Environmental Assessment - Abandoned Mine Lands Safety Installations Multiple Mine Opening Closures

The NPS proposes implementing mine opening closure options at abandoned mine lands in Death Valley National Park. The purpose of this project is to mitigate safety and environmental hazards present at mine openings. The EA was released today and is enclosed for your review and comment.

This action is needed to; improve visitor and staff safety at Death Valley National Park while accommodating the use of the abandoned mine land sites by wildlife (principally bats), minimize impacts on historic fabric and the visual character of the historic landscape, and minimize potential adverse effects on natural resources using mitigation measures.

The EA examines two alternatives; no action and the NPS preferred alternative. The preferred alternative consists of closing multiple abandoned mine openings at Death Valley. There are a variety mine opening closure techniques, such as metal grates, fencing (permanent or temporary), bat gates and cupolas, cable mesh nets, foam plugs covered with backfill, or back-filling alone, in multiple mine openings in the Park. A variety of safety techniques would be implemented by the NPS either individually, or in combination under alternative B.

Document Content:

Environmental Assessment - Abandoned Mine Lands Safety Installations Multiple Mine Opening Closures   (2.0 MB, PDF file) Disclaimer: Links within the above document(s) were valid as of the date published. Note: Some of the files may be in PDF format and can be viewed using the Adobe Acrobat Reader software. You may download a free copy of from Adobe Systems.