An Arizona abandoned mine shaft
Globe, AZ (August 24, 2011) – Manuel Cruz, Founder and Executive Director of Abandoned Mines Safety, Inc. of Glendale, Arizona announced that two abandoned mines will be permanently closed in Globe, Arizona Round Mountain Park today.
“The abandoned mines are near hiking paths and were a continuing danger for the community,” said Cruz.
“These two abandoned mines will be closed using a combination of blasting and backfilling,” said Cruz, an explosives engineer. “In addition, we have to blast outcroppings associated with the mines to ensure that the area will be safe. Using blasting combined with backfilling of the surrounding material will guarantee permanent mine closure.”
The procedure began with pre-blast drilling on August 22, 2011. The circumference of each mine received 15 drill holes each with a depth 3 feet per drill hole. Abandoned mine #1 is 6 feet in circumference and 8 feet deep. Abandoned mine #2 is 8 feet in circumference and 15 feet deep.
After the blasting is completed, a Globe city worker will fill any remaining hole depth with material from the blasts, using a back hoe or Bob Cat.
“Rosemont Copper and the Arizona AFL-CIO sponsored this project,” said Cruz.
“Rosemont Copper is proud to partner with Abandoned Mine Safety, Inc.’s efforts to support and expand the abandoned mine public awareness program,” said Dennis Fischer, Project Site Coordinator for Rosemont Copper. “As we move forward with development and production, we will continue to put safety first for our employees, contractors, and the general public.”
“I commend the Abandoned Mine Safety Organization for their important work in closing and securing abandoned mines in and around our communities,” said Rebekah Friend, Executive Director Secretary-Treasurer of the Arizona AFL-CIO. “Furthermore, the organization’s educational outreach program is an eye-opening learning experience that puts into focus the inherent danger to all Arizonans of unsecured abandoned mines.”
RSC Rentals is donating an air compressor and Sun State Rentals is donating a hand rock drill and accessories.
Round Mountain Park is Globe’s hiking park. Right next to a city, the hiking trails do have some nice desert scenery and colorful rocks. The park features four short, easy trails denoted as West Round Mountain, East Round Mountain, Boulder Canyon, and Box Canyon that all loop together. Conveniently spaced native juniper trees provide some shade on the hike. Round Mountain Park is open from sunrise to sunset.
Cruz is a graduate of the Austin Powder Blasting Academy specializing in explosives and blasting engineering. With over sixteen years of experience as an explosives engineer, safety director, and miner, Cruz has worked in over 100 mines across the country, including underground mines, surface mines, and abandoned mines.
Cruz was a 2010 candidate for Arizona State Mine Inspector. He is currently on the Citizens Advisory Commission on Neighborhoods for the City of Glendale, Arizona.
Manuel Cruz is a fourth generation Arizona native. He, his wife, and four of their five children reside in Glendale, Arizona. His eldest daughter has just completed her term of duty in the United States Navy, serving as a Navigator on the U.S.S. Donald Cook.
Founded in 2011, Abandoned Mine Safety, Inc. is a 501 (C)(3) tax deductible non-profit organization dedicated to the closing, and securing, of abandoned mines in and around our communities, and providing abandoned mine safety education to schools K-12, private organizations, businesses, and public events. Abandoned Mine Safety is committed to working with Local, State and Federal agencies as well as the Mine Safety and Health Administration.
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“I congratulate and commend Manuel Cruz and The Abandoned Mine Safety Organization on the two abandoned mine closures in Round Mountain Park in Globe today,” said Congressman Raul M. Grijalva. “The efforts to educate school children and the public about mine safety are important for all the people in Arizona who enjoy our outdoor parks and hiking areas. These efforts will make a significant contribution to the safety of the people of Arizona for many years to come.”
“Globe is very grateful to everyone who has contributed their time and effort to help make our community a safer place. The Globe-Miami area has a rich mining history and the colorful stories that go along with it. However, one of the untold stories is that there hundreds of abandoned mines in Arizona. Many of them pose a serious threat to the unwary hiker,” said Mayor Fernando Shipley.
“Globe has more than their share of these mines,” said Shipley. “Thanks to the commitment of Manuel Cruz and his organization, we are identifying some of the more dangerous mines, and closing them.”
The children of AZ thank you, Manny. Hope that you will run again and let us vote for you again.
Bob Smith
Scottsdale
PAY ATTENTION TO THIS SAFETY ALERT: THOUGHT THAT LOTS OF MASSAGE PEOPLE IN AREA AND CLIENTS MIGHT HAVE THIS AND DON’T USE IT !!!! thanks, Michele
The Food and Drug Administration issued an alert Friday saying one death and one near-strangulation have been reported with the ShoulderFlex Massager after a necklace and piece of clothing became caught in a rotating component of the device. In other cases, the FDA says people’s hair became caught in the machine.
The agency urges people who own the device to “dispose of the device components separately so that the massager cannot be reassembled and used.”
Manufacturer King International has distributed nearly 12,000 of the devices since October 2003 through retail stores and websites in the U.S. The company plans to recall the device, according to the FDA. The agency said it could take additional action against the company.