Reclamation has become an important part of modern mining, and Freeport-McMoRan has obtained permits from the state of New Mexico to close and reclaim areas so the environment is protected and mined land is fully reclaimed. Reclamation began at part of this site in 2008, and when areas of the mine are no longer needed, they will be capped and seeded. Under the New Mexico Mining Act, administered by the New Mexico Mining and Minerals Division of the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department and the New Mexico Environment Department, the environment and public health and safety must be protected after copper production ends, though the law does not require removing all evidence of mining, so these private lands will always show signs of their past as an active mining district. Reclamation is currently taking place at the Freeport-McMoRan mine at Tyrone, southwest of Silver City. Overlooking the Santa Rita Mine is the geologic formation called the Kneeling Nun, a monolith formed by volcanic activity about 35 million years ago that is said to resemble a nun in prayer before an altar and has long inspired legends and folklore.