...bringing the land back to life...bringing the land back to life

A GUIDE TOABANDONED MINE RECLAMATION

© Published in the United States of America. Copyright 1996 by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality.All rights reserved.

This publication was produced with United States Department of Interior Office of Surface Mining Reclamation andEnforcement financial support and does not necessarily reflect that agency’s views.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise without the prior written consent of the

Montana Department of Environmental Quality.

MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITYP.O. Box 200901

Helena, MT 59620-0901

Written byCassandra Noble

Contributing AuthorJohn Koerth

Acknowledgments

Production of this Guide was a combined staff effort of the Montana Department of Environmental Quality,with the assistance of Kim Tintinger, Renewable Technologies, Inc., of Butte, Montana,

and Natalie Anderson of Integrated Geoscience, Inc. of Helena, Montana. The members of the DEQ Abandoned Mine Reclamation staff are: Vic Andersen, Joel Chavez, Dale Herbort,

John Koerth,Tom Mostad, Cassandra Noble, Ben Quiñones, and Jack Yates.It is through their daily work that once-degraded abandoned mine lands are brought back to life.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Montana’s Mining HistoryCoal Mining . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Non-Coal Mining . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Mining Permits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Abandoned Mine Reclamation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Funding Abandoned Mine Reclamation in Montana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Prioritizing Reclamation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Problems Associated with Abandoned Mines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Reclamation WorkBefore Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Construction Phase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16After Reclamation Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Abandoned Mine Reclamation Flowchart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Public Participation in Reclamation Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Landowner Involvement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Leins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Frequently Asked Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Some Mining Terminology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Maps

Completed Abandoned Coal Mine Reclamation Projects in Montana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Abandoned Hardrock Mine Sites Upper Tenmile Creek Drainage Basin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Abandoned/Inactive Hardrock Mine Priority Sites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Mining Districts of Montana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 & 14

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Block P Mine

INTRODUCTION

Montana has always been on America's frontier -- in the early days of the country's westward expansion -- in providing the rawmaterials to build and defend our growing nation -- and no less now, leading the way in innovative abandoned mine reclamation --bringing the land back to life.

The Honorable Marc RacicotGovernorState of Montana

The State of Montana is well known for its scenicbeauty as well as for its mineral resources. Montana's economy is now heavily based on itsdiverse recreational opportunities and also on theimportant contribution of industry sectors such asmining. Today, mining companies are required toprovide fully bonded reclamation plans before theyare able to obtain permits to mine in the State ofMontana.

Unfortunately, some mining practices of the pastcreated conditions which still exist and threaten thewelfare of Montana's citizens and their environment. The harmful effects of these practices have existedfor decades and, unless direct action is taken, theseconditions will continue to degrade the state'senvironment. That is why the Montana Departmentof Environmental Quality's (DEQ) Abandoned MineReclamation Bureau was formed.

To date, Montana has addressed many long-abandoned mine and mill sites -- 283 projects so far. These sites had dangerous structures, open shafts,and hazardous materials. Many of these old mineand mill areas were seriously degrading thesurrounding lands and water. Now they have beenrestored and revegetated.

Although much has been done, much remains to beaddressed. The Montana Abandoned MineReclamation Bureau is working to reclaim Montana'smine lands to help ensure a productive future for thestate and to bring its land back to life.

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Belt Montana [ca. 1900]. (montana Historical Society, Helena,used by permission).

MONTANA’S MINING HISTORY

Cottonwood Coal Company, Stockett, Montana, showing tipple.(Montana Historical Society, Helena, used by permission).

Coal Mining

The Lewis and Clark expedition journals contain thefirst reference to coal deposits in Montana. In 1805, Timberline, between Bozeman and Livingston; at StockettMeriwether Lewis noted his observation of coal seamsalong the banks of the Missouri River. Three quarters ofa century later, Montana was a burgeoning state. Peopleneeded a cheap, accessible fuel for steamboats, railroads,homes, communities, and for the newly built smelters inthe gold and silver mining areas of western Montana. Smelters in Great Falls, Anaconda and Wickes burnedcoke made from Montana coal. Over the years, coal hascontinued to be vital to Montana’s industrialdevelopment.

Extensive, reliable rail service was available by the endof the 1880's. Railroads enabled the territory to exportgrains, fruit, meat, wool, gemstones, and precious metals. Within the territory, rail transportation was needed formetals, lumber, food, supplies, mail and people. Railroadpromotional efforts encouraged more settlers and tourists

to come to Montana every day. Shortly after the turn ofthe century, three large trans-continental railroadstraversed the state. These railroads were powered bysteam and the steam was generated by coal.

By 1907, the smelters and railroads had developedlarge underground mines and coal processing plants at

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Mine No. 2, Lehigh, Montana [ca. 1924]. (MinnesotaHistorical Society, used by permission.)

Mine No. 1, Lehigh, Montana [ca. 1924]. (MontanaHistorical Society, Helena, used by permission.)

and Belt, in the Great Falls coal field; at Red Lodge, inCarbon County; and at Roundup, on the MusselshellRiver.

These coal mining areas were usually dominated by onelarge industrial complex owned by a railroal or smeltingcompany. Smaller-scale satellite mines catering to localdomestic and commercial coal needs clustered around thedominant mine. Located on or near the mainline railroadtracks, these mine complexes included coal processingplants which cleaned and sorted huge tonnages of coaldug from extensive underground workings by men whocame from all over the world. Coal companies employedhundreds of workers and built whole towns to house theminers. Red Lodge, Montana was once such a coalcompany town.

The abundance of cheap coal was also instrumental inmaking homesteading and ranching possible. Theaverage farm or ranch used from five to ten tons of coalper year. Without this cheap and accessible source offuel, it is doubtful that ranchers, homesteaders and smallcommunities could have survived the long cold winters ineastern Montana. Up into the 1950's, people living andworking in Montana continued to rely on domestic coal. This was especially so during the depression years of the1930's. To survive those hard times, people depended onthe inexpensive coal that could be brought up from smalllocal mines.

More recently, compared to the role of other industries,the role of coal mining has diminished. Now, only oneunderground mine, located near Roundup, still operates inMontana. These days, Montana's coal industry ischaracterized by the development of a handful of largeopen-pit mines located in the eastern and southeasternareas of the state. Although the technology used is fardifferent, these coal mining operations continue to tap thesame vast deposits of coal which lie under Montana'ssurface and were noted so long ago by Meriwether Lewis.

Non-coal Mining

The stream gravels along Gold Creek in Powell County Montana are credited with producing the first golddiscovered in the territory that was to become the State ofMontana. Granville and James Stuart, recently fromCalifornia, had heard the tale of a Hudson Bay Companyfur trader who found gold near their camp. So, in 1858,the Stuarts set out to find gold with the tools they had. When they indeed confirmed the presence of gold, theynamed the stream for it.

