NOVEMBER 29, 2004

Mesa State College Students Assist with Local Mine Closures

Grand Junction, CO - Mesa State College environmental science students Robert Wilson and Danika Urban will have the unique opportunity of overseeing the closure of two abandoned mines near Gateway during the week of Nov. 29.

"This is an unusual opportunity for our students to take what they've learned in the classroom setting and actually apply it at a real mine site," said Dr. Russ Walker, professor of environmental restoration. "It may be the only student-facilitated project of its kind in the country."

Walker's students, who are working in cooperation with Paul Krabacher of the Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology, Inactive Mines Program, began the project this past summer. They assessed the abandoned Old October and Shelby Dean mine sites and then developed appropriate closure procedures. Each of the sites had a mine opening and tunnel that were considered potential safety risks.

Wilson and Urban will oversee the actual implementation of the closure procedures during the next week. The Old October mine will be backfilled and have native vegetation reintroduced. At the request of the Colorado Division of Wildlife, the Shelby Dean mine will be converted into a bat habitat. To ensure bat access is preserved, a contractor will insert a 40 foot section of culvert and a bat gate. The space around the culvert will be backfilled and native vegetation will also be reintroduced. Both mines, located on Bureau of Land Management land, are being reclaimed as part of the BLM's abandoned mine closure and reclamation policy

"Thanks to the Division of Minerals and Geology and the BLM, my students were able to work through the step-by-step process associated with mine closures," said Walker. "They participated in the initial assessment, developed a workable closure procedure and, now, will also be able to see the project's culmination."

Walker's students have also been involved with the closure of an abandoned mine near Rifle last year. For more information, contact Dr. Russ Walker at 970.248.1162 or rwalker@mesastate.edu.

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