Modern Colorado mines must file reclamation plans.
Colorado has a long history of mining gold, silver, lead and other precious metals. Early miners used often harsh techniques to mine and process the ore, using toxic chemicals, including arsenic and mercury. Environmental damage from mining remains in many parts of the state today. The Mined Land Reclamation Act seeks to regulate new and existing mines to ensure reclamation and restoration of mined lands.
Early Days
In 1965, Colorado instituted a voluntary reclamation program for mines, which relied on mines to act on their own to restore mined land. In 1969, the state enacted the Colorado Open Cut Land Reclamation Act. But this act never received funding and no provisions existed for enforcing it. Finally, the Open Mining Land Reclamation Act of 1973 required mines to submit reclamation plans, purchase bonds to guarantee those plans and set reclamation timelines. But this act applied only to coal, sand and gravel pits. Hard rock gold, silver and other mines were not regulated under this act.
Next Stages
By 1976, Colorado created the Mined Land Reclamation Division to oversee non-coal mining concerns. This established the Mined Land Reclamation Board. In 1979, following the U.S. government's passage of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act for coal mines, Colorado passed the Colorado Surface Coal Mining Control and Reclamation Act. In 1992, the Mined Land Reclamation Division merged with other state departments to form the Division of Minerals and Geology to oversee both coal and other types of mines.
Mined Land Reclamation Board
Seven people serve on the Mined Land Reclamation Board. The governor of Colorado appoints five of them. At least two of these people must have experience in the mining industry, two must have experience in conservation and the environment, and one must have experience in agriculture. The remaining two members of the board are the executive director of the state Department of Natural Resources and a representative from the State Soil Conservation Board. Each member serves a four-year term, and members' terms are staggered. The board presides over the regulatory business of the Coal and Minerals Program. It also approves the budget for and oversees other activities of the Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology.
Mining and Reclamation
Anyone who wants to prospect for minerals to mine in Colorado must first obtain a permit from the Division of Minerals and Geology. With the permit application, they must submit plans for reclamation and bonding. If the prospector finds minerals, he must obtain additional permits in order to mine. The DMG must sign off on the reclamation activities once mining has ceased.
Tags: Land Reclamation, Mined Land, Mined Land Reclamation, Division Minerals, Division Minerals Geology, have experience, Land Reclamation Board
