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Henry Austin wants to ensure mining operations return the land used back to its original state.

Austin is the senior reclamation specialist for the U.S. Department of the Interior, and his job is to ensure that surface mines are following government guidelines in the reclamation process. He visited Craig this week to visit with local mines about reclamation projects.

In the past two years, Austin has released several hundred acres at the Trapper Mine from government compliance supervision.

"Lands have to go through a 10-year compliance period," Austin said. "A final bond release occurs when the government is satisfied with the re-vegetation process."

Reclaiming of surface-mined land happens in three phases, beginning with back-filling and grading the land to an acceptable level, Austin said.

The second phase involves re-vegetating the land to its native appearance and maintaining the growing vegetation.

Phase three is when the re-vegetation is considered successful and the government deems the reclaiming period complete.

Another parcel of land at Trapper Mine is about halfway through the reclamation process, Austin said.

While in the area, Austin has also been inspecting the former Empire Mine.

His primary mission is to ensure mines are in compliance with their reclamation processes.

At the Seneca Mine complex, eight miles south of Hayden, the reclamation process is complete on the Seneca-Two Mine, and phase one has begun on Seneca-Two West and the Yost Mine. Back-filling and grading should be completed by the end of the year, with initial re-vegetation seedlings in the ground.

While in Craig, Austin stopped by Moffat County High School to talk with teachers about an Arbor Day celebration in which he hopes to enlist students in the planting of five Colorado blue spruce trees around the campus. Arbor Day is April 21.

Dan Olsen can be reached at 824-7031 ext.207 or at dolsen@craigdailypress.com.