Utah Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) sampling and assessment program

Project Number: 97169CC
Cooperating Agency: Bureau of Land Management
Project Chief: David Naftz, USGS Salt Lake City, Utah
Project Period: 2004-2008

Problem: Over the last 150 years, much of the land managed by the BLM in the Western United States has experienced some form of mining activity, ranging from exploration to full development. In many cases, these activities were not properly reclaimed, and there are no identifiable responsible parties to help with the clean-up, leaving safety and environmental concerns that BLM must deal with today. Numerous nonreclaimed sites exist in Utah and additional information is required to assess the environmental contaminant hazard that these sites pose to biota as well as surface- and ground-water systems. Once the environmental contaminant hazard of these sites is known, they can be prioritized for reclamation.

Objectives: Assess mine drainage impacts in selected site in Utah defining quantity and distribution of mine-waste related solutes in ground-water and surface water.

Relevance and Benefits: Cooperation of USGS in this program will provide BLM with data needed to quantify the contaminant hazard at selected sites and prioritize these sites for reclamation. The USGS activity will provide consistent methods for data collection, thus allowing comparison of data over time and among sites.

Approach: To facilitate changing clean up priorities and potential emergency clean-up issues, detailed workplans will be developed on an annual basis for the duration of the project. Approach to development and implementation will include:

• Site selection and prioritization (BLM)
• Site visit to establish sampling requirements and scope of assessment (BLM and USGS)
• Annual sampling, analysis, and site assessments (USGS)
• Preparation of annual site assessment reports (USGS)
• Review and approval of annual site assessment reports (BLM)

Products: The USGS will provide the BLM with a quality-assured data base containing all project data. The data will be compiled and interpreted in an administrative report to BLM.

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U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL:http://ut.water.usgs.gov/newUTAH/Programs/abandonedmines.html
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Page Last Modified: Wednesday, 10-May-2006 13:30:09 EDT