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