In fact, Gold Creek wasn’t particularly rich, but rumorsof gold brought gold seekers to Montana. In 1862, thefirst big discovery was made at Bannack on GrasshopperCreek. Then, in 1863, gold was discovered in AlderGulch and Virginia City, which soon supplanted Bannackas the premier gold camp in Montana. The year 1864saw discoveries at Helena, Silver Bow Creek,Confederate Gulch, Jefferson City and other locations asthe gold rush spread to hundreds of gulches throughoutMontana.

Most of the gold seekers came with only a pick andshovel to look for the golden nuggets, flakes, and dust. Others came also with the knowledge that gold could befound in the native rock of the surrounding hillsides andthey spent their time searching for the motherlode. In1862, miners near Bannack had constructed a crudewater powered stamp mill from old wagon parts and werebusy pounding the gold from the quartz on the DakotaLode. In 1864, a steam powered stamp mill was hauledoverland by mule train all the way from St. Louis to theStuart Mine near present day Granite, Montana. By1866, a mill brought up on a Missouri River steamboatwas at work extracting gold from rock at Unionville southof Helena.

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Gold panning “Nelson Gulch on Rimini Road-JerryRobinson & Ike Newcomer.” (Montana Historical Society,Helena, used by permission.)

Anselmo Mine Headframe, Butte, Motnana.

Inexpensive and reliable transportation was essential forminers to make large-scale lode mining profitable. Theequipment and chemical reagents that went into theprocessing needed to be brought into the territory fromoutside. Rich ores that couldn’t be processed locally hadto be sent out of Montana for smelting -- often overseas. Without transportation, the capital needed to developmines, mills and smelters could not be attracted to thestate. As a result, the 1870's saw the population ofMontana Territory decline as the bonanza placer depositswere depleted. The lode mining industry awaited thedevelopment and outside capital that would be broughtabout by improved transportation.

In June of 1883 things began to turn around forMontana’s miners when the Northern Pacific Railroadreached the gold mining town of Helena. With bettertransportation finally available, lode mining expandedthroughout the 1880's until it became the territory’s majorindustry, attracting sufficient capital to support large-scale operations. At the same time, the railroadsfacilitated the introduction of new technology that made itfeasible to develop the rich silver deposits that had beendiscovered but not yet mined.

In 1878, passage of the Bland-Allison Act requiringsilver purchases by the United States mint made silver themetal of choice for miners throughout the West. By1883, Montana’s silver production was second only toColorado. By 1887, Montana led the nation. The Butte

District was Montana’s largest producer of silver. TheGranite Mountain and Bimetallic mines at Phillipsburgwere thought to be the largest single sources of silver inthe world. Development of the rich silver deposits atWickes, Hecla, Rimini, Castle, Elkhorn , and Neihartfurther expanded Montana’s production. This silverboom in Montana saw the construction of beautiful andelaborate mansions in Butte and Helena -- symbols of aneconomy which was expanding throughout the state.

During the expansion of lode mining in the 1880's,important new advances in gold and silver miningtechnology were making it feasible for smaller mines toexploit the deep lodes and make a profit. Finally, largesmelters were built at Wickes, Anaconda and EastHelena. Together these developments made mining on aworld scale forever a part of Montana’s history.

Then in 1893,silver pricescollapsed as a result of high grade ore depletion and therepeal of the Sherman Silver Purchase Act, whichwithdrew the monetary status of silver. Most of thegreat silver mines and mills closed. The Butte District,however, was able to fall back on copper, which wasneeded for electric wire in the expanding electrification ofthe country. Some of the mines would be reworked witheach rise in prices or with the development of markets forbase metals. Today the legacy of bimetallism lives on inMontana’s ghost towns with their sagging buildings,rusting equipment and decaying mining structures.

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Anselmo Mine Headframe, pulleys at top, Butte,Montana.

Golden Messenger Mine.

The 1890's saw a new technological innovation --cyanide processing. Cyanide processing brought goldcamps to life in the Judith Mountains and the LittleRockies. Cyanide extraction allowed for the mining andprocessing of previously unprofitable gold ore. Some ofthe first applications of the technology took place inMontana. Any gold-bearing ore, including waste fromprevious mining operations, could be run through adiluted solution of sodium cyanide and the gold leachedout. Cheap and easy, cyanide processing ultimatelydoubled world gold production.

In the early twentieth century, miners in Montanafocused on copper, zinc, manganese and lead. Althoughgold and silver prospecting continued, most operationswere small-scale with limited production. During the firsthalf of the twentieth century, numerous small operatorstried re-opening old mines and working nearby low-gradeore bodies. Ultimately, Montana’s copper mines were afar greater source of wealth than were the early gold andsilver mines. Gold and silver continued to be produced,but usually as by-products from the processing of otherores.

In an effort to mine other materials, miners developedsome small non-metallic mineral deposits. One examplewas the Gravely mine near Avon, which producedphosphates during the 1930's and 1940's. Another wasthe Vermont Marble Quarry near Radersburg, whichshipped high quality building marble in the early 1930's.

There was continued activity into the 1920's in themineral districts. But as the non-mining populationincreased and other economic influences became moredominant, there grew an awareness of the environmentaland community hazards associated with mining. Citiesbrought lawsuits against mining companies for thepollution of municipal water supplies by mining wastes. Farmers and citizens’ groups complained and sued overtailings deposited on streamsides.

Other hazards were more direct and sudden. In 1925,an earthquake broke the tailings dam at the Silver DykeMine and a 50-foot mudflow swamped miners’ homes,killing two children and leaving the miners homeless. Asthe economic power of downstream communitiesincreased, attempts were made to increase the safety ofmine waste disposal and prevent pollution.

Following a slow period in the 1930's, World War IIrevived industrial mining in Montana and throughout theWest. The war effort created a demand for base metalsand production increased. But in 1943, the United Statesgovernment issued an order closing all gold mines as non-essential to the war effort. Once again, the government’saction led to abandonment of mining operations and ashift to other enterprises.

The economic effect that the mining industry has had onMontana is difficult to assess in a few words. TodayMontana remains one of the most important producers ofprecious and non-precious metals in the United States. While some mines have made huge profits for theirinvestors, mining development officials often saw theirprofits eaten up by low returns and legal fees from themany court disputes. Some historians estimate that, inthe long run, with costs eating up the profits, the miningwest has just about “broke even.” Profits aside, mininghas enriched Montana’s local economies in indirect waysthrough taxes, wages, transportation, purchases ofsupplies and materials and the early developement of theWest.

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THE MONTANA DEPARTMENT OFENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

MISSION STATEMENT

The Department of Environmental Quality's mission isto protect, sustain, and improve a clean and healthfulenvironment to benefit present and future generations.

