[PDF]National Underground Mines Inventory, 1983

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Research Triangle Institute


October 1983


RTI Project 44U-2507
Contract No. EMW-C-0707
FEMA Work Unit 161 1C


FINAL REPORT

RTI/2507/00-01F


NATIONAL UNDERGROUND
MINES INVENTORY


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Prepared for:

Federal Emergency Management Agency
Washingt n, D.C. 20472


Approved for Public Release; Distribution Unlimited



October 1983


RTI Project 44U-2507
Contract No. EMW-C-0707
Work Unit 1611C


FEMA Review Notice


Thie report hae been reviewed in the Federal
Emergency Management Agency and approved for
publication . Approval does not signify that
the contents necessarily reflect the views and
policies of the Federal Emergency Management
Agency .


FINAL REPORT


RTI/250//00-01F


NATIONAL UNDERGROUND
MINES INVENTORY


Prepared by:

M. Wright

R. Chessin
K. Reeves

S. York, III


Prepared for:

Federal Emergency Management Agency
Washington, D.C. 20472


Approved for P"blic Release; Distribution Unlimited


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SCCUUlTY CLASSiriCATION or THIS PAQ« fWh»? D«f«


REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE

READ INSTRUCTIONS
BEFORE COMPLETING FORM

1. REPORT NUMBER 2. OOVT ACCESSION NO.

Amnion

2. RECIPIENT'S CATALOG NUMBER

4 TITLE fans Subtitle)

National Underground Hines Inventory

S. TYPE OF REPORT A PERIOD COVERED

Final September 1982 -

October 1983

S. PERFORMING ORG. REPORT NUMBER

RTI/2507/00-01F

7. AUTHORf*;

M. Wright, R. Chessin, K. Reeves, S. York, III

A. CONTRACT OR GRANT NUMBERS

Contract No. EMW-C-0707

». PERrORMINO ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS

Research Triangle Institute

Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709

10. PROGRAM ELEMENT. PROJECT. TASK
AREA A WORK UNIT NUMBERS

Work Unit 1611C

1 1. CONTROLLING OPPICE NAME ANO ADDRESS

Federal Emergency Management Agency
Washington, DC 20472

12. REPORT DATE

October 1983

12. NUMBER OF PAGES

80

iJL MONITORING AGENCY name A AOORESSfi/ dllterent tr am Controlling Ottlea)

IS. SECURITY CLASS, (ol Otla report)

Unclassified

IS*. DECLASSIFICATION/ DOWNGRADING
SCHEDULE

IS. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT (ol (A la R apart;

Approved for Public Release; Distribution Unlimited

17. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT (ol Ota ebmuact entered In Bloek 20, It dt Iterant from Report)

IB. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES

IB. KEY WOROS {Contlnuo on raratre tide It nacaaaary and Identity by block number)

Underground Mines
Fallout Shelters
Crisis Relocation
Rapid Enhancement

20k ABSTRACT ftZaatkauo ■ roooroo aM> ft noaoaaaay and Identity by block number)

- The purpose of this study was to identify and, to the extent that

data are available, to characterize the underground, non-coal mines: in
the United States and to assemble the data obtained into a national
inventory of underground mines having the potential of providing lodging
and shelter as a civil defense measure during a natural or man-made
disaster. Data were collected from the Mine Safety and Health Admini- ^

stration, the U.S. Bureau of Mines, from discussions with mine inspectors.


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edition or i mov i> is obsolete


Unclassified


SECURITY CLASSIFICATION or THIS PAGE r»W««t Data Entered)



MCumtY CLASSIFICATI


m


:(WM« Dmta


2Q;Nand from mine owners and operators dun no visits to six underground
' mines. Thte data collected were incorporated into a computerized
underground mine data file at the FEMA/Olney Computer Center. -


Unclassified


StCUAITY CLASSIFICATION OF THIS FAOEPHi»n Data Sntarad )




Abstract


L The purpose of this study was to identify and, to the extent that data

are available, to characterize the underground, non-coal mines in the United
States ard to assemble the data obtained into a national inventory of
p underground mines having the potential of providing lodging and shelter as a

civil defense measure during a natural or man-made disaster. Data were
collected from the Mine Safety and Health Administration, the U.S. Bureau of
I Mines, from discussions with mine inspectors, and from mine owners and

operators during visits to six underground mines. The data collected were
incorporated into a computerized underground mine data file at the FEMA/Olney
b Computer Center.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS


