2012 07 Texas Mining mag - TMRA Mining Magazine... · Aaron Schramm - Acme Brick Company Greg Shurbet - American Electric Power Darrell Silverthorne - Marshall Mining, LLC ... Kolmar

PRSRT STDU.S. Postage

PAIDPermit No. 1467Fort Worth, Texas

TEXASOfficial Publication of the Texas Mining & Reclamation Association

MINING

W W W.T M R A .C O M / S U M M E R 2 0 1 2

THE RECLAMATION ISSUE

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INSIDEW W W.T M R A .C O M / S U M M E R 2 0 1 2

On the Cover Bluebonnets abound at the San Miguel Mine. Photo by Nellie Frisbie, Permit Specialist, San Miguel Electric Cooperative

Texas Mining and Reclamation Association

100 Congress Ave., Suite 1100Austin, TX 78701

512.236.2325www.tmra.com

Executive Committee Steve Eckert, Chair,

Capitol Aggregates, Ltd.

Greg Shurbet, Vice-Chair, American Electric Power

Peter Luthiger, Treasurer, Mesteña Uranium L.L.C.

Phil Berry, Secretary & Lignite Committee Chair,

North American Coal - Sabine Mine

Mike Kezar, Past Chairman, San Miguel Electric Cooperative

Aaron Schramm, Industrial Minerals Committee Chair,

Acme Brick

Howard Fels, Uranium Committee Chair,

Mesteña Uranium L.L.C.

Trey Powers, Executive Director, TMRA

MAGAZINE Editor Christian Goff

[email protected]

Advertising Sales Lance [email protected]

Designer Kiki [email protected]

DEPARTMENTS 3 Executive Committee Listing

4 Chairman’s Letter

5 New Members

6 Executive Director’s Message

22 TMRA Board of Directors

RECLAMATION FEATURES

8 Panna Maria Uranium Project – Then and Now

12 Environmental Benefit in Reclamation, Walnut Creek Mining Company’s End-lake Project

16 ACME Brick – Mining & Reclamation Methods

18 Texas Westmoreland Coal Company – Jewett Mine Stream Restoration Initiative

7 2012 Annual Meeting


22 TEXAS MINING WWW.TMRA.COM

2012 Board of Directors

Texas Westmoreland Coal Co.P.O. Box 915

4336 FM 39 SouthJewett, Texas 75846

903-626-5485

Energy for Texas ….Reclaiming for Texans

Te

TMRA OfficersChairman – Steve Eckert, Capitol Aggregates, LTD

Vice Chairman – Greg Shurbet, American Electric Power

Treasurer – Peter Luthiger, Mesteña Uranium, LLC

Secretary – Phil Berry, North American Coal Corporation

TMRA Board of DirectorsHarry Anthony - Uranium Energy Corporation

Mark Berend - NRG Energy

Sandy Bruce - Rio Grande Mining Company

Steve Eckert - Capitol Aggregates, LTD

Paul Goranson- Cameco Texas

Cecilia Green - Atkins

James Gregory - American Talc Company

Jan Horbaczewski - Texas Municipal Power Agency

Mack Jones - U.S. Silica Company

Mike Kezar - San Miguel Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Denny Kingsley - Texas Westmoreland Coal Company

Marc LeVier - Texas Rare Earth Resources

Peter Luthiger - Mesteña Uranium, LLC

David Martin - Kiewit Mining Group

Gerry Pearson - Luminant Mining

Mark Pelizza - Uranium Resources, Inc.

Scott Perlet - HOLT CAT

Kevin Raabe - Rio Grande Resources, Corporation

Mark Russell - Russell & Sons Construction

Aaron Schramm - Acme Brick Company

Greg Shurbet - American Electric Power

Darrell Silverthorne - Marshall Mining, LLC

Charlie Smith - Southern Clay Products

Adam Sinclair - Trinity Materials Company

Chris Sumner - Lhoist North America

Rick Ziegler - North American Coal Corporation

Would you like to advertise in

Texas Mining?

ContactLance Lawhon

512-832-1889 phone512-719-4671 fax

[email protected]


4 TEXAS MINING WWW.TMRA.COM

When the majority of people think of mining, they envision a large hole in the ground, dust, heavy truck traffic, the shaking of houses during a blast, or contaminated water – a myriad of negative images. Such perceptions of our industry have been with us for many years, and because of this, the mining community continues to work diligently to improve and advance reclamation efforts. The Texas mining industry spends more than $100 million annually on land restoration and other environmental procedures.

