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Rescue workers gather equipment May 1972 in Kellogg, Idaho, in an attempt to rescue trapped miners. Ninety-one workers died in the Sunshine Mine disaster, making it the deadliest mining accident in Idaho history.

Idaho mines face investigations

With recent deaths in West Virginia, the federal government has called for an investigation of all mines across the country

Ashley Walker WAL02016@BYUI.EDU Scroll Staff

Mining has halted after the January deaths of 16 miners in West Virginia when one month in what the Associated Press called “the deadliest year in the state’s coalfields in more than a decade.”

Mining inspections are being held throughout the United States and can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. 

“Federal officials also asked coal mines nationwide to conduct a time-out, or ‘Stand Down for Safety,’” according to the Associated Press.

This stand down includes Idaho’s large mining industry.

According to the Idaho Mining Association, the Idaho mining industry employs 4,000 people with a payroll of over $160 million a year. 

Idaho has two major underground mines, the Lucky Friday and the Galena. Both produce silver.

“Because silver mines are fundamentally different than the coal mines back east where the recent tragedies have occurred, there has been no need to change the way our mines operate,” said Jack Lyman, executive vice president of the Idaho Mining Association.

But Idaho officials are aware of the safety risks involved in mining and is taking measures to increase employee safety.

On Feb. 5, 2005, the Idaho legislature introduced the Cyanide Bill.

Cyanide is poisonous if swallowed or absorbed through injured skin, so high regulations and laws are followed when using the chemical for mining.

“Dilute solutions of cyanide have been used safely for gold mining in this country for over three decades.  Cyanide must be handled with care, however, and mining personnel are specially trained to do so,” said Carol Raulston, from the National Mining Association.

The Cyanide Bill was enacted last year in order to update Idaho’s regulation of gold mining.  The bill passed last year, and this year the legislature has been reviewing the rules that were developed to implement the provisions of the statute.

State safety officials continue to investigate ways to make mining a safer industry in Idaho.