Lakeside Project

Utah Abandoned
Mine Reclamation
Program

Division of Oil, Gas

& Mining
Department of
Natural Resources
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
Bat Gates

Locked steel
gates allow for
access and bat
usage
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