BLM teams with Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety to make the Alpine Loop Safer
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GUNNISON, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management Gunnison Field Office in partnership with the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (DRMS) will close 25 abandoned mine features on the Alpine Loop Scenic Byway between Silverton and Lake City beginning on Sept. 4, 2018.
Seventeen of the 25 mine features to be remediated are on BLM-managed lands. The joint project with DRMS addresses public health and safety concerns by limiting visitor access to these features, which include hazardous abandoned shafts and adits.
“Public safety is paramount,” said Gunnison Field Manager Elijah Waters. “The Alpine Loop is a premiere visitor destination, and we want to ensure our visitors have a safe and enjoyable experience.”
Shafts and adits that provide habitat for bats will be closed with grates to prevent disruption of their normal activities. Mine features that are not used as habitat will be backfilled or plugged. Work to close the mine features is expected to be completed in late September or early October. The $60,000 project will culminate two years of collaboration and planning between BLM and DRMS.
“We're looking forward to accomplishing this important work,” said DRMS Senior Project Manager Tara Tafi. “We value our partnership with the BLM, and we are committed to ensuring safe experiences at the Alpine Loop.”
Known for its spectacular scenery, 14,000-foot peaks, and historic mining towns, over 400,000 people visit the Alpine Loop each year.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.