principal spillway and steel sheet piling cut-off wall in that
location. Poor soil conditions prevented an auxiliary spillway from being constructed. Today,
the primary use of Queen City Dam is as a recreation facility. The principal spillway is an
uncontrolled drop inlet. The riser structure is a 9 foot by 5-foot concrete box, with a headwall
against the upstream face of the dam, resulting in a weir length of 23 feet. Apex’s tasks included:
Develop a hydrologic model of the watershed above Queen City Dam using HEC-HMS.
Simulate the inflow to the dam resulting from the Probable Maximum Precipitation (PMP)
Determine the percent of the PMP the dam can pass without overtopping.
Determine the capacity of the principal spillway, and evaluate the effect of high tailwater on

the principal spillway capacity.
Determine if the dam meets current spillway criteria for a class IV, high hazard dam.

CONCLUSIONS
The Queen City Dam study resulted in the following:
Urbanization has increased the drainage area from 3.82 to 4.13 square miles.
A survey of the crest of the dam, shows that most of the dam is lower than the design

elevation.
The principal spillway does not meet the criteria for a Class IV dam as required by the North

Dakota Dam Design Handbook.
Queen City Dam does not meet the auxiliary spillway criteria for a Class IV dam as required

by the North Dakota Dam Design Handbook.

- Page 13 -

Project Approach

- Page 14 -

Project Approach

Design of the MSHA ponds needs to follow a regimented procedure to ensure that all
elements of the process and regulations are met. It is important to complete the
preliminary design phase for each pond to confirm that all design criteria are
addressed and that the geotechnical investigation is properly focused to meet
the final design parameters.

The following items are the primary components of the MSHA design process:

1.0 Site and Watershed Evaluation  Each of these design components will need to be addressed
2.0 Watershed Hydrology in a timely order. The Apex team understands each element
3.0 Preliminary Pond Design of the process and can execute them in an efficient and
4.0 Hazard Classification Based on Preliminary Design timely manner.
5.0 Preliminary Design Report (if required)
6.0 Location and Site Survey Quality Control/Quality Assurance (QC/QA)
7.0 Geotechnical Investigation (dam site and borrow areas)
8.0 Refinement of Watershed Hydrology Our QC/QA plan was generated to provide an effective
9.0 Determine Runoff and Sediment Volumes method to organize work, access electronic files, confirm
10.0 Final MSHA Pond Design adherence to design criteria, verify engineering calculations
and quantities, track the quality of work performed by our
10.1 Embankment Design project personnel, verify common understanding of project
10.2 Embankment Stability Analysis communication, maximize project efficiencies, review
10.3 Principal Spillway Design documents for completeness and accuracy, and track project
development.
10.3.1 Spillway Inlet Structure
10.3.2 Spillway Pipe Our quality control and assurance philosophy is based upon
10.3.3 Spillway Outlet Structure the following principles:
10.4 Emergency Spillway Design Quality is built in, not added on
10.5 Seepage Control Elements Quality is the responsibility of each individual
11.0 Detailed Design Drawing (CAD)
12.0 Construction Specification and Procedures Our QC/QA Plan and commitment to quality can give
13.0 Instrumentation, Inspection, and Abandonment Plans you the confidence that all deliverables will have gone
14.0 Final Submittal Package for Regulatory Agencies through a thorough review process.

- Page 15 -

MSHA Guidelines

In addition to Apex’s standard quality control procedures, we will follow the MSHA guidelines as set out
in “MSHA Coal Mine Impoundment Inspection and Plan Review Handbook ‘Chapter 8’ Impoundment
Design Guidelines”. The following 32 topics will be addressed as prudent engineering design
practices to ensure a safe structure and one that will be approved by MSHA:

1. Hazard-Potential Classification Reference Materials
2. Impoundment Hydrologic Design Criteria
3. Probable Maximum Flood The following reference materials will be used:
4. Storm-In-Flow Drawdown Criteria
5. Special Design Storm Considerations for Short-Term Conditions North Dakota Dam Design Handbook
6. Reservoir Flood Routing Analyses Earth, Dams, and Reservoir TR-60 (NRCS)
7. Minimum Embankment Freeboard Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety (FEMA)
8. Open-Channel Spillway Design and Erosion Protection MSHA Coal Mine Impoundment
9. Reservoir Evacuation by Pumping
10. Decant Conduits - General Inspection and Plan Review Handbook,
11. Design of Conduits for External Loading US Department of Labor, MSHA, Coal
12. Decant Conduit Installation (Backfill) Mine Safety and Healthy, October 2007,
13. Controlling Seepage Along and Near Conduits Handbook # PF-107-01
14. Pressure Testing of Spillway Conduits
15. Slope Stability and Analyses
16. Seismic Stability and Deformation Analyses
17. Upstream Construction – Excess Pore-Water Pressure/Construction Procedures
18. Foundation Exploration
19. Foundation Preparation
20. Embankment Fill Placement and Compaction Specifications
21. Frequency of Testing to Verify Compliance with Compaction Specifications
22. Seepage and Phreatic Surface Level
23. Graded Filters
24. Use of Geotextiles as a Filter
25. Mine Workings Under or Near Dams and Impoundments
26. Construction Specifications
27. Construction Monitoring During Critical Phases of Construction
28. Instrumentation Monitoring of Impoundments
29. Fine Waste Disposal in Cells
30. Emergency Action Plans
31. Fines Recovery Operations
32. Provisions for Impoundment Abandonment

- Page 16 -

Availability | Estimation of Hours | Rate Schedule

- Page 17 -

Availability

Team Availability

Our project team is available to begin immediately upon Coteau’s authorization for engineering services. We understand the project
requirements and have determined that this project complements our staff workload. The proposed scheduled with a Design
Report submittal date of December 2018 is aggressive, but achievable.
It will be crucial to begin working day one with all team members on board. Tasks build on each other. There are critical tasks that need to
be completed at various times during a project’s life. It will be important to keep decision makers informed every step of the way
so that when decisions need approval, signatures can be obtained promptly.
A project schedule identifying milestones and tasks will be agreed upon between Apex and the Coteau Mining Company staff. It will
identify dates for deliverables by incorporating critical path activities. Project Manager, Scott Schneider, PE, CFM, will keep the agreed upon
activities in mind at all times and provide updates directly to the assigned your staff. We are committed to completing this project on time.
It is standard in the engineering world to provide services on several projects concurrently, and our workload capacity will allow us to
provide the superior service that each of our clients deserve. Should we be awarded other projects, the staff outlined herein will
remain committed first and foremost to you on this project.

Estimation of Hours

The following is an estimate of hours as requested in the Request for Engineering Proposals.

Insert estimated hours, here.

- Page 18 -

2018 Rate Schedule

Classification Hourly Rate We learn your business so we can create solutions
based on what's best for you – not simply what's good
Principal 175.00 for us. It makes your life easier because you can trust us
Senior Engineer 165.00
Lead Engineer 152.00 to solve your problems  not create new ones.
Design Engineer 131.00
Graduate Engineer 106.00
Sr. Survey Crew Chief 134.00
Surveyor 88.00
Right-of-Way Specialist 133.00
Lead Engineering Technician 103.00
Engineering Technician 90.00
Field Technician 77.00
Support Staff 88.00

Reimbursable Expenses: IRS Rate per mile
0.75 per mile
Car/Standard Vehicle 0.65 per mile
Survey Vehicle 110.00 per day
4WD Pickup 70.00 per day
Field Vehicle 35.00 per day
All-Terrain Vehicle At cost
Meals (Per Diem) At cost
Lodging 0.10 each
Field Supplies 0.15 each
Printing: 8.5 x 11- color or b/w
Printing: 11 x 17- color or b/w

- Page 19 -