In the end, the cultural legacy of mining in the State ofMontana may prove to be its most significant intended, in part, to assure that surface coal miningcontribution. Mining attracted many people of such operations were conducted so as to protect thevarious origins and cultures that Montana’s communities environment and promote the reclamation of mined areaswere enriched by their multicultural influence. Also, the once mining was completed. Another purpose ofearly mining days left Montana with fascinating ghost SMCRA was to address old coal and non-coal miningtowns which are explored each year by thousands of sites that were left without adequate reclamation prior tovisitors. Indeed, many would say that, in spite of the the enactment of the federal mining law.scars that it has left in its wake, mining also embodies theAmerican idea of adventure and freedom -- that, withhard work, anybody can achieve wealth and success inone lucky instant.

TheMontana Department of Environmental Quality(DEQ) is an agency of the State of Montana. In additionto its other duties, DEQ is responsible for regulatingmining and the restoration of lands disturbed by miningactivities. DEQ is divided into five divisions:

Centralized ServicesPermitting and CompliancePlanning, Prevention and AssistanceEnforcementRemediation

The Permitting and Compliance Dvision is responsiblefor permitting modern mining operations. Montana'sAbandoned Mine Reclamation Bureau is part of theRemediation Division and it is responsible forreclamation of historical (pre-1977) mining-relateddisturbances.

Mining Permits

Montana was one of the first states in the nation tohave a mine regulatory program. Many of the provisionsfound in Montana's mine permitting law were mirrored inthe federal mining statute, the Surface Mining Controland Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA). SMCRA isadministered by the Department of the Interior, Office ofSurface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM).

When the United States Congress enacted SMCRA, it

There are two aspects of federal and state mining laws: for modern mining activities, establishing a plan ofreclamation as part of the permitting process; and for theold abandoned mine sites, providing a source of fundingfor reclamation in the areas that were abandoned prior tothe establishment of a regulatory program. The funds toaccomplish these purposes are derived from the modern-day coal mining industry.

DEQ permitting staff are responsible for overallmanagement, policy development, coordination andevaluation of Montana's mine regulatory program. DEQalso contracts with other agencies, universities, schoolsand private entities for such things as environmentalimpact statement preparation and data management Three kinds of mining activities are regulated inMontana: coal, hard rock, and opencut.

DEQ has a federally approved coal regulatoryprogram and administers several state laws: TheMontana Strip and Underground Mine Reclamation Act;the Montana Strip and Underground Mine Siting Act; theMetal Mine Reclamation Act; and the MontanaEnvironmental Policy Act with respect to mine-relatedregulation. DEQ must determine whether or not to issueor deny mining permits, complete on-the-groundcompliance evaluations, enforce mining and prospectingoperation laws, and determine whether or not reclamationby a mining company has been successful so that bondscan be released.

DEQ's state regulatory functions are closelycoordinated with those of federal authorities at OSM. Bycooperative agreement with OSM, DEQ administersSMCRA on federal lands in Montana. DEQ staff mustalso coordinate its regulatory activities with other federalagencies such as the Bureau of Land Management, theForest Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service and theEnvironmental Protection Agency.

To ensure mining industry compliance with Montana'sreclamation laws, a multi-disciplinary staff conductstechnical, scientific and legal analyses of miningoperations and reclamation plans for mines andprospecting activities. Staff responsibilities include exploration licensing, mine permitting, bonding,

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regulatory management of large mining operations lands; and November 26, 1980 for U.S. Bureau of Land(> 5 acres), and producing environmental impact Management administered lands).statements. The state does require permits for small mines(< 5 acres) and manages the small miner exclusion program.

Montana's small miner exclusion law covers theactivities of miners disturbing less than five acres. The eligibility criteria is that there must be no continuingstate does require permits for small miners engaging in reclamation responsibility under state or federal laws oncyanide processing and also bonds for small miner the part of owners, operators, or others connected to thecyanide, placer, and dredge operations. DEQ staff must past mining operations on the site. Also, a proposedassure that reclamation is completed by small miner SMCRA reclamation site cannot be within an area thatplacer and dredge operations before the bonds are has been designated for remedial action under the federalreleased. uranium control law or under the federal "superfund"

DEQ must also ensure mining industry compliancewith all applicable laws and state environmental programrequirements for air quality, water quality, dam siting, operated after 1977 up until November 24, 1990 may beand preservation of cultural resources. Throughout the eligible for SMCRA funded reclamation. These aremine permitting process, the general public, public situations where funds available from a bond, financialinterest organizations and environmental interest groups guarantee or other source were not sufficient to providemust be kept informed. So another important component for adequate reclamation. Also, some sites may benefitof DEQ's work is providing the public with information from SMCRA funds if a coal company surety becamethrough meetings and the preparation of informative insolvent between August 4, 1977 and November 5, 1990documents. and the funds available from bankruptcy proceedings

Abandoned Mine Reclamation these two limited exceptions, a privately owned site must

reclaimed with SMCRA funds.DEQ is responsible for administering abandoned minereclamation grants obtained from the federal government. The agency provides administrative personnel andprocures services related to abandoned mine reclamation. relevant scientific disciplines, including geology,These grants are provided out of funds collected from the hydrology, cartography, biology and archaeology. Thesecoal mining industry under SMCRA. DEQ project trained people develop and manage several largemanagers are responsible for large individual operating reclamation construction projects across Montana eachbudgets for Montana’s many reclamation construction year. DEQ’s attorneys provide legal counsel andprojects. DEQ staff also manage the growing volume of interpretations of state and federal mining statutes andpublic files, maps and information about abandoned other environmental laws that affect the reclamationmines in Montana. program. One attorney is housed with the abandoned

the contracting and bidding process, and make SMCRAOn December 27, 1989, Montana's Governor, StanStevens, certified to the United States Department of theInterior Office of Surface Mining that the State ofMontana had addressed all of its known coal-relatedreclamation problems which were eligible for fundingunder SMCRA. Montana was then approved to use mine and mill sites on both private and public lands. SMCRA funding for non-coal reclamation. The Before they were reclaimed, these old mines and millsrestoration of lands affected by non-coal mining began in with rotting unsafe structures and large adits or openings1990 and is ongoing today. in the ground endangered people and animals. Many

Now they have have been reclaimed and revegetated. If SMCRA funds are to be used for a reclamationproject, the site must be eligible under the strict criteria offederal law. To be eligible for SMCRA funding, sites tobe reclaimed must have been mined or affected by miningprocesses and abandoned or left in an inadequatereclamation status prior to August 3, 1977 (or prior to August 28, 1974 for U.S. Forest Service administered

SMCRA funded sites can only be those that are trulyabandoned -- where there is no one who can be heldresponsible for the needed reclamation. One statutory

law.

In certain limited instances, coal mining sites which were

were not sufficient for adequate reclamation. Other than

have been abandoned prior to August 3, 1977 to be

DEQ technical staff includes professionals of all

mine reclamation staff to advise on legal issues, oversee

eligibility determinations for proposed abandoned minereclamation projects.

To date, Montana has addressed many long-abandoned

were also seriously degrading Montana's environment.

