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Abandoned MineAbandoned Mine Lands

The Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) program supports the BLM’s core programs by mitigating physical safety risks at AML sites on or affecting BLM Lands, and providing solutions to degraded water quality and other environmental issues. It works through BLM-directed projects and partnerships with government and nongovernmental organizations.

The program addresses mine sites that were abandoned with no responsible party available to remediate contamination resulting from past mining activities. To date, the BLM has inventoried over 11,000 AML sites nation-wide, and is constantly on the lookout for more to be inventoried and restored.

The cleanup and restoration of AML sites through the AML program process is a part of a broader mission to support related BLM programs, such as Soil, Water, and Air; Recreation; Land Use Planning; Fisheries; Hazard Management and Resource Restoration; Surface Management; Cultural Resources; and Wildlife.

The AML program objectives are:

  1. Protect and restore watersheds that are impacted by abandoned mines through an approach that uses partnerships to effectively fund and complete projects.
  2. Protect public safety and reduce risks posed by abandoned mines.
  3. Reduce environmental degradation caused by abandoned mines to ensure compliance with all
    applicable soil, water, and air quality standards, and all applicable laws.
  4. Identify and prioritize for restoration abandoned mines that most affect at-risk resources and
  5. Restore abandoned mine lands to productive uses including, but not limited to, recreation, fish and wildlife habitat, and preservation of historical/cultural resources.
  6. Integrate abandoned mine land support in land use planning efforts.


Abandoned Mine Shaft

Abandoned Dredge with environmental standards

Physical Hazards

Environmental Hazards

Recent Projects (Comming Soon)

Report a Mining Hazard: Contact the nearest BLM Field Office