Amador County - Efforts to clean up tens of thousands of abandoned mine sites throughout the West should get a boost from the economic stimulus bill signed by President Barack Obama last Tuesday. Amador County alone is home to at least 39 registered mines and countless other abandoned shafts dating back to the 19th century. The stimulus bill apportions more than $1.5 billion to the National Park Service, Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management for related projects. These agencies anticipate using a large portion of these funds to address abandoned mines on public lands. Senator Dianne Feinstein, a strong advocate for this funding, anticipates that priority funding will be based on which projects generate the most jobs. The amount allocated is considered a first step, as more than $25 million was spent on mine cleanup in the last budget year. The Environmental Protection Agency says it could cost as much as $50 billion to clean up mines throughout the west. There are over 161,000 abandoned mines in Alaska and 11 other western states, plus South Dakota. Story by Alex Lane