Looking at an old lignite mine today, it’s difficult for the average person to understand the amount of reclamation work that has taken place. The land looks so good and is so productive, it is hard to tell where mining started and where it stopped. Lignite mining companies in Texas are sloping the ground, rebuilding creeks, as well as reseeding and planting trees and other ground cover to enhance the previously mined area – making it better than it was prior to mining.

Aggregate extraction is another type of mining which occurs in Texas. Aggregates are necessary for the construction industry and provide the materials for roads, schools, hospitals, stores, busi-nesses and homes. The exciting news is that after the mineral is extracted, old pit mines are being developed into golf courses, amusement parks or flood control storage areas among other things. Following reclamation it can be hard to tell where a quarry was once located.

Uranium, the fuel necessary to generate nuclear power, is extracted by in-situ (“in place”) recovery. This modern technique allows mining to be conducted with minimal environmental impact and side-by-side other land uses, such as ranching. Even in these situations, uranium mining compa-nies are diligent in performing necessary reclamation.

These examples illustrate our industry’s dedication to the very important reclamation process. The next time you are driving around our great state, try to determine where a mine once was and acknowledge the great strides that have taken place.

Steve Eckert, TMRA ChairmanCapitol Aggregates, Inc.

CHAIRMAN’S LETTER

Photos by Johnnie Reeves at North American Coal


Spring 2012 TEXAS MINING 21

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NEW MEMBERS

814 Solutions has the trained staff, specialized equipment and experience necessary to promote reclamation and revegeta-

Solutions has successfully worked with acid bearing, alkaline, and sodic soil conditions by incorporating proper soil amend-ments and soil preparation applications.

American Talc Companyof ceramics talcs as well as a major supplier of industrial talcs to the paints, plastics, rubber, composites, and agricultural in-

from two active mine sites and two processing and milling sites

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Lone Wolf Resources, LLC (LWR) is an environmental re-mediation, construction and recycling company, specializing in treatment and recycling of impacted soils, sediments and

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recycling solutions produce usable products from impacted soils and oily wastes, and their construction services cover the broad range of environmental field remediation.

W&M Environmental Group, Inc. -

for mine permitting (geology, groundwater, surface water, ecology,

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20 TEXAS MINING www.TMRA.com

ment and looks to find better ways to incorporate even more process improve-ments.

Currently the mine has nine active projects in some phase of the process and several more on the horizon. It is clear

Figure 3 Stream planting zones

Figure 2 Digital Terrain ModelFigure 4

Irrigation for sampling tree

that the ongoing developments in stream channel restoration and wetland preser-vation are issues that all surface mining operators must face. Yet with a renewed approach made feasible through devel-opments in technology, ongoing science

and determined attitudes, the future land reclamation within the Jewett Mine will serve as an example of how excellence can be accomplished.



The 2012 TMRA Annual Meeting is just around the corner. Be sure to save the dates of October 20-24 and plan to join us at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on the beautiful San Antonio Riverwalk. This year promises to be truly informative and fun-filled! We are currently working to firm up a great slate of speakers for Tuesday’s session. “Fun Night” will be at the historic Buckhorn Saloon, the golf tour-nament will take place at the Hyatt Hill Country Golf Club, and for the first time, we have added a Saturday dove hunt and dinner at the famous Nooner Ranch in nearby Hondo. Keep an eye on your email inbox and/or the TMRA website (www.tmra.com) in early August for registration information.

As always, we are in need of event sponsors. To ensure your company is listed as a sponsor in the registration packet, please let me know of your commitment by August 1. I can be contacted by phone (512-236-2325) or email ([email protected]). In addition, please consider donating an item (or items) to the Tuesday Night silent and live auctions. Proceeds from the auctions fund a portion of our outstanding education program, the Teacher Workshops. Our success depends on the generosity of both donors and bidders. Let’s make this a record year!

Regarding industry news, nearly all segments of the mining industry continue to come under assault by the EPA. Be it failure to approve aquifer exemption permits for uranium mining, or the promulgation of new source pollution rules for coal fired electric generation, the EPA appears adamant to create challenges for Texas and to negatively impact the landscape of electric genera-tion in our state. Al Armendariz resigned this spring as head of EPA’s Region 6 office (Dallas) after controversial comments surfaced about his enforcement philosophy. He had compared EPA enforcement to that of crucifixion during Roman times. Time will tell whether new leadership in the Regional Office will bring a more common sense, less punitive approach to protecting the environment. You can be sure that TMRA will continue to monitor EPA-related developments and provide input where appropriate.

Finally, TMRA staff is working hard to implement recommendations made in the latest As-sociation strategic plan. Several of the highest priority initiatives involve marketing and public outreach. I am extremely proud of this second printed edition of Texas Mining, highlighting the outstanding reclamation work of several TMRA members. It’s one of the great stories of mining and one we are now sharing with all key stakeholders including our policymakers and regulators.

Enjoy! Trey G. PowersTMRA Executive Director

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE



semi-flooded to perennially flooded zones are established as shown in Figure 3 on the next page. Since 2009, approximately 12,000 trees have been planted within streams at the Jewett Mine and to increase survivability in containerized plantings, irrigation is incorporated during the first one to two growing seasons (see next page for Figure 4).

To further enhance stream restora-tion potential, TWCC is currently in the process of mapping locations of quality hydric soils ahead of mining (Figure 5). Once this is complete, pre-stripping ac-tivities will be modified to salvage these soils for placement in reclaimed wet-lands. This practice will help to increase water holding capacity, ensure favorable microbe levels and utilize an established seedbank. At the Jewett Mine, the stream restoration process has undergone a com-plete transformation from conception to implementation. All reclaimed streams, drainage channels, and tributaries are treated with a respect to natural and sus-taining function. The Jewett Mine staff takes great pride in the development of the overall stream restoration develop-

ConstructionAt the Jewett Mine, GPS equipped

dozers utilize DTM information to de-termine depths as they traverse a project. Figure 2 provides a photo of a digital ter-rain model within a dozer. This technol-ogy assists in the placement of suitable plant growth material (SPGM). Efficien-cy gained through the use of this technol-ogy can lead to cost savings and reduction in SPGM handling by up to 30%.

RevegetationIn conjunction with advancements in

design and construction, TWCC has enhanced the revegetation process of streams at the Jewett Mine by utilizing na-tive species, varying planting methods and irrigation. Due to previous stream designs which exhibited increased slopes, hybrid bermudagrass was often the primary her-baceous species utilized for revegetation. Today, TWCC has developed a site-spe-cific seed mix of native grasses that are adapted to both seasonally dry and flood-ed conditions. Additionally, TWCC has transitioned to planting stream bottoms utilizing hydromulch. Selection of woody species is based on factors including wet-

land indicator status, mast production and growth rate. To address flooding tol-erance, project specific planting zones for

Figure 1 Mapping hydric soils in pre-mining area

Award Winners

On June 6, 2012 the RCT presented its 2012 Texas Rec-lamation Award to the Texas

Westmoreland Coal Company for its Jewett Mine Stream Res-toration Initiative.

On June 6, 2012 the RCT presented its 2012 Texas Rec-lamation Award to the Texas

Westmoreland Coal Company for its Jewett Mine Stream Res-toration Initiative.



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Send Registration in!!

Make hotel reservations!!

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Check on an exhibit booth

What about a sponsorship?

Don’t Forget! Mark your Calendar for the 2012 TMRA Annual Meeting!

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SOMETHING

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an optional Dove Hunt

and Dinner on Saturday

Look for details

in the registration

packet.Saturday Dove Hunt followed by Dinner

Sunday PE/PG CoursesCommittee Meetings (Uranium, Lignite, Industrial Mineral)Board of Director’s MeetingWelcome Reception

Monday GolfFun Night @ Buckhorn Saloon

Tuesday General Meeting



In 2009, the staff at Texas Westmore-land Coal Company’s (TWCC) Jewett Mine, embarked on a mission to improve their stream restoration efforts. Spurred by a workshop held in Knoxville, Ten-nessee, by the Office of Surface Min-ing, TWCC put into motion a collab-orative effort between regulating bodies, academia, regional consultants and local landowners to enhance the overall result when reclaiming stream channels.

The process has targeted varying aspects

including design, construction and reveg-etation. Various long-term benefits result from the stream restoration efforts at the Jewett Mine. These include onsite mitiga-tion, increased surface and groundwater quantity and quality, reduced erosion, habitat enhancement and reduced flood risk. Onsite mitigation benefits the local ecosystem by recreating valuable habitat that was in place prior to mining. By de-sign, and with sound revegetation, streams also reduce flooding potential by diverting

Submitted by Jeremiah McKinney, Senior Environmental Specialist

Texas Westmoreland Coal Company

flows, increasing stream storage, decreas-ing velocities, and heightening infiltration. Heightened infiltration consequently pro-motes groundwater recharge capability. Reduced slopes and added sinuosity create eddy currents which minimize erosion and stream sediment loading. Habitat which is also provided in reconstructed streams promotes valuable aquatic species.

