Abandoned mines present a number of critical safety issues with respect to active mining operations and surface facilities at mines. MSHA has provided funding to various states to help them address these issues through improved mine map collection, digitizing, geo-referencing, archiving, ground-truthing, validating, and delivery. This effort, in combination with the recently-completed Mine Void Detection Demonstration Projects should enhance the tools and information available to mine operators for locating and addressing mine voids and the associated risks.
