Utah Abandoned Mine Reclamation

Program

Division of Oil, Gas & Mining

Department of Natural Resources

Lakeside Project

Purpose : To seal hazardous abandoned mines

Abandoned Mine Hazards

• Roof collapse• Unstable side walls• Total darkness – you can easily get

lost• Hidden vertical shafts inside • Toxic gases• Lack of oxygen

Project would close:

• 14 portals• 19 shafts

• Affect <5 acres

Right of Entry (ROE)

• Permission is obtained from all land owners prior to any construction work

– Private land– Public (Bureau of Land Management)– State Trust Lands (minerals)– Private (Surface)

Legal Authority

• Utah has primacy under the Surface Mining Control and

Reclamation Act of 1977, SMCRA

Project Costs

• Funded by a taxon current coal production

Project Selection

• Ranking priority system considers:

– Population: Resident and Transient– Mining Districts: historic mining areas– Mine density– Roads and accessibility

Project Schedule• Work would occur in late summer/fall of

2008• Work would require 4 weeks

Some of the laws we comply with:• National Environmental Policy Act

NEPA• National Historic Preservation Act• Antiquities Act• Endangered Species Act

Environmental Assessment

• Analyzes potential impacts on the environment

• Includes clearances from:– State Historic Preservation Officer– US Fish and Wildlife Service

• Sign-offs from:– Office of Surface Mining– Bureau of Land Management

Surveys & Data Collection

• Abandoned Mine Inventory• Cultural & Historical Surveys• Bat Surveys• Paleontological Surveys

(not applicable for Lakeside Project)

Abandoned Mine Inventory

Historical and Cultural Inventory

House Foundation

Bat Surveys

Paleontological Survey

AMRP’s Intent• Cause the least amount of

disturbance possible• Design mine closures so that

historical features are preserved• Revegetate all areas disturbed

Mine Closure Designs

Hand Backfill

Equipment Backfill -before & after

Equipment Backfill – before & after

Equipment tracks raked & seeded

Locked steel gates allow for access and bat usage

Bat Gates

Pinned Grate – before & after

Pinned Grate – before & after

Shaft Grate - Concrete Grade

Beam

Block Wall – before & after

Block Wall – before & after

Stone Wall – before & after

Stone Wall – before & after

Closure # Avg. Costs

• Machine Backfill 21 <$10/CY• Hand Backfill 5

~$100/CY• Block Wall 1 ~$40/SF• Stone Wall 0 ~$40/SF• Bat Gate 1 ~$75/SF• Grade Beam Grate 1 ~$50/SF• Pinned Grate 4 ~$45/SF• PUF 0 ~$450/CY• Compound Custom 0 varies

Public Participation

• What are your concerns?• Please give us your comments.

• Contacts: Chris Rohrer or Connie Jo

Garcia EA Coordinator Project

Manager 801-538-5322 801-538-5347

chrisrohrer@utah.gov conniegarcia@utah.gov