Mine Safety in Nevada

Jan 7, 2006, 09:12 PM

While there is no coal mining in Nevada, there are other types of mines scattered around the state. Whether it is an active mine or an abandoned mine, officials say safety precautions need to be taken.

Today a group of boy scouts pitched in to help secure five abandoned mines in southern Nevada. Between 1910 and 1940 these mines were believed to have contained gold, silver, copper, and lead, but now officials say they are simply a danger to anyone passing by.

A group of boyscouts got to work today. Their job was to make sure these mines were fenced off...

"These mines run anywhere from a few feet deep to thousands of feet deep," said Bill Durbin of the Nevada Division of Minerals.

"I think they are very dangerous," said Weston Milne. He has chosen this as his eagle scout project. He says he chose a project he hopes will make a difference, "That was unfortunate what happened in West Virginia. I think it is important to keep all mines safe."

"I see them all over the place," said biker Pete Claunch. When asked if that scared him, Pete replied, " Well, I know where they are."

Now those who enjoy this land will now be able to see what they could have missed before.

"It will still help me because i haven't seen them all. You always find new ones," said Claunch.

There are still more than 40,000 hazardous mines, but so far more than 8,000 have been secured. In the past 35-years, there have been 8-reported cases in Clark county where people or animals were hurt after falling into an abandoned mine shaft. Statewide there have been 31 cases.

EARTHWORKS

Protecting communities and the environment from the impacts of destructive mining, digging and drilling

Alan Septoff
IT/Research Director
1612 K St., NW, Suite 808
Washington, D.C., USA 20006
P: 202-887-1872x205
F: 202-887-1875
E: Email

W: Website

Link to Report

Special thanks to Carrie Dann for sending this on.

Contents

January 2006 Reports

Last updated on January 12, 2006