Here is where you will find position papers, observations, and other forms of ammunition with which to counter some of the preceptions, propaganda and outright lies being propagated by government agencies, environmentalists, and others upon the public.
The USDOI IG Report
The Department of Interior has an Inspector General who issued a report critical of the BLM Abandoned Mine reclamation activities. The tone of the IG report is decidedly and overwhelming pro-safety and anti-history. The IG specifically focused on CA NV AZ, where he believes the most abandoned mines can be found.
The report:
http://www.doioig.gov/upload/2008-G-00241.pdf
concludes that the BLM and the NPS are putting the public at risk by not addressing the hazards posed on their lands, and that more openings need to be “mitigated.”
On the plus side,
the IG Report reminds BLM that fences and signage are reasonable and simple precautions that should be taken.
• He believes that simple precautions can easily be taken at the most dangerous sites, including posting warning signs and building fences.
• Physical hazards require the least funding to fix or mitigate and the least expertise to identify and evaluate. Mitigation can range from temporary measures including fencing and signs to more costly permanent measures, including steel and concrete covers
• The IG report states on page 4 that the BLM should take reasonable steps to prevent injury or death from abandoned mine hazards.
• IG states the BLM database is faulty because it was derived from Bureau of Mines [BoM] data that is 10 years old which has never been validated by field surveys.
• They found BLM employees NOT entering known mines into the inventory database.
• The IG applauded the creation of a BLM National Mine Land inventory prototype, an abandoned mine land distance learning program, and an AML project management handbook.
• IG believes that using volunteers can be beneficial IF they are properly trained and supervised,
On the negative side:
• They are gravely concerned; they feel that the potential for more deaths is ominous; that many sites have dangerously dilapidated structures;
• the IG believes that the BLM AMP is seriously undermined [pun intended I suppose] neglected and marginalized.
• Claims the only permanent mitigation action is to fill in shafts and adits and demolish or remove buildings and structures.
• IG cites MSHA figures that suggest 33 people died at abandoned mines from 1999 to 2007 in the Western US.
• The IG has poo-pooed BLM’s rationale for not razing a Virginia City millsite and uses quotes around the words historical value as if to demean and suggest the BLM should not care about the mill’s historic value.
• The IG apparently agrees with one BLM employee whose opinion of the American Flat millsite near Virginia City, NV is that it is a public nuisance that needs to be abated. The BLM cited the site’s historical nature, local opposition to demolition, and lack of funds as justification for inaction, but the IG concluded that longstanding hazardous conditions and excessive delays in mitigation… present serious and unacceptable risks to the public health and safety.
• The IG was encouraged by BLM’s F.A.S.T. program
• The IG was concerned with trespass issues by squatters on BLM land in Red Mountain, CA and in and near Virginia City, NV.
• Believes that condemning the land through site [area] closures could be used more often to protect the public. This has occurred in UT at places like Manning Canyon.
Among his 8 recommendations
5. Validate existing inventory data and develop procedures for ongoing data collection
to ensure that data in the inventory is complete, accurate, and consistent.
7. Implement immediate temporary or permanent measures to mitigate sites identified by the abandoned mine lands program.
8. Explore and exploit opportunities for sharing resources, expertise, and best practices between the agencies to strengthen their abandoned mine lands programs.
In anticipation of the Congressional calls for corrective action due to the IG’s recommendations, the BLM in concert with a half-dozen other agencies have created http://www.abandonedmines.gov and the F.A.S.T. program to begin to sway public opinion that they are doing something immediate, corrective, and permanent about abandoned mines.
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