Bill proposed to seal dangerous mines

San Bernardino County has the most in the state

RYAN ORR Staff Writer
Victorville Daily Press

A new bill recently introduced aims to close abandoned mine sites, including over 12,000 in San Bernardino County.

The bill, introduced by U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-San Francisco, would establish an abandoned mine fund to be used for the clean up of sites that could now pose a threat to the public.

Surveys estimate that there are more than 500,000 abandoned hardrock mines in the United States, including more than 47,000 in California alone.

San Bernardino County has by far the largest number of mines in the state with an estimated 12,220 abandoned sites, according to a release from Feinstein’s office.

“Abandoned mine shafts endanger public safety,” said Feinstein in a statement. “It’s clear that something must be done to clean up these hazardous mines.”

Feinstein said the problem is that there is a lack of a reliable and steady stream of funding — and the scope of the cleanup effort is enormous.

San Bernardino County 1st District Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt said he is concerned that the bill may target the county’s mining industry with hefty fees.

“I believe she has a noble intention here to address a serious hazard,” Mitzelfelt said of Feinstein. “I agree with the motivation behind the bill.”

Mitzelfelt said there are various fees and royalties involved in the proposal, which may cause controversy in Congress.

Mitzelfelt said he is hesitant to support imposing fees on the mining industry, which is responsible for employing 2,500 county residents with high-paying jobs.

“These are mining companies that responsibly reclaim their mines,” Mitzelfelt said. “The abandoned mines represent past transgressions.”

Mitzelfelt estimated that the majority of the mines in San Bernardino County are located in the 1st District and said he is working with the Bureau of Land Management and the National Park Service to further address the problem of abandoned mines.