Abandoned Mine Lands
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Abandoned mine lands (AMLs) are those lands, waters and surrounding watersheds where extraction, beneficiation or processing of ores and minerals has occurred. AMLs can pose serious threats to human health and the environment. The EPA conducts and supervises investigation and cleanup actions at a variety of mine sites. The Agency has a range of resources related to the environmental risks and challenges present in investigating and cleaning up AMLs. The EPA also pursues opportunities to explore innovative reuse opportunities at mine sites.
Abandoned Mine Lands Spotlight
Best Practices: EPA has issued “Best Practices to Prevent Releases from Impoundments at Abandoned Mine Sites while Conducting CERCLA Response Actions." EPA developed these best practices to prevent and minimize the potential for sudden uncontrolled releases of fluid mine waste that could result from the Agency’s Superfund response actions at tailings impoundments located on abandoned hardrock mine and mineral processing sites.
Best Practices to Prevent Releases from Impoundments at Abandoned Mine Sites while Conducting CERCLA Response Actions(64 pp, 2.4 MB)
Good Samaritan Cleanup Example Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Constent (ASAOC): To facilitate Good Samaritan cleanups at AMLs, EPA is sharing an example ASAOC and associated documents from the Black Swan Restoration Reach Good Samaritan Project in Colorado.
Use the interactive table below to find Agency documents related to Abandoned Mine Lands. The table sorts alphabetically. You can also enter document titles or other terms into the search box below.
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Mine Site News
- Building on Mining History: Cleanup, Reuse and Community Resilience at the Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site (PDF)(17 pp, 5.8 MB)
A new case study from the EPA Abandoned Minelands Team that details key partnerships and collaborative tools that have led to successful remediation and reuse of large parts of Butte and Walkerville Montana. - Out of the Dust: Recreational Reuse After Vermiculite Mining at the Libby Asbestos Site (PDF)(18 pp, 2.8 MB)
A new case study from the EPA Abandoned Minelands Team that explores the partnerships and tools that have led to the successful cleanup and reuse of the former Export Plant area at the Libby Asbestos Superfund site. - In April 2014, EPA secured a settlement with Anadarko and Kerr McGee to help clean up approximately 50 uranium mines that were operated by Kerr McGee on the Navajo reservation.
- In March 2014, EPA entered into an agreement with United Park City Mines to assess, clean and restore more than 2,700 acres that are contaminated with waste from historic mining activities within the Richardson Flat Tailings Superfund site near Park City, Utah.
- EPA recently finalized an Optimization Study (PDF) (59 pp, 3.6 MB) for the French Gulch/Wellington-Oro Mine Site near Breckenridge, Colorado. An on-site water treatment plant (WTP) continuously collects and treats acid rock drainage water from the site. The study evaluated WTP operational effectiveness and efficiency and provided recommendations to increase plant effectiveness, cost control and technical improvements.
Mine Site Tools and Resources
- Overview of U.S. EPA’s Technical Outreach and Support Activities on Sustainable Mining Applications (PDF) (25 pp, 1 MB). Highlights of alternative and innovative technologies for remediating abandoned mine sites.
- Reference Guide to Treatment Technologies for Mining-Influenced Water (PDF) (94 pp, 3.5 MB) An EPA report that highlights select mining-influenced water (MIW) treatment technologies used or piloted as part of remediation efforts at mine sites.
- Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council (ITRC) Exit The ITRC is a public-private coalition working to reduce barriers to the use of innovative environmental technologies that maximize cleanup efficacy. The ITRC has developed technical and regulatory guidance to aid in technology selection to remediate mining sites.
- Clu-In Webinars on Mining Sites Archives of webinars on technology-related resources and training opportunities associated with characterization, cleanup, and redevelopment of abandoned mine sites.