Abandoned Mine Lands | Bureau of Land Management
Source: https://www.blm.gov/programs/aml-environmental-cleanup/aml
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:19
Abandoned Mine Lands | Bureau of Land Management
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Abandoned Mine Lands
The Abandoned Mine Land (AML) program addresses physical safety and environmental hazards associated with abandoned hard rock mines on BLM-managed public lands. Abandoned mines are those mines that were abandoned prior to January 1, 1981, the effective date of BLM’s Surface Management regulations issued under authority of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.).
Over the last 150 years, much of the land managed by the BLM has been exposed to some form of mining activity, ranging from exploration to full mine development. As ore was extracted and eventually depleted, mining operations were abandoned or moved to other locations, leaving scarred and contaminated land across many parts of the West. In many cases, these mines were not properly reclaimed, and it is rare to locate financially responsible parties due to the age of the site. Due to the circumstances, the BLM funds the costs to address physical safety and environmental threats associated with abandoned mines.
The BLM prioritizes and takes appropriate action on these historic abandoned mine sites using a risk-based approach. It is an enormous task that will take lots of time, money, and cooperation with other federal, state, and local partners. Meanwhile, the risks associated with abandoned mines remain and continue to increase because more and more remote areas are being developed or accessed for recreation. Even dangerous mines that have been properly sealed off are sometimes vandalized, entered, and left open.
This can expose anyone nearby to unexpected, serious danger.
Why Are There Abandoned Mines?
Abandoned mines are what is left over from mining activities in the distant past. Back then, mine operators could simply walk away from a mine without removing safety or environmental hazards. Today, federal and state laws require that mine operators make mine sites safe before abandoning them.
Eliminating Hazards at Abandoned Mines Will Take a Long Time
Although federal agencies are working to remove hazards and to close abandoned mines, it will take decades to complete this work. As many as half a million abandoned mines are believed to exist, and the location of many more is still unknown. Usually, sites have no signage at all to warn people about their presence or their dangers.
Latest Abandoned Mine Lands Stories
Alaska
Friday, August 8, 2025
Alaska's Mineral Men
Rain, snow, sleet, or shine, BLM Alaska is always on mining time.
Wyoming, Wind River/Bighorn Basin DO, Lander FO
Tuesday, December 3, 2024
Local students continue habitat restoration on public lands in Gas Hills; nearly 7,000 sagebrush seedlings planted to date
Students from Lander and the Wind River Indian Reservation have partnered with the BLM, Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality and others to plant more than 7,000 sagebrush seedlings on abandoned mine lands.
Nevada, Battle Mountain DO, Tonopah FO
Friday, November 1, 2024
BLM Archaeologists Tell Ghost Town Story On Nevada Day Weekend
Two Bureau of Land Management archaeologists give a tour in Rhyolite, the ghost town, on Beatty and Nevada Day Weekend.
New Mexico
Wednesday, June 5, 2024
PODCAST: Cleaning up abandoned mine lands yields wildlife benefits in southwest New Mexico
"On The Ground": In southwest New Mexico, the Bureau of Land Management is restoring an area to both protect people from dangerous mine shafts, and to improve the habitat for endangered species.
Alaska
Friday, October 15, 2021
Podcast: "Lodes" to clean up
When hazards are found on public lands, it's up to people like Mike McCrum to oversee the remediation. He leads BLM Alaska's hazardous materials and remediation program, and he's seen his share of cleanups, big and small
Quick Links
Federal Programs
Bureau of Land Management
Environmental Protection Agency
Mine Safety and Health Administration
National Park Service
Office of Surface Mining
U.S. Forest Service
State Programs
National Association of the Abandoned Mine Land Programs
Program Policy
Abandoned Mine Lands Program Policy
- 2013
Abandoned Mine Lands Program Handbook
- 2006
Point of Contact
Krista Doebbler
Abandon Mine Lands Lead
[email protected]
Skip to main navigation
Skip to main content
Official websites use .gov
A
.gov
website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A
lock
(
) or
https://
means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
YouTube
Flickr
Abandoned Mine Lands
The Abandoned Mine Land (AML) program addresses physical safety and environmental hazards associated with abandoned hard rock mines on BLM-managed public lands. Abandoned mines are those mines that were abandoned prior to January 1, 1981, the effective date of BLM’s Surface Management regulations issued under authority of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.).
Over the last 150 years, much of the land managed by the BLM has been exposed to some form of mining activity, ranging from exploration to full mine development. As ore was extracted and eventually depleted, mining operations were abandoned or moved to other locations, leaving scarred and contaminated land across many parts of the West. In many cases, these mines were not properly reclaimed, and it is rare to locate financially responsible parties due to the age of the site. Due to the circumstances, the BLM funds the costs to address physical safety and environmental threats associated with abandoned mines.
The BLM prioritizes and takes appropriate action on these historic abandoned mine sites using a risk-based approach. It is an enormous task that will take lots of time, money, and cooperation with other federal, state, and local partners. Meanwhile, the risks associated with abandoned mines remain and continue to increase because more and more remote areas are being developed or accessed for recreation. Even dangerous mines that have been properly sealed off are sometimes vandalized, entered, and left open.
This can expose anyone nearby to unexpected, serious danger.
Why Are There Abandoned Mines?
Abandoned mines are what is left over from mining activities in the distant past. Back then, mine operators could simply walk away from a mine without removing safety or environmental hazards. Today, federal and state laws require that mine operators make mine sites safe before abandoning them.
Eliminating Hazards at Abandoned Mines Will Take a Long Time
Although federal agencies are working to remove hazards and to close abandoned mines, it will take decades to complete this work. As many as half a million abandoned mines are believed to exist, and the location of many more is still unknown. Usually, sites have no signage at all to warn people about their presence or their dangers.
Latest Abandoned Mine Lands Stories
Alaska
Friday, August 8, 2025
Alaska's Mineral Men
Rain, snow, sleet, or shine, BLM Alaska is always on mining time.
Wyoming, Wind River/Bighorn Basin DO, Lander FO
Tuesday, December 3, 2024
Local students continue habitat restoration on public lands in Gas Hills; nearly 7,000 sagebrush seedlings planted to date
Students from Lander and the Wind River Indian Reservation have partnered with the BLM, Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality and others to plant more than 7,000 sagebrush seedlings on abandoned mine lands.
Nevada, Battle Mountain DO, Tonopah FO
Friday, November 1, 2024
BLM Archaeologists Tell Ghost Town Story On Nevada Day Weekend
Two Bureau of Land Management archaeologists give a tour in Rhyolite, the ghost town, on Beatty and Nevada Day Weekend.
New Mexico
Wednesday, June 5, 2024
PODCAST: Cleaning up abandoned mine lands yields wildlife benefits in southwest New Mexico
"On The Ground": In southwest New Mexico, the Bureau of Land Management is restoring an area to both protect people from dangerous mine shafts, and to improve the habitat for endangered species.
Alaska
Friday, October 15, 2021
Podcast: "Lodes" to clean up
When hazards are found on public lands, it's up to people like Mike McCrum to oversee the remediation. He leads BLM Alaska's hazardous materials and remediation program, and he's seen his share of cleanups, big and small
Quick Links
Federal Programs
Bureau of Land Management
Environmental Protection Agency
Mine Safety and Health Administration
National Park Service
Office of Surface Mining
U.S. Forest Service
State Programs
National Association of the Abandoned Mine Land Programs
Program Policy
Abandoned Mine Lands Program Policy
- 2013
Abandoned Mine Lands Program Handbook
- 2006
Point of Contact
Krista Doebbler
Abandon Mine Lands Lead
[email protected]