National Summit of Mining Communities

Last Year's Schedule & Topics (Leadville, 2007)

Area Tours

Mining District Tour— Stan Christensen, Remedial Project Manager for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 8, will lead a tour through the historic mining district of the California Gulch Superfund Site.

Rebecca Thomas, also a Remedial Project Manager for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 8, will lead a more informal tour of the California Gulch Superfund Site by bicycle. The 12-mile tour will follow the Mineral Belt Trail, a spectacular paved pathway (bike rental available).

Leadville, Colorado and Southern Railway— the train takes you on a scenic ride following the headwaters of the Arkansas River, through the old mining district up toward Fremont Pass and Climax Molybdenum Mine. (Train Fare $28.50)

Hayden Ranch Tour— Guided tour of the Hayden Homestead Heritage Area and Hayden Meadows Recreation Area

Self Guided Tours — Route of the Silver Kings and Leadville Walking Tour

Concert featuring The Rifters (tickets required $15) the National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum

Regulations

Registration, Museum Tour and Expo

Welcome/Opening Luncheon/Guest Speaker

Session 1

Track I Regulations/Community Remediation

A mine is closing or ceasing productions in your community. How can the local community participate in and affect this process? How can a Good Samaritan Act benefit the community?

Track II The Federal Story

With the stroke of a pen, the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 created the historic preservation industry in America. Learn the basics of this landmark legislation and how it affects your community.

Session 2

Track I Regulations/The State

In the process of opening, reopening, closing or ceasing production what will be the role and responsibility of state government? How can the community participate in this process?

Track II The State Story

The State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) and the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer (THPO) are the most influential historic preservation regulators in your state or Tribal land. They exist to facilitate and help promote your historic preservation initiatives. Learn why they want to help your community.

Session 3

Track I Local Regulations

What regulatory steps can a community take during the life cycle of a mine that will provide lasting economic stability? How can you plan for the beneficial reuse of mine sties or the resumption of mining? How can a community assess and enhance the likelihood of mining resumption?

Track II The Local Story

Your community has the ultimate regulatory power to preserve your cultural heritage and stimulate economic growth. Learn how local citizens can determine how historic preservation and comprehensive planning work together to sustain viable communities.

Taste of Leadville / Expo

Sample the local cuisine and spirits of America's highest Incorporated City, and mingle with fellow passengers on the boom and bust rollercoaster. Tour the National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum and visit the the Summit Expo, new this year.

Environmental Best Practices

Session 4

Track I The Altered Environment: An Overview
“Nobody can be in good health if they do not have at all times, fresh air, sunshine, and good water.” Chief Flying Hawk, Ogallala Sioux, 1852–1931. The action of extracting natural resources from the earth affects the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the soil that supports us. What are the issues we face as new mines come on line, or as old mining sites are abandoned? A panel of experts addresses the national policies and standards that govern our actions, and the “state of the art” in addressing impacts to our most basic of resources.

Track II The Changing Cultural Landscape: An Overview

Our quality of life is buoyed by the cultural and natural landscapes we revere. Integrating the two can be a daunting task. How do we balance the desire to preserve historic assets with the needs for contemporary design expression? Can natural resource management generate sustainable economic returns? Are heritage tourism and outdoor recreation mutually exclusive? Our panel of experts discuss these issues and the various policy initiatives underway that affect our quality of life.

Session 5

Track I The Air We Breathe

Air is the most basic element of a living planet. Case studies of the issues that mining communities have faced regarding airborne contaminants such as fugitive dust, radon, particulates, pathogens, and noxious gasses resulting from the extraction of natural resources. What solutions or environmental practices have communities enacted or embraced to protect or improve the quality of the air we breathe?

Track II Education is Key

Education is critical to developing the knowledge base necessary to design, build, craft, regulate, advocate, manage, and promote the economic and social benefits of historic preservation in our communities. Learn from pioneers in community based historic preservation education how they did it and how you can spearhead the effort in your community.

Topical Luncheon

Sign up and go to lunch in town with a presenter that fascinates you. Selected presenter will host a lunch discussion for about 20 kindred souls and solve all the problems of the world.

Session 6

Track I The Water We Drink

From the cellular level, to the vitality of entire communities, water is the lifeblood of human existence. Acid mine drainage, turbidity, heavy metal loading and sediment yield are common issues impacting water quality in mining communities. How have past actions affected water quality, and what have other communities done to protect or restore the quality of the water supply for human and wild inhabitants?

Track II Historic Preservation and Contemporary Design

Many historic districts face growing challenges to incorporate contemporary design and development into their communities. What are the issues? Join our experts as they present case studies of successful projects from communities throughout the country.

Session 7

Track I The Good Earth

The earth beneath our feet supports us, provides the growing medium for the food we eat, and provides the building blocks for everything from the cars and planes in which we arrived, to that pesky cell phone you forgot to turn off. The disturbance of soil through the extraction of our natural resources has altered its surface chemistry, mobility, and the bio-availability of its metals and contaminants. Case studies on the methods of amending, isolating, encapsulating, or removing contaminated soils from communities across the nation.

Track II Green What For Whom?

Sustainability and Green are terms in our contemporary lexicon that mean many different things to many different people. Learn how to cut through the hyperbole and apply these techniques in your community to enhance the quality of life.

Expo/Networking/Museum Tour/Dinner on the town

Economics

Session 8

Track I Strengthening the Community Voice

The Mining Companies are driven by business interests, and the Regulators are driven by regulations. What is it that defines the Community's interests? Learn to define and articulate your Communities' interests in a loud and clear voice.

Track II Where's the Money?

Join this no-nonsense session to learn the basics of funding sources for historic preservation initiatives in your community. Learn the pros and cons of hiring professional grant writers and advising individuals and business owners as to the sources of funding. Discuss strategies for partnering.

Session 9

Track I The Mining Company as a Good Neighbor

Good neighbors look out for each other and are eager to lend a helping hand. Learn from a Mining Company how you can be good neighbors.

Track II Heritage Tourism vs. Recreation Tourism: Strange Bedfellows?

Tourists today are looking for more diversified and authentic experiences in their travel plans. Learn how to discover and integrate human built and natural assets into a comprehensive strategy to optimize visitation and minimize the negative impacts of tourism in your community.

Closing Luncheon - Guest Speaker

Innovation Awards