Utah Division Of Oil, Gas And Mining

The Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining actively manages Utah's resources by fostering responsible resource development, protecting public safety, and preserving the environment. There are four programs within the Division: coal, minerals, oil and gas, and abandoned mine reclamation. Coal - Supports a sustainable coal mining industry to meet the nation's energy needs - Implements standards that protect the environment, public health and safety while operations are underway - Ensures successful reclamation of mined lands - Utah's coal industry contributes about $500 million each year to the state's economy - Coal-fired power plants provide more than 80 percent of Utah's electricity Minerals - Oversees and regulates large and small mineral mines and exploration projects. - Permits are issued to ensure compliance with environmental laws and regulations - Verifies mined lands are reclaimed - Mineral mining provides more than $3 billion to Utah's economy - Utah ranks fifth in the nation in mineral production - Currently oversees more than 600 permitted mineral operations statewide Oil and Gas - Approves new drilling operations - Inspects new and existing oil and gas operations for regulatory compliance - Ensures oil and gas wells are properly plugged and abandoned - Collects, processes and maintains ownership, production, disposition and status of oil and gas exploration, production wells and facilities - Permits and inspects injection and disposal wells and surface water disposal pits - Utah ranks 12th in oil production and 11th in natural gas in the United States Abandoned Mine Reclamation - Protects public health and safety from hazards at abandoned mines - Restores lands damaged by past unregulated mining (pre-1977) - Educates the public and fourth grade students about the dangers of abandoned mines - Estimated 17,000 abandoned mines in Utah- closed approximately 6,000 since the program began in 1983.