Page


I. Introduction 1

II. Mine Inventory Development 5

A. Oata Collection 5

1. Examination of Data Files 5

2. Mine Visits 8

a. Weeks Island Mine. Morton Salt Company .... 11

b. San Manuel. Magma Copper 11

c. Homestake Mine. Lead. South Dakota 12

d. Frledensville Mine, New Jersey Zinc 13

e. \fe1meyer Mine Coltmbla Quarry Company and

Whltestone Mines, Georgia 14

m B. Data File Preparation 14

1. Mine ID 21

2. Status Code 21

3. Location 23

4. SIC Codes 23

5. Size (Acres) 24

6. Percent Intact 25

7. Entry Data . . . 25

8. Wetness Data 27

9. Toxic Gases 27

10. Holst Capacity (Persons/Hour) 28

11. Percent Habitable . 29

* 12. Number of Spaces . . . 30

13. Additional Features 30

III. Mine Use Evaluation 39

A. Planning Requirements 39

B. Impact Estimates 44

References 47


Appendix A: Listing of Mines in The National Underground Mines

Inventory

Appendix B: Mine Sheltering Capability Report




I. INTRODUCTION


In recent years, civil defense planners have emphasized two major
alternatives for protecting the civilian population In the event of a nuclear
attack on the United States. The first alternative— Implemented should an
attack occur suddenly, without warning— consists of sheltering the population
in the Immediate vicinity of Its locale at the time of attack. The second
alternative— Implemented during a period of International tensions that could
lead to war— consists of relocating (evacuating) populations of likely target
areas Into areas of lower risk where shelter from fallout would be provided.
The success of both alternatives depends on the availability of suitable
lodging and weapons effects shelter.

Federal civil defense officials have for a number of years been seeking
low-cost means of providing lodging and shelter. To this end, a civil defense
rapid enhancement concept was developed under which plans are made whereby
civil defense capabilities can be improved by a concentrated effort over a
relatively short period of time ranging from a few weeks to a year or more.
These efforts would be Initiated under conditions of heightened international
tensions. Previous civil defense research at RTI [Ref. 1] has shown that
underground mines can . * made usable as shelters in a short period of time and
at a low cost; therefore, these facilities appear to be ideally suited for
Incorporation Into rapid enhancement plans.

Under the National Shelter Survey (NSS), underground mines near
metropolitan areas were surveyed and are identified in the NSS data files.
However, unsurveyed mines that are remote from metropolitan areas could prove
to be a valuable resource for the crisis relocation option. The research
program described herein had the objectives of identifying and characterizing


all underground mines In the continental United States and of developing an
approach for Incorporating underground mines Into the civil defense rapid
enhancement concept. Since the number of underground mines located in risk
areas (and subject to high blast overpressures) Is relatively small, the
emphasis of this study was toward their use as congregate lodging and fallout
shelters rather than as direct effects shelters.

Effective use of underground mines as crisis shelters Is a function of
several factors:

. Mine location and physical character,

. Mine environment, and

. Resource availability for mine upgrading.

Mine location is Important In determining Its usefulness either as a
risk-area or host-area shelter. Location Is also an Important determinant of
accessibility for occupants and timely delivery of materials and supplies. In
host areas, fallout radiation protection Is the primary function of shelters,
although low-level blast effects may also be experienced. Underground mines
provide excellent fallout protection by virtue of the shielding provided by
the earth cover and most mines would not be affected by low-level blast
overpressures. In risk areas, shelters must provide protection from all
weapons effects Including blast, thermal pulse, and Initial nuclear radiation,
as well as fallout. The earth cover provides excellent protection from the
Initial nuclear radiation, thermal pulse, and fallout radiation with the
exception of areas near entranceways of drift-entry mines. Most underground
mines also provide good blast protection, although quantification of blast
protection requires a detailed analysis of each mine. Data important to such
an analysis include geologic formations around the mine; mine age; mine
entranceway type, size, and number; mine volume and interior configuration;


mint depth; nine support characteristics; and hoist equipment susceptibility
to blast damage. Usable floor area, means of Ingress and egress, and
adaptability to upgrading make up the physical character of a mine. Each of
these parameters Is an Important determinant of a mines usefulness as a
fallout shelter.

The Internal environment of a mine Is made up of thermal, chemical, and
biological characteristics of the mine atmosphere. Thermal characteristics
Include temperature and humidity; chemical characteristics refer to the
chemical makeup of mine air, which may Include toxic geses; and biological
characteristics refer to the potential presence of disease-producing agents
within a mine. Each of these environmental elements must be within a
habitable range In mines used as personnel shelters.

In their natural state, most mines would not be suitable for housing
large numbers of people. As a minimum, lighting and ventilation systems will
need to be added or upgraded. Expedient means of adding or upgrading these
Items should be available during a rapid enhancement period and should make
use of readily available materials and equipment to the extent possible.
Hence, the availability of upgrading resources Is an important consideration
In evaluating a mines fallout shelter potential.

The project described herein had objectives of Identifying all U.S.
underground mines that have the potential of being used as crisis shelters,
obtaining, to the extent that data are publicly available, information that
could be used to evaluate eacn mine's shelter potential, and assemblylng the
collected Information Into a comput —•zed national inventory of underground
mines compatible with the TENOS* civil defense operating system model.


*


TENOS - Test and evaluation cf National Operating Systems.


