DEQ RECLAMATION AWARDS

Awards In Reclamation

Deq Awards Annual Coal Reclamation Award To Coal Creek Mine

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) recently awarded the 2022 Excellence in Mining Reclamation Award for coal to Thunder Basin Coal Company for reclamation work at three of four open pits at the Coal Creek Mine in 2021. DEQ presents the Excellence in Mining Reclamation Awards to Wyoming coal and noncoal mine operators who demonstrate an achievement in a specific aspect of mine reclamation or for overall performance in meeting reclamation goals.

A statement from Thunder Basin Coal Company said, “Thunder Basin Coal Company is honored to receive the 2022 Excellence in Mining Reclamation Award for Coal Creek Mine. The award reflects the company’s efforts and commitment to re-establishing a thriving post-mine environment.”

Thunder Basin Coal Company managers relocated equipment and personnel from an adjacent mine, Black Thunder, to the Coal Creek Mine to focus on reclamation. They expanded crew sizes and adjusted schedules to accommodate 24-hour reclamation work.

Matt Kunze, DEQ natural resources program supervisor, said, “Thunder Basin Coal Company successfully demonstrated the ability to shift and prioritize resources at their larger mine to focus on reclamation at their adjacent mine during a period of decreased market demand.”

The Coal Creek Mine encompasses 9,405 acres in the Powder River Basin south of Gillette. During this time, Thunder Basin Coal Company workers backfilled and graded approximately 2,000 acres.

Final material placement during 2021 totaled 22.4 million yards, which will reduce the outstanding bond liability for the mine. For the first time in the mine’s history, the amount of backfilled and graded acres exceeds the active mining acres.

The Thunder Basin Coal Company statement said, “The project was an important step in managing a responsible footprint throughout recent challenging and dynamic market conditions.”

To date, 98% of the Coal Creek Mine’s existing permanent reclamation has gone through a minimum of Phase I bond release. Topsoil placement and seeding are estimated to be completed by the end of 2022.

Kunze said, “Once final reclamation is completed, the outcome of the reclamation work started in 2021 will more than double the amount of permanent reclamation at the mine, helping to achiever the post-mine land use of livestock grazing and wildlife habitat.”

DEQ AWARDS ANNUAL NON - COAL RECLAMATION AWARD TO COLONY MINE

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) recently awarded the 2022 Excellence in Mining Reclamation Award for non-coal to Halliburton Bentonite Performance Minerals (BPM) for the voluntary reclamation of an abandoned mine site adjacent to the Colony Mine.

DEQ presents the Excellence in Mining Reclamation Awards to Wyoming coal and noncoal mine operators who demonstrate an achievement in a specific aspect of mine reclamation or for overall performance in meeting reclamation goals.

Jennifer Hartman, environmental specialist from BPM, said, “It’s an honor to receive a 2022 Reclamation Award from the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality. At Halliburton BPM, we strive to be good stewards of the land and wildlife, and our reclamation work to create functional grazing land for local landowners is a rewarding part of what we do here.”

BPM voluntarily conducted reclamation work at the pre-law Miller Read 20 site. “Pre-law” means the site was disturbed before the Open Cut Land Reclamation Act of 1969 required mine operators to backfill open mine sites.

The Miller Read 20 site was left un-reclaimed for several decades. Livestock grazing and wildlife uses at the site were limited because the site didn’t have topsoil for natural reseeding and because of erosion caused by the lack of ground cover.

BPM’s permitted bentonite mining and reclamation operations are adjacent to the Miller Read 20 site. The mine permit area encompasses 19,926 acres and is located in Crook County in northeastern Wyoming.

BPM began reclamation work on the Miller Read 20 site in 2010 after the company advanced its mining pits and subsequently reclaimed them along the west side of the pre-law area.

BPM contoured and placed topsoil on the former highwall and surrounding area. Topsoil often was not salvaged at pre-law mining sites, making reclamation difficult. BPM used additional soil resources and suitable overburden material from the Colony Mine to accomplish the reclamation at the Miller Read 20 site.

BPM first began seeding the site in 2013 and seeded the final portion in 2021. The company used a native seed mix along with a rye cover crop. The rye crop helps stabilize the soil and capture moisture, enhancing survival of the native species.

Matt Kunze, DEQ natural resources program supervisor, said, “BPM is commended for conducting this pre-law reclamation voluntarily as the mine performed reclamation on adjacent mined areas. The end result is that both the current mine and pre-law areas have been reclaimed together to restore them to be functional for livestock grazing and wildlife habitat.”