DesignHistorically, final stream designs at the

Jewett Mine were very limited in natural as-pect utilizing linear channels and concrete-reinforced structures. Today, TWCC has improved its initial and final design capabili-ties through revised planning and the use of Carlson’s Natural Regrade software. Utiliz-ing the GeoFluvTM method for landform design, TWCC has reduced costs associat-ed with material handling while mimicking a natural landscape. The resulting natural formation also greatly assists in the handling of various soil types including highly erod-ible sands that are prevalent in portions of the Jewett Mine. Figure 1 provides a com-parison between a newly designed stream project and an older design.

Figure 5 Mapping hydric soils in pre-mining area

RECLAMATION ISSUE

RECLAMATION MANAGEMENT

Jewett Mine Stream Restoration Initiative



RECLAMATION ISSUE

Panna Maria Uranium Project

Then and Now



burden removal is used for immediate reclamation efforts. We have learned the environmental impact is minimized with the ongoing reclamation methods.

Step 2 involves the extraction of the targeted shale or clays we use for our brick production. Our mining is done on planned, budgeted schedules, so unless it is a hard shale operation, we do not expose the targeted clays until we are ready for the extraction and stockpiling phase. This minimizes erosion and contamination is-sues and allows the mining to go forward each season with minimal cleanup. Water control is a significant part of this process

thing unique to be considered.With the mine planning and methods

chosen, we begin Step 1 by removing the topsoils first, and stockpile in a manner to conserve it. In Texas, topsoil is gold to us, and used for the final stages of recla-mation. Also involved in Step 1, is the removal of overburden materials. With a new mine, this material is stockpiled in close proximity until the mine is fully es-tablished. With an existing mine, as seen in Figure 1, this material is used for the bulk of the reclamation efforts. The total mining costs in this instance are slightly higher at the start of mining, as the over-

as ground stability is an important issue. This particular mine in Athens, shown in Figure 1, has a 4:1 mining ratio. Average depth to clay target zone is 48’.

Figure 2 shows a closer look at the clay extraction from the pit floor.

In this part of East Texas, Kaolin clays are usually associated with heavy overbur-den. Our East Texas mining crew is ac-customed to this, using wide benches to help control high moisture areas and im-prove ground stability.

Step 3 involves the reclaiming of the mine and utilizes a dump and push method, as well as a rising bench method. Safety is a priority here, as we make sure the high walls have good, stable footing. The initial mining involves catch benches for each el-evation drop. Each 1 foot drop was 3 feet out for the 3:1 slope. The amount of time the deeper pits are exposed, the more issues we can have with high wall stability. This pit was opened a bit longer than planned, caus-ing some erosion issues, but they were mini-mized by the creation of the catch benches which worked nicely. This allowed reclama-tion to occur from the bottom up, which Acme considers a best practice. Compaction is critical for stable footing, safe equipment travel and proper reclaiming. This is an on-going mining project (See Figure 3).

The key here is to keep space between extraction point and reclaiming. This will allow for proper drainage, increased ground stability and haul cycles. Water level is pumped down before any reclaiming begins.

At Acme Brick, we are good stewards of our properties. It is our policy to prop-erly reclaim our mines for the beneficial use and resale of these lands. With proper reclamation, we have been able to obtain fair market value for these projects. This is an advantage to our business, especially when looking for more land to mine in the same neighborhood!

The mining groups out in the field face many challenges with day-to-day opera-tions, and Acme’s miners are no different. They make effective decisions every day, based on sound planning and safe execu-tion, resulting in safe, productive mining. They deserve our thanks and praise as they carry out the business of quality mining and reclamation in our great state of Texas!

Figure 3 Step 3: Reclamation Athens, Texas: White Clay pit.

Figure 2 Step 2: Extraction Athens, Texas: White Clay mining site.

Sump

Extracting target materials

Reclaiming

Catch Benches



By Ed Griffin, Geology Technician VIRio Grande Resources

On a warm July morning in 1977 we drove down the caliche dirt road off St. Hwy. 123, just north of the first Polish community in Texas named Panna Ma-ria. I was a year out of high school and part of the surveying crew that was to drive the first stakes for the construction of one of the last conventional uranium mills in Texas. When we arrived at the survey benchmark we penned the old

barbed wire gate, unloaded and set up the instruments and then dusted and sprayed down for pests in the field. There was one thing different that morning. Before leaving town we had loaded several bags of chalk dust used for marking baseball playing fields into our truck, along with an old wooden handle chalker. At the site, we outlined the mill, buildings, thicken-ers and the ball mill in a true scale with the chalk so that the project developers could visualize the actual footprint of the project while looking down from a small chartered plane.

Even in those early days I knew my work on the Panna Maria Uranium Proj-ect was going to be a special event in my life. I also knew that this project would change the lives of hundreds, if not thou-sands, of people in Texas and worldwide. We were developing a much needed


Left East Mine Lake Transformed from the East Mine

Left Small the goal of a successful mining and

reclamation operation.

