News Release 118

DEPARTMENT OVERSEES CLOSING OF DANGEROUS
MINE SHAFTS IN LAWRENCE COUNTY

Volume 36-118

Contact: Renee Bungart

(For immediate release)

573-751-4465

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, MARCH 13, 2008 -- The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is overseeing the closing of five dangerous mine shaft openings from abandoned lead and zinc mining operations in Aurora. 

The shaft openings are located on private and public property and pose a safety hazard to landowners and citizens.  One shaft is located in the Baldwin City Park, two shafts are located directly adjacent to the park in an area that is frequented by park visitors, and the other two shafts are located on private property along Business Route 60.  The shafts are the result of lead and zinc mining in the area.

The department and the Land Reclamation Commission have awarded a $63,910 construction contract to Ron Reed Dozing of Sheldon to complete the project.  The closures will entail excavating down about 20 feet and installing a concrete plug, then filling over the plugs with soil material.

Funds for this project come from a surcharge on each ton of coal mined in the United States as authorized by the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977.  Funds are collected by the U.S. Department of Interior's Office of Surface Mining and are disbursed to state and tribal abandoned mine land programs.  The Federal Office of Surface Mining and Missouri's Land Reclamation Commission authorized expense of Missouri abandoned mine land funds for reclamation of dangerous non-coal mine shafts. 

Previous studies and inventories conducted on the lead and zinc areas in southwest Missouri indicate the possible existence of more mine openings.  The Department of Natural Resources encourages citizens to report open shafts by contacting the Land Reclamation Program at
800-361-4827 or 573-751-4041 or by sending an e-mail to mining@dnr.mo.gov. 

For news releases on the Web, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel. For a complete listing of the department's upcoming meetings, hearings and events, visit the department's online calendar at www.dnr.mo.gov/calendar/search.do.

###