Don Newton Elected President of the National Association of Abandoned Mine Land Programs
CHEYENNE, WYOMING - The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality is proud to announce that Don Newton, Administrator of Wyoming’s Abandoned Mine Land (AML) Division, has been elected President of the National Association of Abandoned Mine Land Programs (NAAMLP). The announcement was made at the 46th Annual NAAMLP Fall Conference held in Gulf Shores, Alabama, from October 5-8, 2025.
Joining Newton on the newly elected leadership team are Lesa Baker of Virginia, who will serve as Vice President, and Kit Turpin of Indiana, elected as Secretary/Treasurer.
NAAMLP represents 30 state and 3 tribal AML programs dedicated to addressing public health and safety hazards stemming from historic abandoned coal and hardrock mines. The organization works in close partnership with the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement and the Office of Environmental Protection and Compliance to mitigate leftover mine-related hazards and restore impacted landscapes to productive use.
“It’s an honor to be elected to lead the NAAMLP addressing regional and national abandoned mine issues,” said Newton.
Wyoming’s AML Division has been a leader in mine land reclamation for over 40 years, tackling challenges such as subsidence, mine fires, and hazardous vertical openings left behind by historic mining operations. Newton’s election underscores the state’s longstanding commitment to public safety and environmental restoration.
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