State sends cease and desist letter to Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine owners after deadly accident

CRIPPLE CREEK, Colo. (KRDO) – The Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (DRMS) sent a cease and desist letter to the owners of the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine in Cripple Creek following an inspection following the fatal incident and rescue of the mine on Thursday, October 10, 2024.

The incident left 23 people trapped and one dead after a suspected elevator malfunction.

The letter prohibits the reopening of the mine until DRMS’ ongoing review of the operation is completed.

Safety at Colorado’s tourist mines is regulated by the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety’s Mine Safety and Training Program. Safety at active mines is regulated by the Federal Mine Safety and Health Administration.

The State claims that prior to the incident, DRMS ​​Mine and Safety Training Program inspection reports for the Mollie Kathleen Mine were satisfactory, with inspectors finding no violations or observed hazards.

The Mollie Kathleen Mine is Colorado’s only tourist mine with a personnel elevator. The mine was last inspected on August 29, 2024.

In addition to annual inspections, regulations state that operators of tourist mines must carry out daily inspections. It is necessary to keep a record of these inspections and make it available for the inspector to examine at the tourist mine for the current and immediately preceding year.

The DRMS ​​provides the logbooks, but they are maintained and stored by individual mine operators.

According to the state, Colorado’s tourist mines have an excellent safety record. Every year, thousands of tourists safely visit these mines, where they learn about the importance of our state’s precious natural resources and the history of mining in Colorado.

The Teller County Sheriff’s Department along with the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration are investigating the accident.

The DRMS ​​Mine Safety and Training Program will continue to evaluate the facility for compliance with the Mine Safety Training Program Regulations for Tourist Mines and is prepared to respond to any requests for assistance with ongoing investigations.

The staff and leadership of DRMS ​​and the Colorado Department of Natural Resources send their sincerest condolences to the family of the late mine tour guide and the surrounding community during this incredibly difficult time.