Indeed, today it would be difficult to tell that some ofthese restored Montana lands were ever disturbed. Structures that could be stabilized and made safe wereleft in place as historic artifacts for the benefit of thepublic. These sites remain as important places for peopleto come and reflect on Montana’s mining history.

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9

Averting water from tailings dam failure at the Comet Mine.

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FUNDING ABANDONED MINERECLAMATION IN MONTANA PRIORITIZING RECLAMATION

The Tenmile Creek drainage basin map showsabandoned mine sites dotting the area. Many arenear water flowing toward City of Helena publicwater supply intakes (page 11).

The Map of Montana’s abandoned/inactivehardrock mine priority sites shows theirconcentration in southwest Montana (page 12).

Montana's Abandoned Mine Reclamation Bureau isfunded by a per ton tax assessed at the national level oncoal production. This abandoned mine reclamation fundwas established by the Surface Mining Control andReclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA). The money is madeavailable through congressional appropriation. Eachyear, The State of Montana must apply to the UnitedStates Department of the Interior (OSM) for constructionand administrative grants.

DEQ uses Montana’s yearly grants to reclaim areasdisturbed by pre-1977 mining where there is no privateparty with continuing reclamation responsibility underfederal and state laws. Most abandoned mine sites arereclaimed using only federal funds and at no direct cost toMontana's taxpayers. Occasionally, an abandoned minesite is only partly eligible for SMCRA funds. When thisis the case, some funds collected at the state level areused to supplement the funding package. In this way, for practices; anda minimal expenditure of state funds, DEQ can reclaimentire areas which logically should be addressed as oneconstruction project.

The coal mining assessment, set by SMCRA, is 35¢ forevery ton of surface coal mined and 15¢ a ton forunderground tonnage. At current production levels, theannual nationwide tax amounts to more than $250million. Through February, 1996, $4,036,611,383 hadbeen collected since the program's inception --$45,473,091 in Montana. The projected unappropriatedbalance in the federal fund for the end of fiscal year 1996is $977 million. Montana’s 1996 grant for abandonedmine reclamation was $3.627 million. This included$125,000 for emergency reclamation.

Montana's abandoned mine reclamation work is largelyprivatized. Thus, each year, abandoned mine reclamationprojects in Montana provide income and employment fordozens of construction and engineering companies andhundreds of workers.

To date, Montana's abandoned mine reclamationprogram has overseen the completion of more than 283projects totaling nearly 1,174 acres and touching 50counties in the state.

Now that it has completed its eligible coal reclamationsites, the State of Montana is concentrating on non-coalreclamation. DEQ has investigated and prioritized knownabandoned hard rock mine sites to look for environmentalproblems related to past mining activity and determinewhether reclamation is necessary. Federal law requiresthat sites be addressed in a priority order:

" Priority one. The protection of public health,safety, general welfare and property from theextreme danger of adverse effects of mineralmining and processing practices.

" Priority two. The protection of public health,safety, and general welfare from the adverseeffects of mineral mining and processing

" Priority three. The restoration of land andwater resources and the environment previouslydegraded by the adverse effects of mineralmining and processing practices.

DEQ abandoned mine reclamation staff has expandedupon this basic three-tiered model. As a result of itsinvestigative effort, DEQ has been able to develop acomprehensive and detailed priority listing of Montana'sabandoned mine sites. The Abandoned MineReclamation Bureau Priority Sites List represents athorough assessment of site conditions and an evaluationof each site's urgency with relationship to other sites.

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MINING DISTRICT MAP

In 1994, the State of Montana's Abandoned MineReclamation Bureau researched and developed a map ofMontana's hardrock mining districts. When necessary,historic boundaries were modified slightly to fit a siteinventory, and to resolve confusions between the namesof historic placer mine districts and lode districts. Insome cases, new districts were created to organize dataon mines located in areas outside of historic districts

Every known abandoned hard rock site on Montana'spriority list has undergone a thorough scientific sooner the sites are scheduled for work. As a result ofassessment of on-site conditions and off-site impacts. this effort, several of Montana's worst sites have alreadyUsing geographic location equipment, DEQ prepared site been reclaimed. 294 sites remain on the priority list, butmaps showing tailings piles, ponds, streams, structures, many of these are already being addressed. Althoughetc. Water, rocks, soils and sediments were sampled to much remains to be done, DEQ's decision to find outidentify the presence of hazardous materials or chemicals. which problems were the worst and take care of themVolumes were calculated for tailings or waste rock piles. first is already yielding many success stories.Particular note was taken of conditions such asdischarging adits or waterflows around and throughtailings and hazardous mine openings. The informationgenerated from the inventory effort has been compiled inreports and maps which are available to the public at theDEQ Abandoned Mine Reclamation office in Helena.

The more serious or threatening the conditions, the

Examples ofPriority Sites.

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PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITHABANDONED MINES

Giffen Mine, Cascade County, Montana.

Giffen Mine, Cascade County, Montana.

Sand Coulee Creek below Tracy, Montana.

The majority of Montana's fifty-six counties have hadabandoned mine problems. These problems might beassociated with former coal or non-coal mines, or theymay be associated with abandoned gravel pits.

Abandoned mine sites may have various conditionsincluding highwalls, toxic materials, acid water, trash,abandoned structures or equipment, lack of drainagecontrol, barren spoil, nonproductive or low productivegrazing and farmlands, lack of an acceptable vegetativecover, undesirable surface water bodies, adverse impactson residential areas and surrounding communities andothers.

The abandoned mine reclamation staff also work onabandoned gravel pits. Located around the state, gravelpits can pose a particular danger, since they are typicallylocated near residential neighborhoods. They might beareas where children play and are often used byrecreational vehicle enthusiasts. With abandoned gravelpits, DEQ's first task is to inventory the known sitesacross the state and document any problems they maypose. Approximately 1,500 sites in sixteen counties havebeen identified so far. The inventory process results in ahazard score for each site. This score takes into accounthealth, safety and general welfare information, thephysical condition of highwalls, potential dangers belowthe highwall, roads located above the highwall, and thedanger of falling from the top of the highwall.

The work of reclaiming abandoned mine lands involvesvarious dangerous tasks such as filling open mine shafts,burying mining and processing wastes in a manner thatprotects the environment of the surrounding area andsubsequent users of the land, and restoring water quality. This kind of work, in itself, presents dangers which mustbe addressed through private insurance coverage andhazardous materials handling training requirements whichprotect the workers and also the State of Montana.

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RECLAMATION WORK

Brooklyn Mine before reclamation. Outhouseoverhangs creek shore.

Each abandoned mine site is addressed according to theseverity of its different impacts to the surrounding land. These impacts can include the following kinds ofproblems and more:

Ë acid mine drainageË contaminated watersË sterile soilsË collapsing structuresË hazardous shafts and aditsË subsidence holes in yards, streets & fieldsË highwallsË mine firesË air pollutionË erosionË residential flooding

Sometimes, site characteristics and the condition of theland after abandonment may preclude full restoration, butit is the goal of the reclamation plan for every mine site torestore the land as near as possible to pre-mining uses.

