Abandoned Mine Land Program

The Bureau of Land Management’s Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) program enhances public safety and improves water quality by reducing or eliminating the effects of past hardrock mining in the western United States. The BLM maintains an inventory of known abandoned mine lands on public lands. Most of the sites are abandoned hardrock mines.

Umpqua Mining Operation

As of April 9, 2008, the inventory contained 12,204 sites and 49,376 features. Approximately 20% of the sites have either been remediated, have reclamation actions planned or underway, or do not require further action. The remaining 80% require further investigation and/or remediation.

In Oregon/Washington, the remediation work at the Cleveland, Kaaba/Texas, and Sucker Creek sites is completed or nearly completed. Remediation work at the Poorman/Balm Creek, Umpqua, and Formosa sites continues, although these sites may not necessarily be BLM's highest priority.

Other sites that BLM is currently working on include the Josephine Mine in NE Washington in the Spokane District, the Bretz Mine in SE Oregon in the Vale District, and the Almeda Mine near Grants Pass in the Medford District.

The BLM is currently placing priority on conducting actual on-the-ground remediation work, as opposed to inventory work. The focus is to fix the higher priority sites that were identified in the initial inventory work. Priority is also given to sites that are in priority watersheds that other government agencies may be working on as part of a watershed approach to abandoned mine land site cleanup.

Questions about the overall BLM Abandoned Mine Lands program in Oregon or Washington should be directed to Eric Hoffman at (503) 808-6039. Questions about specific projects listed should be addressed to the District Office Abandoned Mine Lands Coordinators.

The OR/WA Watershed Map identifies the six higher priority abandoned mine land sites:

1. Cleveland
2. Kabba/Texas
3. Poorman/Balm
4. Umpqua
5. Formosa
6. Sucker Creek

Click on the numerical identifier for project descriptions of our currently planned work.