Peabody Receives Reclamation Award from WDEQ

A mining company was recently recognized for their reclamation work in Wyoming. Sheridan Media’s Ron Richter has the details.

The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WDEQ) recently awarded the 2020 Excellence in Mining Reclamation Award for coal to Peabody Powder River Mining LLC regarding its management practices related to the successful revegetation of the North Antelope Rochelle Mine near Wright. WDEQ gives the Excellence in Mining Reclamation Awards to Wyoming coal and non-coal mine operators who demonstrate an achievement in a specific aspect of mine reclamation or for overall performance in meeting reclamation goals.

In 2019, the WDEQ’s Land Quality Division approved the completed reclamation and revegetation of more than 3,700 acres at the mine to make a mine-wide total of nearly 12,700 reclaimed acres returned to livestock grazing and wildlife use. Peabody representatives attributed the revegetation success to strong reclamation and management strategies, including grazing, weed control, interseeding, and mowing. The North Antelope Rochelle Mine produced more than 85 million tons of coal in 2019 and employs more than 1,200 individuals.