Since 1980, the program has safeguarded over 10,500 hazardous openings and reclaimed 4,000 acres of abandoned mined land statewide.
The major program activity is to identify the hazards and environmental problems arising from abandoned mines, design appropriate closure methods and reclamation techniques for project sites, and reclaim or safeguard abandoned mine hazards and environmental problems with the landowner's consent. Project activities include: field investigations, project development, project design, realty work, historical and cultural resource evaluation, wildlife considerations, NEPA compliance, construction contract bidding and management, site construction and reclamation, construction inspection, and site monitoring and maintenance of prior project work.
DRMS has numerous partners participating in mine safety closure projects with the goal of alerting the public to the hazards of exploring abandoned and inactive mines. Partners include the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service, Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife, Women in Mining, local county and city governments, mining associations, private citizens, and the Colorado Scenic and Historic By-Ways Commission.
