DEQ News You Can Use
DEQ Closes Dangerous Mine Openings at Helena’s Davis Gulch
Helena – Mine reclamation specialists with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality teamed up with staff from the City of Helena Parks and Recreation Department to close off two adits near a popular hiking trail. On Wednesday, June 23, 2010, the team sealed off the openings, or adits, with expandable foam that hardens like concrete.
Contact the DEQ for a free DVD about the hazards of abandoned mines titled
“Stay Out, Stay Alive.”
The adits are located across the street from the DeFord Trailhead near Davis Gulch Road in Helena’s south hills. The openings are about 3 feet in diameter. One adit is 60 yards in length; the other is 20 yards long. Sixty cubic feet of expandable foam was applied to seal off the adits.
“DEQ did this as a public service for the city and the people who live nearby and recreate on the city’s open space lands. The city asked us to help and we did so gladly to protect public health and safety,” said DEQ Abandoned Mine Program Reclamation Specialist Steve Opp.
“The DeFord Trail is popular and we don’t want people getting into these tunnels and injuring themselves,” said Helena Natural Resources Coordinator Brad Langsather. “We needed to address the problem adits before an unfortunate incident occurred. DEQ deserves accolades for taking care of the adits.” Langsather asks that hikers contact him if they notice a potential hazard.
Abandoned mine adits (horizontal openings) and shafts (vertical openings) can pose dangers ranging from pockets of poisonous gas to cave-ins. For more information about abandoned mine hazards visit: http://deq.mt.gov/abandonedmines/hazards.mcpx
For information about Helena Parks and Recreation visit: http://www.ci.helena.mt.us/departments/parks-recreation.html
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Mary Ann Dunwell, MT DEQ Remediation
(406) 841-5016, 461-5358 cell, mdunwell@mt.gov
Brad Langsather, City of Helena Natural Resources Coordinator
(406) 447-8454, 465-8663 cell, blangsather@ci.helena.mt.us
