The task of closing and capping tens of thousands of abandoned mines in Arizona may soon take a significant step forward with legislation providing up to $1.1 million to fund the effort.
That appropriation is part of Senate Bill 1717 as sponsored by Senator David Gowan. If passed the funding in the bill will pay for both additional staff in the Mine Inspector’s Office as well as equipment needed to close the mines.
The mines exist throughout the Grand Canyon State, with many first dug around 140 years ago when miners tried to unearth gold, silver, copper, quartz, and other minerals.
Once emptied of their treasures, the mines were most often abandoned, as well as the town in which they existed. According to author Herbert Young in his book Ghosts of Cleopatra Hill, the fortunes and fate of the town of Jerome is illustrative of the role mining played in some of Arizona’s smaller locations.
In the span of around 50 years Jerome went from a tent city to a thriving mining camp of nearly 5,000 people to a town of less than 500 people once the mining came to an end.
Still-existing mine caves pose dangers, according to the Bureau of Land Management, because they could contain radioactive gas and toxic chemicals, and are always at risk of collapsing. Other dangers are seen by the fact that some of the entrances to the mines may be overgrown with vegetation, causing unwary visitors walking on such sites to fall into the shafts.
Gowan’s legislation has passed both the full Senate as well as the House Appropriations Committee. It is now awaiting approval in the full House.
By Garry Boulard