While a great deal of success was achieved In the first and third objectives*
progress toward the second objective was quite limited. Work performed and
results achieved during the course of the project are described In the
following sections.


II. MINE INVENTORY DEVELOPMENT


The first p«rt of the study Involved development of e national Inventory
of underground mines and mas carried out In two phases: a data collection
phase and a data file preparation phase. Data collection consisted of
purchasing computer files* written and telephone solicitations* and field
visits to mining operations. Data file preparation consisted of assembling
and computerizing the collected data* estimating missing data elements* and
calculating needed parameters.

A. DATA COLLECTION

1. Examination of Data Fil es

The Initial data collection task was the purchase of the most recent list
of U.S. mines from the Department of Labor* Mine Safety and Health
Administration (MSHA). The list was obtained on computer tape and represents
the status of metal and nonmetal mines at the end of the second quarter of
1982. Some of the Important data elements contained In the MSHA file for each
mine include: an Identification number, name, location (state and county).
Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code for the primary commodity mined,
current status of mining operations, mailing address, and a code Identifying
the mine as a surface or underground operation. Because this study Is
concerned only with underground mines, the purchased data file was processed
to create a new data file pertaining only to underground mines. This new data
file served as the basis for the national underground mines Inventory.

Once the mine listing was obtained, descriptive Information for each mine
was solicited through contacts with district, subdistrict, and field offices
of MSHA. Contacts were made by mail and by telephone. Information requested


5


Included nine location, estimated mined out area, entry type, wetness data,
toxic gas data, and mining status. In most cases, staff members at
subdistrict or field offices were able to supply the Information requested.

From Initial contacts with MSHA offices, It was learned that the MSHA
Safety and Health Analysis Center In Denver had compiled an Information file
describing mine hoist systems for approximately 75 percent of 'J.S. mines with
hoisting equipment. Copies of the hoist Information forms were requested and
subsequently provided to the project staff. Information from the hoist data
file was matched with other Information by matching mine Identification
numbers.

Information files maintained by MSHA did not generally contain all of the
data needed to assess a mine's shelter potential. The data obtained from MSHA
showed a great deal of variation In usefulness for civil defense purposes. In
some cases, followup conversations to clarify or supplement written
communications were adequate for our needs, while in other cases, desired
Information was unavailable. In the latter cases, estimates or assumptions
were made to complete the missing data when practical.

The data tape purchased from MSHA does not contain Information on
abandoned mines. Because abandoned mines are potentially useful as shelters,
efforts were made to Identify these mines. Two Important sources of abandoned
mine data were Identified: (1) the U.S. Department of Interior's Bureau of

Mines (BOM) and (2) MSHA supervisors and field Inspectors. The BOM Minerals
Availability Field Office (Denver) has developed an Inventory of both
operating and abandoned mines which includes underground mines for metals of
strategic Importance. RTI obtained a listing of their computerized data file
which, for each mine listed, identifies mine name, mine owner, county
location, longitude and latitude, commodity mined, date of data entry, depth

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and number of shafts, condition of mined out area, and amount of mined out
area* The BOH Information Is more extensive than that available from MSHA;
however. It's availability Is somewhat limited for certain metals (gold, for
example) and It Is unavailable for most nonmetals. Information relating to
Internal conditions (e.g., wetness data) of mines was frequently not available
In the BOM file. Such mines are Included In the mine Inventory even though
they may not be of use to Civil Defense Rapid Enhancement plans. Before any
mines in this category are incorporated Into civil defense plans, more
definitive Information regarding their shelter potential must be obtained and
evaluated by civil defense planners.

In addition to the BOM data on abandoned mines, MSHA personnel identified
mines that are not found on present MSHA computer files, in most cases, the
mines were known to have been taken off the computer lists for some reason but
were also known to have been developed and were thought to be in a condition
to provide s Ml ter. In eastern states, abandoned mines are predominantly
nonmetal while In rocky mountain and western states, they are predominantly
metai. Abandoned nonmetal mines were Identified in both the northeast and
nc-thcentral MSHA districts.

It is unlikely that all abandoned mines in the country were identified
during this project; however, information on the Bureau of Mines printout,
which identifies metal mines, combined with information obtained from MSHA
district, subdistrict, arid field offices, which predominantly relates to
nonmetal mines, provides a relatively thorough inventory of abandoned
underground mines. For most of the abandoned mines, no shelter space number
has been estimated because of uncertainty regarding the condition and size of




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2. Mine Visits

Because much of the mine information was obtained orally and is based
on Imprecise estimates by MSHA Inspectors, field visits were made to six mines
to obtain, first hand, a feel for conditions in and around actual underground
mines. The mine visits provided the project team with a sound basis for
inperpreting the information provided by MSHA. The visits also provided the
project team with practical Insights into the interior configuration and
conditions in a variety of metal and mineral mines where various mining
methods are used. The six mines were selected to represent a cross-section of
mines by geographic location, commodity mined, entry type, and mining method
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