Before Construction

Each year, the State of Montana receives its allocationof abandoned mine reclamation funds granted to states bythe federal government through the United StatesDepartment of the Interior Office of Surface MiningReclamation and Enforcement (OSM). Before anyreclamation can be done on a specific project, DEQ mustrequest funding through an individual project grantapplication process. Each grant application with itsassociated documents is prepared and coordinated byDEQ staff. As sites are chosen based on their priority,applications are submitted to OSM for approval asspecific projects to be funded under the program grant.

Early on, the DEQ project manager must determine thecurrent ownership of the land and whether there are anymining claims at the site. Experienced researchers verifyownership and obtain copies of official documentsrecorded in the deed records of county clerk andrecorder's offices and other locations. Once thelandowners have been identified, the project managercontacts each landowner that can be located. At thistime, the landowner may give input about the proposedreclamation project. Every effort is made to incorporatelandowner requests into the reclamation design whereverpossible. Project managers have found that, once theyexplain abandoned mine reclamation projects, ownersnearly always grant consent.

If it appears that a priority site is eligible for SMCRAfunds, the DEQ abandoned mine reclamation projectmanager begins the grant application task. The projectmanager assesses the risks to people and the environment,establishes cleanup goals, and analyzes the cost ofvarious reclamation alternatives. During the grant phaseof each reclamation project, the public has an opportunityto comment upon the project design and work plan. Theproject manager is also responsible for obtaining all thenecessary permits and complying with federal and stateenvironmental and historic preservation laws andregulations.

Once a preferred alternative is chosen, the projectmanager must submit a grant application to OSMdescribing the proposed project and the work plan. Oncethe cleanup alternative is chosen and all necessarypermits and clearances have been obtained, DEQ sends acomplete project application package to OSM. Eachapplication package includes information about theproposed project site condition, a site history, and adescription of the proposed reclamation work.

Other decision-making documents are included in theapplication package such as a legal eligibilitydetermination, environmental review documents, andconsultation letters from other agencies that have beencontacted for comment or approval. Some of theagencies which comment on reclamation projects andimpact the decision-making process include the UnitedStates Fish and Wildlife Service and the State HistoricPreservation Office.

If federal officials decide that funding the project isappropriate, OSM issues a Finding of No SignificantImpact and Authorization to Proceed. Because ofMontana's short construction season, the project managermust move quickly to get the reclamation completedbefore bad weather sets in again.

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Ë removal of dangerous structures and debris;DEQ advertises the reclamation construction projectfor three consecutive weeks in five major newspapers andone local paper. Bid packages are sent to buildingexchanges across the state and sold at cost to interestedpersons or firms. Before a project is bid, the DEQproject manager holds a pre-bid meeting with potentialbidders so they can fully understand the work that needsto be done and the equipment and qualifications necessaryto complete the job before they submit a bid.

On the specified date, the project manager opens allbids in a public bid opening and the lowest qualifiedbidder is notified. DEQ then verifies the contractor'scompliance with necessary insurance and bondingrequirements and prepares a Notice of Award and anAgreement for the contractor's signature. Then the sitework can begin.

Construction Phase

Once the bid is accepted, the project manager andengineer hold a pre-construction conference with theselected contractor to clarify lines of authority andcommunication. They review construction plans in detailso that any questions can be resolved. Following thismeeting, the project manager issues a notice to proceedand the contractor begins the construction work, whichmust be completed by the contract completion date. Aftermonths of planning and design work, depending on thesize of the problem to be addressed, the constructionphase of a typical reclamation project often takes just twoto four months.

Construction tasks necessary to reclaim an old miningsite vary, but they usually include such things as:

Ë moving large amounts of material;

Ë filling or blocking hazardous openings

and shafts;

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Ë diverting streamwater away from contaminated areas; Ë closing adits; and

Ë placement of topsoil; Ë revegetation.

Ë installing gates and fencing; Ë replanting.

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The non-coal reclamation process is illustrated inthe Abandoned Inactive mine Cleanup ProcedureFlowchart (page 21).

New construction on a reclaimed gravel pit.

Vegetative cover taking hold.

Brooklyn Mine with reconstructed stream after reclamation.

Work plans are very detailed and they include specificrequirements for all aspects of the project work. Some ofthese details are included at the request of a landowner. Most work plans include requirements of particularconcern to landowners, such as provisions for speed andweight limits on trucks, a traffic control plan, sedimentcontrol, site cleanup, maintenance of fences, weedcontrol, protection of archaeological and historicalfeatures or findings, and so forth.

Throughout construction, DEQ directly oversees theprogress of the work. Project managers conduct frequenton-site inspections and assistance to ensure that each stepin the reclamation process proceeds as planned andengineered.

Once the construction is completed, the projectmanager and the engineer conduct a final inspection toensure contractor compliance with the work plan. Finalpayment will not be made to the contractor until thecompletion of a successful final inspection.

After the Reclamation Construction

In the years following the reclamation project, DEQmonitors the success of the reclamation. The projectmanager goes to the site frequently to monitor the successof revegetation and other aspects of project construction. If necessary, contractors are called back to the site to re-do certain parts of the reclamation work.

If a problem develops at a site in the years afterreclamation, DEQ addresses it. For instance, DEQ plantsvegetation native to the surrounding area where thereclamation project is located. The spread of invasivenoxious weeds is always a concern, so weed control ispart of every reclamation project design. Sometimes, fordifferent reasons, new plants on a reclamation site are notsuccessful. When that happens, DEQ staff return to thesite to re-plant native trees, grasses or shrubs in theproblem area so that a stable vegetative cover can takehold and grow on its own.

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24

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION INRECLAMATION PROJECTS

LANDOWNER INVOLVEMENT

The public is an important component of eachabandoned mine reclamation project. DEQ involves thelocal community in the site investigation and reclamationplan so that the concerns of people affected by projectscan be identified and addressed. The local public mightbe concerned about a variety of things such as warningsigns, fencing, previous unsuccessful efforts atreclamation, historic structures, financial responsibility,the level of cleanup, and other such issues.

In the community relations component of thereclamation process, information is provided to theinterested public about all aspects of the project: thehistorical background of the site, the management ofheavy equipment mobilization, dust, stormwater andother issues. Staff provide the public with a complete sitedescription, including its geology, hydrology, topographyand vegetation. Special emphasis is given to sitecontamination issues, whether they involve solid media,water or air.

Community concerns are addressed either individuallyor at public meetings. Public meetings are held duringpublic comment periods, when important informationbecomes available, or upon the request of local citizens. DEQ staff give a brief history of abandoned minereclamation activities in Montana, the funding source(s)for the reclamation project, and legal authorities. Theyexplain how a particular site is chosen to be addressedahead of others. A reclamation work plan goes to everypublic meeting, along with copies of site access consentforms and a complete site topographic survey.

