ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-fifth Legislature Second Regular Session
	Senate: APPROP DP 10-0-0-0 | 3^rd Read: 28-0-2-0

---

SB 1717: mine inspector; abandoned mines; appropriation

Sponsor: Senator Gowan, LD  14

Committee on Appropriations

Overview

Appropriates $1,122,000 and 6 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions from the state General Fund (GF) to the State Mine Inspector (SMI) in FY 2023 to inventory and coordinate the closure of abandoned mines in Arizona.

History

An abandoned mine is a mine where mining operations have been permanently or temporarily suspended, including deserted mines where a mining operator or owner cannot be located (A.R.S. § 27-301). Mine operators and owners must secure and post warning signs for any abandoned or inactive mining shaft, portal, pit or other excavation which poses a danger to those legally on the site (A.R.S. § 27-318). The SMI can inspect inactive or abandoned mines at any time to determine if a dangerous condition exists that may affect the health and safety of the general public (A.R.S. § 27-124).

Beginning in 1997, the SMI established a program to locate, inventory, classify and eliminate public safety hazards at abandoned mine sites. This program must prioritize abandoned sites on state land before identifying similar sites on other lands. However, the SMI can enter into intergovernmental agreements with Indian tribes to extend this program to tribal lands (A.R.S. § 27-129). The SMI has also established intergovernmental agreements with the Bureau of Land Management to survey and inventory abandoned mine sites on federal lands and with the National Parks Service to assist in closing abandoned mine sites in national parks, monuments, and recreational areas (SMI).

For the past 5 years, $194,700 has been appropriated to the SMI from the GF and the Aggregate Mining Reclamation Fund to fill, plug or fence abandoned mines around Arizona and pay for administrative salaries and costs for these activities (Laws 2017, Chapter 305, § 62; Laws 2018, Chapter 276, § 60; Laws 2019, Chapter 263, § 62; Laws 2020, Chapter 58, § 58 and Laws 2021, Chapter 408, § 59).

Provisions

1. Appropriates $1,122,000 and 6 FTE positions from the GF to the SMI in FY 2023. (Sec. 1)

2. Requires the appropriated monies be used by the SMI to inventory and coordinate the closure of abandoned mines in Arizona. (Sec. 1)

3.

4.

5. ---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------

6.                   SB 1717

7. Initials PAB/KM    Page 0 Appropriations

8.

9. ---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------