The Interior Department's Office of Surface Mining (OSM) is distributing a brochure designed to warn people about the dangers of abandoned mines.

The brochure, produced by OSM's Office of Communications, has "one simple message," according to OSM Director Jeff Jarrett: "Keep Out, Old Mines Are Dangerous!"

People are killed and injured every year while exploring or playing on abandoned mines, usually because they are unaware of the dangers.

"We all need to help educate people about the dangers of abandoned mines," said Jarrett.

Abandoned underground mines are not like naturally-formed caves which are attractive to recreational and professional explorers. Mine tunnels conceal many potentially lethal hazards, including deadly gases, poisonous snakes, cave-ins, unused or misfired explosives, and vertical shafts hidden within the tunnels. Untrained or unauthorized individuals are frequently not aware of these dangers.

Every year people drown in abandoned surface mine impoundments and flooded mine pits, unaware of hidden objects under the water and the steep, slippery sides of the impoundment or pit.

"During the past 25 years we have eliminated abandoned mine dangers on over 180,000 acres of mine sites," said Jarrett. "But we estimate this is only about 20 percent of the hazards throughout the country. It's important for people to become aware of the dangers and keep out of abandoned mines while we continue the important job of reclaiming the remaining hazardous abandoned mine sites". @