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 tax on 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

Shaft Grate - Concrete Grade Beam

Block Wall – before & after

Stone Wall – before & after

Closure # Avg. Costs Machine Backfill21<$10/CY Hand Backfill5~$100/CY Block Wall1~$40/SF Stone Wall0~$40/SF Bat Gate1~$75/SF Grade Beam Grate1~$50/SF Pinned Grate4~$45/SF PUF0~$450/CY Compound Custom0varies

Public Participation What are your concerns? Please give us your comments. Contacts: Chris Rohrer or Connie Jo Garcia EA Coordinator Project Manager