Annual Report 3 - New Mexico - Energy, Minerals and Natural ...

INTERA Incorporated
was awarded the
2010 Excellence
in Reclamation
Award for designing
an innovative
hardscaping
technique to
reclaim vent
shafts at a legacy
uranium mine,
mitigating impacts
to people and the
environment.
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Mining and Minerals Division
MISSION: The Mining and Minerals Division (MMD) seeks to promote the public trust by ensuring the
responsible utilization, conservation, reclamation and safeguarding of land and resources affected by mining. MMD
strives to make New Mexico a leader in responsible mine operation and reclamation.
PROGRAMS: New Mexico remains a leading mining state with significant production of coal, copper,
potash and molybdenum. MMD personnel utilize state and federal laws that regulate the registration, operation and
reclamation of active coal and non-coal “hard rock” mining facilities and provide for the dissemination of valuable
data regarding the economic impact of mining activities in New Mexico. MMD also provides services to safeguard
inactive mine sites and reclaim abandoned mine sites to ensure that they are not a hazard to the public.
The Abandoned Mine Land Program works across the state to identify dangerous abandoned mine areas and to
abate the hazards. MMD estimates there are more than 10,000 hazardous mine openings scattered throughout New
Mexico that remain un-reclaimed. MMD has safeguarded about 2,150 dangerous abandoned mine openings and
hazardous mine structures in over 200 construction projects and reclaimed about 100 eroding or burning coal mine
waste piles, on both private and public lands.
Coal has a long history in New Mexico, having been mined since the mid-1800s as a source of heat and energy, and
it remains a leading mineral commodity in New Mexico. The demonstrated coal reserve base in New Mexico is 4.65
billion tons, or about one percent of the national reserves. The Coal Mine Reclamation Program oversees 86,000
acres of permitted mine lands and over $293 million in financial assurance.
Gold, silver, copper, molybdenum, perlite, humate and uranium comprise the majority of the minerals covered by
the New Mexico Mining Act of 1993, which provides for the reclamation of all exploration and extraction activities
conducted at non-coal mines, except potash and aggregates. The
Mining Act Reclamation Program oversees almost 400 mining and
exploration projects and over $602 million in financial assurance.
Photo by: INTERA Incorporated
In these increasingly uncertain economic times, decision-makers
throughout New Mexico benefit from the valuable statistical and
trend information on the mineral industry and mineral resources
in New Mexico compiled and disseminated through the Mine
Registration, Reporting and Safeguarding Program. This program
provides comprehensive public outreach not only on the mineral
resources but also on mining and reclamation activities, legislation,
and MMD activities related to the mineral extraction industry.
ENERGY, MINERALS AND NATURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT