Environmental Compliance

Abandoned Mine Program

Tom Buchta
AML Program Leader
Minerals & Geology Mgt
Washington DC
 Goal
Cleanup sites on National
Forest System (NFS)
Lands that are causing
damage to the
environment and/or
posing risks to public
health and safety.

The vast majority of these sites

are abandoned and inactive
Mclaren Mine, Montana mines, many of which pre-date
Part of the New World Mine Cleanup establishment of the Forest
Service.
 Abandoned Mines on the National
Forests

 38,991 Total Mines

 13, 597 with Mineral
Production
 7,765 involved As, Cd,
Cu, Pb, Hg, or Zn
 1,347 Placer Mines
 AML Work
Large Complex Mines

 100’s of Acres
 Mine,mill, waste
facilities
 Releases of acid
drainage, metals
 Cleanup costs in 10’s to
100’s of millions
Blackbird Mine Idaho, Ca 1950
 AML Work
Placer Mines

 10’s of acres of
disturbance
 Riparian areas and
stream channels
 Damage due to
sediment and habitat
Yankee Fork Dredge, Idaho destruction not hazmat.
 AML Work
Small Mine Cleanup & Safety Hazards

 1 to 10 acres
 Work includes
 hazardous materials,
 removal of structures,
 water treatment,
 Closure of adits/shafts
 Reclamation of surface
disturbance
Midwest Mine Colorado
 AML Funding
 $5 Million FS Safety

 $10 Million FS CERCLA

 $7-$10 Million USDA CERCLA

 Total $20-$25 million Annually

 PRP Contributions, $200 Million

since start of the program.

 $4 billion Estimated Total Cost,

160 to 200 years at current
Minnie Mine, Washington, Ca 1995 funding
 Accomplishments

Program 2005 2006 (Planned) 2007 (Planned)

Elements
Safety 372 Hazards 259 Hazards 538 Hazards
Mitigated Mitigated Mitigated

Cleanup 77 Investigations 88 Investigations 80 Investigations

11 Plans 19 Plans 30 Plans
28 Cleanups 25 Cleanups 80 Cleanups
Partnerships
 States
 Montana
 Colorado
 Utah
 Ohio
 Idaho
 BLM
 Watershed Groups
 Trout Unlimited
 Clean Water Act
 Monte Cristo Mine NOI
 Good Samaritan Bills
 Administration Bill S.
2780, H. 5404
 S. 1848

American Fork Canyon, Utah

National AML Database
 Contacts
Tom Buchta AML Program Leader
Phone: 703-605-4825
E-Mail tbuchta@fs.fed.us