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MOAB — Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining workers closed several old and unsafe mine openings north of Moab this month, including five mine shafts, the division announced Monday.
In all, 17 mine openings in the area of Klondike Bluffs north of Moab were patched up using rocks, polyurethane foam and grates. The openings, described as "hazardous" by the Division of Oil, Gas and Mining, belonged to 12 uranium mines and five copper mines, all of them abandoned.
"These mines were closed to protect public safety," Susan White, a project manager for the division, said in a statement. "People are intrigued by mine openings and often want to explore inside. These old mines can contain dangerous gases and unstable structures."
Crews worked 12-hour shifts throughout November to close the openings, said division spokeswoman Hollie Brown. The project was funded by the federal Bureau of Land Management, which owns the property where the mines are located. The closures were prioritized because of well-used mountain bike and jeep trails nearby that bring a lot of people to the area.
Where possible, workers only installed grates so bats that make the abandoned mines their home can continue to get in and out, according to Brown.
"At several of the mine openings, complete back filling was the only option to protect the public from high radon levels," she said.