Abandoned Mines Still A Wyoming Issue

Cheyenne, Wy – U-S Senators will be considering a bill that includes hundreds of millions of dollars for Wyoming's abandoned mine land clean up activities. But they will also be considering extending the length of time the state's abandoned mine land division can tap into that money. Division director Evan Green says his authority to use federal clean up funds will expire next year unless the senate approves the measure. And it has expired in the past.

Green says Wyoming still has hundreds of hazardous old mine sites to clean up. And they harbor dangers from underground coal dust fires to treacherous mine shaft drops and eroding soil.