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~, <br />be repeated for successful closure of the eighth and largest adit. The entire rim azea was then <br />recontoured with materials drat were available along the surface of the rim. A berm was <br />constructed above and along the rim to diveR all storm water away from the reclaimed area. The <br />mine waste dumps were left intact to act as a berm along the canyon wall to control storm-water <br />runoff and limit further erosi~~n of this material into the canyon. <br />The mine site on Lease Tract C-CM-24 had two unique features-it was the oldest of the <br />abandoned mine sites reclaimed, and the ore horizon or zone of mineralization was at <br />considerable depth. Mine access consisted of a small, but relatively steep incline that had been <br />closed previously but was now showing signs of subsidence. The incline was permanently closed <br />and recontoured with a conventional backhoe. To prevent storm water from eroding into the <br />underground workings, the mine site was left slightly mounded. The rock-waste dump at this <br />mine site contained substantial vegetation regrowth and was left untouched. <br />During this reclamation project, a total of 40 mine portals (adits and inclines) and three <br />ventilation shafts were permanently closed with methods approved by the BLM and the State of <br />Colorado (Department of Natural Resources, Division of Minerals and Geology). Approximately <br />38,000 cubic meters of material (mine waste, overburden, and topsoil) were backfilled into the <br />depressions and open pits and recontoured to blend in with the surrounding topography. After the <br />mine closures and recontouririg were completed, the entire areas of disturbance (approximately <br />10 hectares) were reseeded with a seed mixture, approved by the BLM, that was distributed by <br />mechanical and hand-held broadcast seeders. <br />Following the successful completion of reclamation activities, an invitation was issued to <br />each of the stakeholder agencies to tour the associated lease tracts and review the results. Several <br />agencies (listed below) participated in the on-site review of reclamation activities. Several other <br />agencies expressed interest in reviewing the reclamation process results but stated that they <br />would be unable to attend. <br />• BLM, Montrose District Office, Montrose, Colorado <br />• BLM, Uncompahgre Resource Area Office, Montrose, Colorado <br />• BLM, San Juan Resource .Area Office, Durango, Colorado <br />• NPS, Land Resources Division, Mining and Minerals Branch, Denver, Colorado <br />Tour participants visited each mine site and were given a general overview of site activities. <br />The unique situations encountered at the different sites were also discussed. Following the tour, <br />all participants concluded that the DOE's process was practicable for the respective mine sites <br />reclaimed. <br />CONCLUSION <br />DOE administers 43 uranium lease tracts with a land mass of 10,000 hectares that <br />collectively contain a maximtun of 200 abandoned and active uranium mine sites. In contrast, <br />BLM, USFS, and other Federal and State agencies administer millions of hectares with a <br />multitude of similar uranium none sites. Currently, no regulations require the reclamation of <br />most of the old, pre-law mine <. ites on Federal and State lands. However, the physical and <br />environmental liabilities associated with these mine sites may prompt the appropriate <br />administrative agency to addre;>s these reclamation issues. DOE believes that the aforementioned <br />process provides a practical and cost-effective approach to abandoned uranium mine-site <br />reclamation. <br />1278-tab.doc <br />