Public meetings help DEQ to gain input about a site’sreclamation goals and objectives. The public’s input ondraft planning documents is incorporated into thosedocuments. As the project unfolds, DEQ might conductadditional meetings to update people about recentfindings. All public meetings are held locally and DEQstaff encourages audience participation. Meetings areannounced in local newspapers and are held in theevening to facilitate the participation of daytime workingresidents. Meeting speakers cover topics in layman'sterms and utilize photos and maps to help explain thereclamation effort. Project experts such as the engineeror historic preservation specialist attend as well to fill inthe important details and answer questions.

Project managers also contact local residentsindividually by telephone, mail, and in person. Residents'concerns regarding the site are noted and recorded, andaddressed in whatever way is possible. Often the work

plan can be altered to accomodate the concerns ofaffected citizens.

DEQ provides project reports and status updates onsite activities to all who ask. Copies of site documents,maps and photographs are on file at DEQ and madeavailable at public meetings. Press releases are used todistribute information such as meeting announcements,new dates, and other important project information. Press releases always include the names and phonenumbers of DEQ personnel to contact for furtherinformation.

The abandoned mine reclamation staff is always willingto meet members of the public who become activelyinvolved in reclamation projects one-on-one. All projectfile information is available for public viewing at DEQabandoned mine reclamation staff offices, and the DEQlocation address and phone number is given out atmeetings. For each project, there is a public informationcontact, usually the project manager. If the projectmanager is unavailable, calls and visits can be directed toabandoned mine reclamation supervisors.

Early in the planning stages of reclamation, TheDepartment of Environmental Quality staff contactlandowners so that they may be involved in the process. Owners are always asked to consent to the reclamation ofabandoned mines on their property, and ownerinvolvement and requests are important factors in projectdesign and operations. During and after the constructionphase of projects, staff keep landowners informed aboutthe details and progress of the reclamation effort. Sometimes landowners have particular requests. Forinstance, a landowner might have a preference about theroute that trucks take to the area being reclaimed. IfDEQ can implement a request in an economicallyfeasible way and still meet reclamation goals, landownerrequests are accomodated.

DEQ goes to considerable effort to identify and locateproperty owners at a proposed reclamation site. Athorough search of the public records is done so thatlandowners, mining claim holders, and any knownleaseholders can be contacted early. Reclamation staffpersonally visit with owners and area residents on their preliminary visits to the site so that owners and otherinterested persons can have a chance to ask questions andtalk about the work that needs to be done. Thesemeetings are also an opportunity for reclamation staff tolearn more about the operational history of the site, sincea landowner’s historical knowledge is critical to thedesign of the reclamation project.

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Land owners and DEQ staff visit sites as part of the reclamationdesign process.

LIENS

Although state law does not require it, written consentis DEQ’s preferred means for carrying out reclamationactivities. The Montana Department of EnvironmentalQuality has the authority to carry out necessary non-consensual reclamation if it finds that:

1. Land or water resources on the property havebeen adversely affected by past mining practices;

2. These adverse effects are at a stage such that it isin the public interest to take action to restore orreclaim the property or to abate, control, orprevent the adverse effects of past miningpractices; and

3. The owners of the land or water resources whereentry must be made to restore or reclaim theproperty or to abate, control, or prevent theadverse effects of past mining practices are notknown or readily available or the owners will notgive permission for the Department or its agentsto conduct the reclamation.

DEQ takes considerable care and effort to locate andinform landowners. But sometimes, consent cannot beobtained. When landowners can be located, it is rare thatthey withhold consent. Most owners are very pleased thattheir land will be restored. that land will not result in a significant increase

The Montana legislature decided that when privatelands are reclaimed at public expense, if possible, someof the funds should come back to the public where thereis an increase in value. Therefore, when private land isreclaimed with abandoned mine reclamation funds,Montana has discretionary authority to place or waive alien on the reclaimed land. This would only occur if thereclamation results in a significant increase in fair marketvalue of the private land at public expense.

The DEQ must first determine whether there is likely tobe a significant increase in the fair market value of theprivate property. If so, an independent appraiser is hiredto appraise the property before the reclamation begins. Once reclamation is complete, the appraiser does anotherappraisal to determine the actual increase in fair marketvalue. If the increase turns out to be insignificant, no lienis filed.

A lien will not be placed against the property of asurface owner who acquired title prior to May 2, 1977 ifthe owner did not consent to, participate in, or exercisecontrol over the mining operation which necessitated thereclamation work.

Even if the reclamation will significantly increase thefair market value of private property, DEQ may waivethe filing of a lien under three circumstances:

1. If the cost of filing the lien, including indirectcosts to the State of Montana exceeds theincrease in fair market value as a result of thereclamation;

2. If the reclamation work performed on privatelyowned land primarily benefits health, safety orenvironmental values of the greater community orarea in which the land is located; or

3. If reclamation is necessitated by an unforeseenoccurrence and the work performed to restore

in the market value of the land as it existedimmediately before the occurrence.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What information is available about old mine sites andwhere can I get it?

The DEQ Abandoned Mine Reclamation office in agency has the authority to reclaim private landHelena houses files, maps, photographs, test results, without owner consent. However, DEQ prefers toand other information about abandoned mine sites in obtain the consent of landowners for its reclamationMontana. This information is available for public activities and makes considerable efforts to do so.inspection and copies may be made at the DEQoffice.

How does the state decide what sites will be reclaimedfirst?

By law, DEQ must give priority to abandoned coal specific requests concerning the design of reclamationmines. Montana has completed reclamation of its projects which can be accomodated. Every effort isabandoned coal mines, but if any new problems made to incorporate landowner requests if they areoccur, DEQ will address them right away. DEQ is compatible with the project and are economicallynow addressing abandoned non-coal mines. These feasible.have been ranked in priority order based on anabandoned and inactive mines scoring system and asafety score. The non-coal abandoned mines arebeing addressed on a roughly worst-first basis. If a DEQ's uses its own professional staff and otherssite is on the federal "superfund" list or if it is being from the private sector such as engineers, geologists,addressed privately or by another government agency chemists, biologists and construction contractors whoor program, DEQ cannot reclaim the mine site with are experienced in mine reclamation to carry outSMCRA funds. DEQ's reclamation plan. Contractors must assure

How can I tell if a site is on the priority list?

The abandoned mine reclamation priority site list is project time frames.available at the DEQ office in Helena, Montana. It isnot necessary, but it would be helpful to haveinformation pertaining to the site such as the name ofthe nearest town, the section number, township andrange numbers, the mine name and when it was The qualified professionals who are hired to designmined. and carry out reclamation projects are required to

Is the abandoned mine reclamation work done on myproperty going to cost me money?

No. Eligible abandoned mine reclamation projectsare paid for out of a national trust fund that is paidfor by coal mining companies’ payment of a feeassessed for each ton of coal that is mined in theUnited States.

What will happen if I don't sign the consent form?

