PHOENIX -- Days after a deadly mine tragedy near Kingman, the state's top mine inspector vowed to do what he can to get more money for sealing abandoned mines.

This year state lawmakers gave mine inspector Joe Hart $50,000.

After a young girl died when her all-terrain vehicle plunged into a mine shaft on Saturday, Hart wants 10 to 20 times as much for next year. Hart said he's asking for between $500,000 and $1 million for the coming year.

"We've got this problem statewide," Hart said. "I've got three of them down in Tombstone the same way. I've got one in Prescott that's right next to a YMCA camp that's 400 feet deep. Kids have got trails right up to it."

Hart said his current funding only allows him to fill three mine shafts with dirt this year.

"I filled one just out in Buckeye the other day and I filled it for $16,000," Hart said.

The state has an estimated 100,000 abandoned mines.

Hart said the situation is urgent because dangerous mine shafts that used to be 30 miles out of town are now right next to new home developments, thanks to the Valley's growth.

"We've got to bite the bullet. Instead of spending more money doing studies and everything to figure out what we're going to do instead of just doing it," Hart said. "It's not rocket science. We can dig a hole and we can darn sure fill it back up."

Hart said environmental rules are holding up the sealing of a west Valley mine shaft that goes 500 feet straight down.

Hart said the former gold mine shaft is right next to new houses.

"There's houses within 50 feet of it. That's quite a developing area right at the end of 91st Avenue," Hart said.

The state covered the mine with chain link, but someone cut a hole and lowered a kinked fire hose inside to climb down.

"Well it would get them down far enough they'd get in deep trouble," Hart said.

The chain link has been replaced. Hart wants to fill the hole with dirt, but because there are bats, he's required to put a much more expensive bat gate over the opening to allow the bats to pass. It's money he doesn't have.

Community members in and around Chloride, Ariz., hope the mine tragedy will result in government action.

"This will hopefully spur the state and everyone else to take a look at how to make these areas safe," said Bill Harness, principal at Mount Tipton School where Rikki Howard and Casie Hicks attended class.

Harness said riding ATVs is a popular hobby and something needs to be done because of all the abandoned mines in the area.

"That's the tragedy, that that whole thing happened like it did," Harness said.