Utah Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program Receives National Award for Summit County Project
Utah’s Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program staff receives award at the annual National Association of Abandoned Mine Land Programs in Park City, Utah.
PARK CITY, Utah — The Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining’s (OGM) Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program has received the 2026 National Abandoned Mine Land (AML) Reclamation Award from the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) for its work securing two historic mine shafts in Summit County.
OSMRE Deputy Director Tom Shope presented the award to Utah on Sept. 21 during the National Association of AML Programs conference in Park City.
“These projects demonstrate innovation, strong community partnerships and the lasting benefits of addressing legacy mining hazards while helping build a better future for communities,” Shope said.
From 2023 through 2025, Utah’s Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program completed a $358,507 project to safeguard the Thaynes and Silver King mine shafts on Park City Mountain Resort property near Park City. The historic mine sites presented significant public safety hazards in an area that receives more than 4 million visitors annually, including skiers, mountain bikers and hikers.
The project used custom-designed polyurethane foam and concrete closures to secure the hazardous vertical mine openings. Crews also stabilized the deteriorating foundations of historic mine buildings and headframes.
The project was designed to minimize surface disturbance while protecting public safety and preserving important elements of Park City’s mining heritage. The Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program also partnered with the Friends of Ski Mountain Mining History, a local historic preservation organization, to leverage expertise and resources and maximize the use of project funds.
“Park City Mountain Resort sees approximately 4 million visitors annually,” said Steve Fluke, Utah Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program manager. “Eliminating the physical hazard of the vertical openings and helping to stabilize the structures directly improved the safety of skiers, mountain bikers and hikers who visit the area around these historic mine sites.”
About the Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Awards
Established in 1992, the Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Awards recognize exemplary state and Tribal projects that reclaim coal mine sites abandoned before the signing of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977.
Utah is one of five recipients of the 2026 Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Awards. Utah received the national award, which recognizes the highest-scoring overall reclamation project among eligible state and Tribal programs.
For more information about the Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Awards, visit the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement’s AML Reclamation Awards page.
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