DEQ must do all things necessary to restore the landand prevent further adverse effects from past miningpractices. If DEQ finds that land or water resourceshave been adversely affected by past mining practicesand it is in the public interest to take action, the

Do I have any say in the reclamation plan?

DEQ locates owners and keeps them involved andinformed about the planned reclamation activitiesthroughout the process. Sometimes, landowners have

Who actually does the reclamation work on my land?

DEQ that they are qualified to perform the necessarywork and that the specialized equipment needed willbe available to get the job done within the short

What if something happens during the project? Will Ibe liable?

have private insurance with high policy limits, andlandowners as well as the State of Montana must benamed insureds.

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Will DEQ fix up my house if it is on an abandoned When will I know if a lien will be placed on mymine site? property?

No. The funds allocated to DEQ for abandoned mine In the planning stages, before a project is sent out forreclamation under SMCRA are to be used for the bids, DEQ makes a determination whether therestoration of lands, water, and public facilities that publicly funded reclamation would significantlywere adversely affected by past mining activities. increase the fair market value of private property. IfStructure repair would be the responsibility of your no significant increase is likely, no lien is filed. If ainsurance carrier. If your home or other property is lien is to be filed, before and after appraisals must bedamaged by an active mine, contact DEQ's done by an independent appraiser. The amount of theregulatory branch for appropriate action. lien is not determined until the reclamation is

Will the same land uses I have now be available to meafter the reclamation is complete?

Yes, with one exception. Once land is reclaimed with DEQ may waive the filing of a lien.public funds, by statute, it may no longer be minedunder a small miner exclusion from the Montanareclamation laws. Otherwise, DEQ's reclamationadds no further limitations on a landowner's use ofproperty. Usually, no. Most of the time, the DEQ's conclusion

Will I be able to farm or have cattle graze my groundafter reclamation?

Although there is no formal restriction on future land located.use, at least for a while, reclaimed land is fragile andshould be treated as such. For instance, often, seededareas are fenced for a time to ensure successfulrevegetation. In those instances where the sitecontains adequate topsoil for replacement use, the No. Other than the restriction on the availability ofland can be farmed or grazed after two years if the small miner exemption, any existing mining rightsproper land management techniques are practiced. will be unaffected.For the most part, reclaimed abandoned mine landsare not suitable for intensive farming and landownersare cautioned against plowing or other practices(such as overgrazing) that could destroy the Call the DEQ abandoned mine reclamation programvegetation or cause erosion, which may expose buried offices in Helena. Or, you could call the Governor'smaterials.

complete because the lien filed must be for the lesserof either the cost of the reclamation or the actualincrease in the property value (as established by theindependent appraisal). Under certain circumstances,

Will my property taxes increase after the reclamationwork is completed?

is that the reclamation effort will not significantlyincrease the fair market value of the property. However, a landowner's taxes are determined by the tax assessor in the county where the property is

I own the surface, but not the mineral rights on myproperty, will reclamation affect that in any way?

How can I report a dangerous abandoned mine site?

Office of the Citizens' Advocate at 800-332-2272 (inHelena, 444-3468). The Citizens' Advocate will beable to arrange for someone to call you back who canaddress your concerns.

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SOME MINING TERMINOLOGY...

acid mine drainage:Water containing sulfuric acid having a pH of lessthan 6.0 and discharging from an active or abandonedmine and/or the surrounding affected area. Whenexposed to air, water or weather processes, acidforming earthen materials containing sulfide minerals(principally iron pyrite) oxidize and form the sulfuricacid. This sulfuric acid mixes with the water to formacid mine drainage, which flows out of the mine intosurrounding lands and waters.

adit:A horizontal or nearly horizontal opening excavatedfrom the surface of the earth for the working of amine. If the opening were dug through a hill ormountain to the surface on the opposite side, it wouldbe a tunnel.

approximate original contour:The surface land configuration achieved inreclamation by backfilling and grading previouslymined areas so that the reclaimed area closelyresembles the general surface configuration of theland and surrounding area prior to mining.

bond forfeiture:When a company fails to perform mining andreclamation procedures in accordance with thereclamation plan approved as part of a State ofMontana permit to mine, the bond is collected by theState and that money is used to reclaim inadequatelyrestored land to a productive status.

certification:Formal approval certification of a state abandonedmine reclamation program by the United StatesDepartment of the Interior. The State of Montana’sprogram was certified and thereby gained authority toadminister its federally approved abandoned minereclamation program at the state level on November24, 1980.

coal processing waste (gob and slurry):The materials from the earth that are separated fromthe coal product during cleaning or processing.

coal seam:A bed or layer of coal in the earth.

compliance:Conducting coal, mineral or other extraction andreclamation activities in accordance with therequirements of Montana and federal laws andregulations.

concentration/concentrate:The process of reducing the values in an ore into aform which has a smaller bulk in order to diminishthe expense of shipping and treatment. Concentrateis the name for the reduced ore material whichcontains the valuable metal from which most of thewaste material has been eliminated. Once theconcentrate is produced, it is sent to smelters forfurther treatment.

cyanide/cyanidation:A salt or ester of hydrocyanic acid which produces achemical reaction in leaching operations in metalmine processing. Cyanidation dissolves metal valuesfrom gangue materials for later recovery. Thepractice consists of fine grinding the entire tonnageon a roller, tube, rod, or ball mill. The crushed orethen passes to leaching tanks where a solution ofsodium or potassium cyanide is added to a tank withore. The ore then gives up the silver or gold mineralinto solution so that the gold and silver can beretrieved in zinc boxes or by other methods. Theprecipitate that results can then be smelted andrefined into gold and silver bullion.

DEQ:The State of Montana Department of EnvironmentalQuality. DEQ’s mailing address is P.O. Box200901, Helena, Montana 59620-0901.

disturbed area:An area of land or surface water that has beendisturbed by mining activities. The term includes thearea from which the overburden, vegetation, topsoil,tailings, waste materials, minerals or coal have beenremoved, as well as areas where topsoil, spoil, ormine processing waste were placed by surface miningoperations. Disturbed area also includes tailingsponds, waste dumps, roads, conveyor systems, leachdumps and all similar excavations or coverings thatresult from mining operations and that have not beenpreviously reclaimed.

dredge:A floating placer mine operation. One example is abucket dredge, where buckets scoop up gravels to bescreened, sorted and sluiced. Gold stays on the sluiceboxes while waste gravels and sand wash back intothe creek or are sent by conveyor to stacks in thecreekbed behind. The dredge was developed in NewZealand in the 1880's and first successfully worked inMontana in 1895 in the Bannack District.

dump:A pile or heap of waste rock material or other non-ore refuse near a mine.

