He fears plans by the Bureau of Land Management and the state's Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program could close old mine shafts in the area and hinder his ability to study the geology necessary in determining a claim's potential value. So Fisher wrote to Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. about his concerns.
On Friday, officials from the BLM and reclamation program toured some of the mine shafts abandoned in the area.
Gold, silver, zinc, copper and other minerals have been mined in the region for more than a century, with many mines abandoned once the easy ore was exhausted. Officials say that leaves a danger to the public - including a potential liability problem for the agency if anyone is killed or injured in a shaft on BLM land.
Lucia Malin, acting director of the reclamation program, said closure projects funded by coal royalties are meant to avoid accidents like one in Tooele several years ago in which an ATV rider plunged to his death in an abandoned shaft.
Fisher, chief executive officer of Escalante Mines Inc. of Denver, told officials Friday he is not against the closures but does oppose permanent measures to fill in the shafts, such as backfilling from old tailings piles.
Fisher asked officials to consider using hinged steel grates that could be locked or welded shut, but still allow for future access. He said if he is denied access to the old mine shafts, it would hurt his business and that of others who rely on the information gathered at a site to attract investors.
The alternative to using the old shafts to assess the value of a claim is drilling core samples, a process that is expensive and provides less information than using the shafts, according to Fisher.
Mike Stiler, the executive director of the Department of Natural Resources, who was on Friday's field trip, said there might be room to work with Fisher on how the shafts on his claims might be closed, but made no promises.
Anthony Gallegos, the reclamation engineer who will oversee the closures in the area, told members on Friday's field trip not all the shafts in the area will be closed. Some patented claim holders, meaning those who have been given a deed to the land, have chosen not to participate in the closure program and will be responsible for any future liability.
Other closure methods include injecting shafts with foam and walling off using cinder block or native stone. Gallegos said the closure method of a site depends on wildlife and historical qualities.
The historic value of a shaft usually includes other structures at a claim site, like head boards or old machinery once used to extract ore. The shaft at a historic site would be grated as would shafts where bats live so the animals could have continuous access.
mhavnes@sltrib.com
