Kleenburn Coal Mine Project

Addressing physical and environmental hazards associated with the Kleenburn Coal Mine.

2009
Sheridan County, Wyoming
Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality Abandoned Mine Land Division

The reclamation work for the Kleenburn Coal Mine (a former surface coal mine located north of Sheridan, Wyoming) was coordinated with the Sheridan County Engineer’s Office, Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD), and the US Army Corps of Engineers and resulted in creating a public recreation area.

Historical, open-pit mining operations at the site (located adjacent to the Tongue River) resulted in two pits that filled with water. Overburden piles, areas of coal slack, and concrete foundations also remained from mining operations.

The area was donated to Sheridan County by Padlock Ranch and was open to public use. The water-filled pits, known as the Kleenburn Ponds, provided habitat for waterfowl, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and various other species. In addition to fishing, the site attracted frequent public use for camping, target shooting, and off-road vehicle (ORV) activities. Unvegetated overburden piles were the primary focus of ORV users. The overburden piles were adjacent to the ponds and posed significant hazards because of the steep slopes above the water’s edge. Surface-exposed, coal-waste material across the project area posed a hazard when exposed to external combustion sources.

RESPEC staff used Carlson Natural Regrade with GeoFluv software to achieve an economical and erosionally stable final topography. The completed grading designs reduced overburden slopes, pulled the overburden away from the ponds, incorporated geomorphically stable landforms, and encapsulated coal slack. Cover soils amended with compost and mycorrhizal fungi were applied to the slopes and the site was seeded.

In addition to the overburden regrading, handicapped-accessible walking paths were constructed around the regraded areas and adjacent to the water, and the site was fenced to preclude motorized access. Based on recommendations from the WGFD, the engineering design incorporated a channel to connect the two ponds to promote fish passage and minimize winterkill. A pedestrian bridge funded by Sheridan County and the WGFD was installed over the constructed channel.

Overall reclamation at the site included excavating 73,515 cubic yards of spoil- and coal-waste material and revegetating 17.9 acres of dangerous piles, embankments, and wetland mitigation areas. Following reclamation, Sheridan County installed picnic tables along the walking path.

Construction was completed in November 2009. The site is managed jointly between Sheridan County and the WGFD as the Kleenburn Recreation Area.

In August 2011, the Kleenburn Coal Mine project received the Western Regional Award from the US Department of Interior, Office of Surface Mining (OSM). The Western Regional Award honors exemplary reclamation projects that emphasize the elimination of dangerous health, safety, and environmental problems that result from abandoned mine lands within OSM’s western region.