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effluent limits: lode:Limitations on the amount and quality of water A mineral deposit in solid rock.leaving a project area.

gangue: A mineral processing facility which is a building withThe worthless minerals that are associated with the machines for grinding and pulverizing ores andvaluable minerals in an ore. As much of this gangue extracting metals or producing a product. A millas possible is removed by the processes of might have rock crushers and grinders for ore, vatsconcentrating and smelting. for mixing chemicals with the crushed ore, and

gob:Rock or other coarse materials sorted out of coal mineraleither during mining or processing. Gob has theconsistency of pea-gravel or driveway stone.

groundwater:Subsurface water that fills available openings in rockor soil materials to the extent that they are consideredwater saturated.

highwall:The vertical wall consisting of the material beingmined and the overlying rock and soil strata(overburden) of the mining site.

imminent danger to health and safety of the public:Existence of any mining related condition or practiceor any violation of a permit or other requirement ofMontana law in a mining or reclamation operationthat could reasonably be expected to causesubstantial physical harm to persons outside thepermit area before the condition, practice, orviolation can be abated.

impoundment:A closed basin, naturally formed or artificially built,which is dammed or excavated for the retention ofwater, sediment, or waste.

land use:Specific use or management-related activity, ratherthan the vegetation or cover of the land. Somecategories of land use in Montana are cropland andoccasional hay cutting, pasture, forestry, developedwater resource, recreational, fish and wildlife habitat,residential, industrial/commercial, and undeveloped.

leaching:The removal in solution of the more soluble mineralsby percolating water or extracting a soluble metalliccompound from an ore by selectively dissolving it ina suitable solvent, such as water, sulfuric acid,hydrochloric acid, cyanide, etc. A leach pad is aspecially prepared area covered by an imperviousliner on which ore is placed for leaching. A leachtank is a specially constructed tank in which ore isplaced for leaching.

mill:

machinery for capturing the desired product.

In the reclamation context, a mineral is any ore, rock,or substance (other than oil, gas, or uranium) that istaken from below the surface or from the surface ofthe earth for the purpose of milling, concentration,refinement, smelting, manurfacturing, or othersubsequent use or processing or for stockpiling forfuture use, refinement, or smelting.

mining:The process of obtaining useful minerals from theearth's crust including both underground and surfaceworkings. In Montana, digging gravel and topsoilfrom the earth is also considered mining.

mulch:Vegetation residues or other suitable materials thataid in soil stabilization and soil moistureconservation, thus providing conditions suitable forseed germination and growth.

opencut mining:The mining of bentonite, clay, scoria, phosphate rock,sand, or gravel by removing the overburden lyingupon natural deposits directly from those depositsleaving them open to the surface. An example of anopencut mine under Montana law is a quarry, whichis a surficial opening or pit from which building stonesuch as granite, marble, slate, etc. is extracted.

ore:A mineral or mineral aggregate which containsprecious or useful metals and occurs in such quantity,grade and chemical combination as to makeextraction commercially profitable. An ore body is asolid and fairly continuous mass of ore which mayinclude low grade ore and waste as well as high gradematerials. An ore deposit is a general term appliedto rocks containing minerals of economic value insuch amount that they can be profitably exploited. The term is also applied to deposits which, thoughthey may not be immediately capable of profitableexploitation, may yet become so by change in theeconomic circumstances that control their value.

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ore processing: revegetate:Milling, heap leaching, flotation, vat leaching, or The act of planting reclaimed land with grasses,other standard hard-rock mineral concentration flowers, shrubs and trees.processes; and, in the opencut mining context,crushing, screening, and alsphalt or concrete plants.

OSM: deposited by water or wind (i.e. sand, silt, dirt, etc.)The United States Department of the Interior's Officeof Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement. This is the federal agency that oversees the work ofstate agencies enforcing the federal coal mining andreclamation law.

overburden:All of the earth and other materials that lie above anatural mineral deposit and the earth and othermaterial after removal from their natural state in theprocess of mining.

panning:The hand placer process utilizing a circular steel dishfrom 10-16 inches in diameter at the top and from 2to 2.5 inches deep with sloping sides at 35-40degrees. By swirling stream water with a gyratorymotion, miners could sort gravel in the pan, pour offthe larger particles, and leave the finer heaviermaterials, such as gold.

pH:A symbol for the degree of acidity or alkalinity of asolution. pH values from 0 to 6 indicate acidity andfrom 8 to 14 indicate alkalinity. A solution with apH of 7 is considered neutral.

placer mining:The extraction of naturally occurring, scattered orunconsolidated valuable minerals from gravel oralluvium lying above bedrock. Placer mining is alsocalled "dredge mining." Miners remove unwantedsedimentary material with running water which trapsthe metal ore in sluice boxes.

pyrite:A lustrous yellow mineral which is a common ironsulphide occurring abundantly as native ore andserving principally as a source of sulfur in theformation of sulfuric acid in acid mine drainage.

reclamation:Actions taken to restore mined land or to abate,control or prevent the adverse effects of mining asrequired by Montana and federal law to a post-mining land use approved by the DEQ.

reclamation specialists:Staff members of the DEQ Remediation Divisionwho obtain funding, design, and manage reclamationprojects.

sediment:Matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid; matter

shaft:A vertical or steeply inclined excavation penetratingthe earth’s surface that is connected to a mine.

SMCRA:The federal law called the Surface Mining Controland Reclamation Act of 1977, passed by Congress toestablish minimum national standards for mining andreclamation, and to provide a funding source for thereclamation of abandoned mines.

smelting:The chemical reduction of a metal from its ore andcertain fluxes by melting at high temperatures. Thenon-metallic material floats on top of the heaviermetallic constituents in the molten state and remainsin that position when it cools and hardens.

soil amendments:Additives to the soil to enhance its productivity, suchas fertilizer or agricultural lime.

spoil:Overburden material disturbed or removed from itsnatural state, or non-ore material removed in gainingaccess to ore or mineral material in the process ofmining. Spoil and mining waste materials aredisposed of or piled in waste dumps and spoil piles.

subsidence:The collapsing of overburden materials resultingfrom underground mining or associated undergroundexcavations that cause depressions or holes on thesurface and damage to structures.

subsoil:The layer of soil beneath the topsoil.

tailings:The refuse material resulting from washing,concentrating or treating ground ore that isdischarged from a mill. A tailings pond is a pond ofwater with a constraining wall or dam into which milleffluents are deposited.

topsoil:The upper surface layer of soil, usually darker andricher than the subsoil, that is naturally present andnecessary for the growth and regeneration ofvegetation on the surface of the earth.

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Glen Tungsten Mill site near Dillon, Montana just after reclamation. Straw mulch protects seed which will sprout in th next growing season.

vegetation: waste rock dump:In the context of reclamation activities, vegetative Waste rock that was mined and disposed in thecover is the type of vegetation, grass, shrubs, trees, vicinity of a mining operation, often at or near theor any other form of natural cover considered suitable entrance of an adit.at the time of reclamation. Usually, plants used torevegetate a reclamation site are those that are nativeto the surrounding area.

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Rimini Kelly Millsite Hydromulch-channel.