Bill Seeks Money To Seal Deserted Mines Two-Thirds Of Abandoned Sites Pose Risk To Public, Environment

FROM FOR THE RECORD (Friday, January 29, 1999): Correction Report wrong: Earl Bennett’s comments about abandoned mines in Idaho were made Tuesday before the Legislature’s budget committee. His testimony was inaccurately described in Thursday’s paper.

Of the 8,000 abandoned mines across Idaho, at least two-thirds pose a danger to the public.

That’s the bad news.

“The good news is … there’s only a handful, probably 30 to 50, that have major environmental problems,” said Earl Bennett, dean of the College of Mines at the University of Idaho.

Bennett testified on Wednesday for state lawmakers who have been asked to approve closing mines that are dangerous to the environment or backcountry explorers.

Dangers in abandoned mines include unstable ground, cave-ins from above or below, hidden shafts, rotting timbers and deadly carbon monoxide.

North Idaho knows the danger of old mines. In 1995, two young men died after being overcome by carbon monoxide while exploring a mine along the shores of Lake Pend Oreille, near Bayview.

The mine hadn’t been worked since the 1920s. Its cool, open tunnel, just above a sandy beach along the lake, was attractive to partyers and explorers. Since the accident, the U.S. Forest Service has sealed off the mine opening with metal bars.

“There’s a few more like that one,” said Victoria Mitchell, a research scientist with the Idaho Geological Survey. “There’s no danger if you stay out.”

But often, people don’t.

The Geological Survey is working to catalog all the mines on Forest Service land in the state, so the Forest Service can continue sealing off the worst ones. Last year, the Panhandle National Forests closed 13 mine openings, said Jim Northrup, geotechnical engineer.

But there may also be abandoned mines on state lands. That’s why the Idaho Mining Association is proposing legislation this year to funnel about $200,000 a year into a state program to seal off the most dangerous spots.

Jack Lyman, head of the association, said, “As the state’s population grows and outdoor recreation increases, more and more of our citizens will come upon these sites.”

He admits it may be a challenge to get the Legislature to give up any money in a year when the state budget is tight. But he’s written his bill to tie the funding directly to the license tax that mining companies pay.

That tax, which totals 2 percent of net profits of all mines, has been in effect since 1935. The money goes into the state’s general fund.

Lyman’s bill, HB 84, would divert one-third of the license tax collected each year into an abandoned mine reclamation account that the state set up in 1994.

The account has never had any money in it. It was set up in anticipation of federal mining law reforms to take a portion of new royalties that were to be charged. But that federal law was vetoed.

“The fact remains that we have abandoned mines out there that are a threat to public safety, and some of those are on state lands,” Lyman said. “The state certainly has responsibility, and may have some liability. So this will begin to address it.”

The program targets only abandoned mines for which no owner can be found. Current mine operators are required to take care of the problem themselves.

Mine license tax proceeds vary widely from year to year, tracking the ebb and flow of mine revenues. Last year, the tax raised $960,500. But in 1993, it only raised $110,000.

Lyman said shifting a third of the money into the reclamation account will allow it to build up so it’s available when the state needs to close off an old mine. He’s estimating next year’s total tax proceeds at $600,000.

Sharon Murray, mineral leasing specialist for the state Department of Lands, said state law makes the department responsible for dealing with abandoned mines, “if money ever becomes available.”

“I think the intent of everyone statewide is to solve the problem,” she said.

The Legislature last year gave the department $40,000 to begin taking inventory of abandoned mines on state lands. The department also hopes to use data developed by the Geological Survey, which includes a field survey of problem sites across North Idaho.

Initial data from that survey shows more than 50 mine openings in one Silver Valley drainage alone, at Prichard and Eagle creeks. Some of those mines are still active, but most aren’t.

“Some of these are very difficult to get to - they’re places nobody would want to go for anything,” said Mitchell, the research scientist. “And then there’s some of them that are quite dangerous.

“I wouldn’t go in. It’s that simple,” she said.

Bennett, who directs the Geological Survey, said, “For some reason, people just can’t stand the thought of not going inside and seeing what’s there.”