OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING
For Release September 18, 1990
Jerry Childress (202) 208-2719

O.S.M. PRODUCES TELEVISION SPOT ALERTING PUBLIC TO ABANDONED MINE
DANCERS

The Interior Department's Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and
Enforcement (OSM) is distributing television public service
announcements designed to alert people to the dangers lurking in
abandoned mines.

The 15- and 30-second TV spots, which were videotaped at an
abandoned underground mine in Colorado, depict a chilling scenario
in which a youthful would-be explorer, unaware of the dangers like
most of us, strolls into a mine opening which caves in on him.

The public service message carries just one gripping statement --
STAY OUT OF ABANDONED MINES so the same thing won't happen to you.

Beside the risk of cave-ins, old mines conceal other lethal
hazards. Bad air and poisonous gases lurk in old mines.  Venomous
insects and poisonous snakes frequently inhabit abandoned mine
workings.  Loose rock, decaying mine timbers, and hidden drops down
deep mine shafts are all ready to take their toll.  People have
even drowned in abandoned mine tunnels that are flooded.

Harry Snyder, Director of OSM, said abandoned mines are nothing
like the naturally formed caves, such as limestone caverns, found
in some national and state parks.

"'Old mines should never be mistaken for caves that might be fun to
explore," Snyder said.   "Mines and caves are two entirely
different things."

"There is nothing of any value in an abandoned mine," Snyder
pointed out.   "That's why it was abandoned.  But there are any
number of ways to lose your life in old mine workings.  The only
way to stay safe is to stay completely out of them-"

Snyder said each year a number of persons are injured and killed in
old mines, usually because they did not know of the dangers.   "We
need all the help we can get spreading the word about how dangerous
these old workings are," he said-  "That's why we are going to
television broadcasters with this dramatic public safety message-"

Some of the more serious abandoned mine incidents have occurred in
Colorado, prompting OSM and the Colorado Department of Natural
Resources to start there with heightened efforts to educate the
public to the threat that old mines pose-

The professionally produced television spots are being offered to
television stations and cable operators in mining states across the
nation.  Meanwhile, broadcasters and cablecasters interested in the
abandoned mine safety announcement should contact OSM Public
Affairs, 1951 Constitution Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C. 20240,
(202) 208-2719.

-DOI-