[CPEO-BIF] "Improving California’s Response to the Environmental and Safety Hazards Caused by Abandoned Mines"

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

Improving California’s Response to the Environmental and Safety Hazards Caused by Abandoned Mines


by GABRIEL PETEK
California Legislative Analyst’s Office
August, 2020


Abandoned Mine Lands (AMLs) Pose Serious Environmental and Safety Risks

Abandoned Mines Are Located Throughout the State. AMLs are those lands, waters, and surrounding watersheds where mining has stopped and mining-related excavations, structures, equipment, and wastes have been left behind in a state of disuse and disrepair. It is estimated that there are 47,000 abandoned mines in California, most of which date from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. While there are concentrations of AMLs in certain regions, abandoned mines exist in every county of the state. About two-thirds of these mine sites are located on federal lands, with most of the remaining mines on private property.

AMLs Can Cause Environmental Contamination and Physical Safety Hazards. The Department of Conservation (DOC) estimates that there are about 5,000 abandoned mines in California causing environmental contamination that could affect ground and surface waters, vegetation, soils, and air quality. For example, AMLs can impair water quality by causing acid mine drainage, metal contamination, and mercury poisoning. In addition, DOC estimates that 84 percent of abandoned sites contain features - such as shafts or abandoned buildings - that are physical dangers and potentially pose a threat to human life by causing injury or death.

…

For the entire report, see
https://lao.ca.gov/reports/2020/4258/abandoned-mines-080420.pdf

For more on the subject, see https://sierrafund.org/tsf-supports-californias-new-recommendation-for-abandoned-mine-land-cleanup/

—

Lenny Siegel
Executive Director
Center for Public Environmental Oversight
A project of the Pacific Studies Center
LSiegel@cpeo.org
P.O. Box 998, Mountain View, CA 94042
Voice/Fax: 650-961-8918
http://www.cpeo.org





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