Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining

09/02/2026

08/26/2026

08/18/2026

The Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining’s Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program (AMRP) will host a public meeting Sept.1 from 6 to 8 p.m. to discuss plans to investigate the flooded Price Tunnels in the Mill D South Fork area of Big Cottonwood Canyon.

The meeting will be held at the Department of Natural Resources building, 1594 W. North Temple, in Salt Lake City. The public can also participate remotely at https://meet.google.com/ofi-ozod-aqy?hs=224 or livestream on the division’s YouTube channel.

The tunnels are part of an old underground mining and drainage system. Both have collapsed and filled with water, making them inaccessible for inspection. AMRP plans to drill into the tunnels to measure water levels and pressure and gather information needed to design a system to stabilize them and safely manage water outflow.

The goal is to minimize the risk of uncontrolled water release. While the water is not toxic, an unexpected release from the unstable portals could damage Salt Lake City’s downstream water treatment facilities.

The proposed drilling work is tentatively scheduled to begin in mid-September.

The Price Tunnels are named after Fred W. Price, who owned several mining claims beginning in 1915. Originally excavated in search of gold, silver, and lead, the tunnels were later used to drain water from other connected tunnels and adits.

For additional information, please contact Project Manager Katie Potter at 385-454-0921 or [email protected].

08/05/2026

Today at the Governor’s One Utah Summit in Cedar City, OGM Director Mick Thomas, Torus CEO Nate Walkingshaw, and Mariana Minerals CEO Turner Caldwell led a panel discussion to examine Utah’s role in bridging the gap between resource potential and a fully domestic supply chain. The conversation explored the strategic investments, regulatory environments, and cross-sector collaborations essential to establishing Utah’s blueprint for mineral independence, ultimately securing long-term stability for the nation’s defense, energy, and economic sectors.

07/28/2026

Did you know Utah is the world’s leading source of beryllium?
This lightweight, ultra-strong metal is critical for missiles, satellites, aircraft, and other aerospace technologies. The Spor Mountain mining district in Juab County supplies an estimated 65–85% of the world’s beryllium, including material used for the gold-plated mirrors on NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope.
With global supply concentrated in one location, Utah’s beryllium resources play a vital role in national security, aerospace innovation, and the future of space exploration.

07/22/2026

Critical minerals are essential to Utah’s economy, energy future, and national security, making responsible development of these resources increasingly important to our state and nation.

07/16/2026

The division has updated its oil and gas bonding requirements to better protect taxpayers and ensure adequate funding for well plugging and site reclamation throughout the life of an operation. The new rules took effect on July 8, 2026, and strengthen financial assurances while supporting responsible energy development.

Learn more: https://ogm.utah.gov/2026/07/16/ogm-implements-updated-oil-and-gas-bonding-rules/

05/04/2026

The Silver King Coalition Mine Headframe Building in Park City has been honored with the Rehabilitation and Restoration Award from Preservation Utah, in recognition of a monumental effort to save one of the state’s most vital industrial landmarks from the brink of loss. This prestigious recognition was awarded to the Friends of Ski Mountain Mining History, the Division of Oil, Gas and Mining’s Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program and Calder Richards Consulting Engineers, LLC for their work in stabilizing the 1926 structure. Over a grueling four-year period, the team overcame extreme mountain logistics and record-breaking snowfalls to plug a collapsing 1,325-foot mine shaft, restore 1,600 window panes, and salvage original corrugated metal panels to preserve the building’s authentic historic patina.

Now a centerpiece of a newly designated National Historic District, this former ruin has been transformed into a permanent open-air museum. It is prepared to serve as the anchor for the Park City Historic Mine Route, which begins this September and links today’s explorers to Utah’s rich silver-mining history that has influenced its civic identity.

For more on the project, check out https://www.parkrecord.com/2026/04/17/friends-of-ski-mountain-mining-claims-a-stewardship-award/.

03/18/2026

The Division of Oil, Gas, and Mining has relaunched its Stay Out, Stay Alive abandoned mine safety campaign with a new website, updated videos, and a redesigned fourth-grade workbook aligned with Utah Core Standards. With new content, interactive activities, and fresh artwork, the program helps students learn about mine safety, science, and Utah’s rich mining history.

Abandoned mines may contain explosive materials, toxic gases, and unstable structures, and access can be challenging for emergency responders.

Learn more at https://ogm.utah.gov/stay-out-stay-alive/. Fourth-grade teachers interested in the workbooks can contact [email protected].