“Abandoned mines were the first thing to make me throw my hat in the ring, after the two little girls in Chloride fell into the abandoned mine in September of 2007,” Manuel Cruz said.

“I was working and in charge of the safety explosives and mining division. I contacted the State Mines Office to try to help, I wanted to extend an offer to do anything that I could to help,  as a miner. Then I actually put a proposal together to efficiently close down the abandoned mines in that area. .

‘For the cost of fencing off the mines, we could close the mines with methods that are environmentally friendly. The Arizona State Mines Office would not give me call-backs, would not take a meeting, after several attempts.”

According to Cruz, private companies and communities with mines in their areas have been trying to close down abandoned mines. The mining companies want to close abandoned mines on their lands and near their operations because it is such a large liability issue.  The communities want abandoned mines sealed for environmental and safety issues. These groups simply cannot get action from the state. .

“There were companies and communities, people out there trying to close down the mines. And my heart goes out when these kids get hurt or killed,” Cruz said.

“If something like this happened on my watch and people from the mining community want to help, and they [the state] won’t even talk to you…I have 15 years as a safety director, and explosive engineer and miner. And I have worked in mines all over Arizona as well in nine other states across the country.” .

Cruz said,  “The inspector focuses on mine safety training, inspections, enforces rules, regulations and environmental standards and closes down the abandoned mines. And that is the job I plan on doing.”

He would like to increase mine safety training with a ‘Safety Starts with Me’ program. He wants to instill the belief in each one of the mine workers that they are responsible for safety and can make a difference.

The International Society of Mine Safety Professionals found that safety training is effective in reinforcing proper procedures and reducing accidents so miners get home safe.

As regards environmentally safe methods to shut down mines, there are several and closing depends on the particular configuration of the mine.

Many mines can be backfilled.  Deep vertical mines can use rock-bolting–iron rods are drilled into the circumference of the shaft and the supporting metal grading is then covered with concrete; or some mines can be blasted to close.

These methods permanently close the mines without causing environmental damage. “There are approximately ten thousand (10,000) abandoned mines in Arizona,” Manuel Cruz said, “and those are just the ones that are documented. It is estimated that there might be one hundred thousand (100,000) abandoned mines state-wide. ‘

Of those that are documented, one-third are deemed hazardous. Arizona also has strip mines that need to be reclaimed. ‘Voters need to really make a conscious choice on who they vote for.  I have been a miner for fifteen (15) years. I care about the industry and the communities that surround the mining industries, so I am going to be working hard for them.” .

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