Below Each quarter RGR cattle are maintained and segregated to bal-

ance the land and the herds.



It’s what you believe! Sounds corny, but it really does make a difference on how we approach the business of making the high-est quality building products at Acme Brick.

In Texas, this involves mining shale, a va-riety of clays and some sands for the ingre-dients of our hard fired clay products. These products are needed to construct handsome residential and commercial buildings as well as simple to elaborate beautification proj-ects. We stamp our name on our brick, and offer a 100 year warranty. This means that we are committed to using top quality raw materials, and that we rely heavily on our proven methods of discovery, testing, min-ing and handling of these materials.

One of our key cultural beliefs at Acme Brick, derived from our Leadership, is that of “One Team”. This states, “I am an impor-tant part of a successful building materials and service provider, committed to creating value for my customer, company and com-munity.” This is a strong driving force be-hind the steps we take in the planning and mining of our quality raw materials. We are also committed to community stewardship when it comes to the lands we manage.

Acme Brick has been involved in sur-face mining and reclamation since 1891. Although we have been around for many years, we are continually learning and improving our mining methods. With production plants located from Texas to

Minnesota, it is imperative that we meet local and state requirements. We have our own company protocol for mining qual-ity materials, and managing our lands in a “best practice” manner.

In Texas, we operate several surface mines. Regardless of the equipment chosen for the mine planning and tasks, our basic steps include three main areas, namely:

Step 1: Stripping Step 2: Extraction Step 3: Reclamation.

When we look at mine planning, we consider “Life of Mine” issues, such as safety, geology, topography, water, logis-tics, weather, time and ground conditions. All must be included as we target the best quality reserves for our products. This may sound simple, but within our company, we involve many associates and many hours of research and employ the best mining practice for each property. No property is the same, and every raw material has some-

ACME BrickMining & Reclamation

MethodsBy Bobby Harris, Exploration Manager, Acme Brick Company

Figure 1 Step 1: Stripping Athens, Texas: White Clay pit.

Expose target minerals

Remove top-soilStripping Benches

RECLAMATION ISSUE




energy resource in addition to helping stimulate the economy of the South Texas region. During construction of the mine the original landscape was forever changed by the tailings pond adjacent to the mill, with its two-and-half-mile cir-

cumference top, located just south of the main ore body known as the West Mine. The four Panna Maria mines stretched for about four and a half miles along a northeast to southwest trend.

The first few mining sequences were

the box cuts which spiraled down an average of 50 to 200 feet and uncovered the ore sands that were deposited along a coastal shore long ago in the Eocene age, creating what we now call the Jack-son formation. After completion of each mining sequence, material being stripped away would be placed in the formerly mined out sequence to re-establish the original contour of the land. This on-going method of mining and backfill-ing created the beautiful Rincon Lake which is now home to many species of fish and reptiles. It has proved to be a benefit to the native wildlife that inhabit the area including deer, coyotes, foxes, and javelinas. During fall and winter, Rincon Lake has also become a haven for migrating waterfowl, with an occasional osprey or bald eagle searching for and snatching out an easy meal of fish from the lake. The West Mine was success-fully reclaimed and was released for un-restricted use in May of 1993.

Reclamation continues at Panna Ma-ria which is maintained by Rio Grande Resources Corporation. During an av-erage year of managing the grasses and lake, much of the land is renovated, the grasses shredded and sprayed to provide protection from invasive plants and brush. The ongoing conditioning of the land has served to minimize scars left from the re-cent drought.

Grazing cattle have become an impor-tant component of reclamation and help provide much needed nutrients to the soil. Rio Grande Resources Corporation has long maintained a choice cattle herd, producing about 100 calves each year.

In good growing years Rio Grande Re-sources Corporation typically produces a surplus of hay that maintains its cattle operation and also serves the community as an added hay sale outlet. Each year lo-cal ranchers jockey to be first on the long list of buyers.

Reclamation stimulates the economy, provides employment and, more impor-tantly, protects the land. In some states mining is an ugly word, but in Texas, min-ing is actually key to a better future.

Hay production operations



to be an estimated 135 surface acres. If unaided, the filling rate was projected to be approximately 20 years, however, in 2010 Walnut Creek was directed by the Railroad Commission of Texas to use pit depressurization water to fill BW-1 in an effort to hasten the filling rate. So, after stringing over 4,000 feet of 12 and 14 inch drisco pipe overland from the de-pressurization wells to the end lake, the pond began to fill at approximately 4,300 gallons per minute.

In 2011 Walnut Creek began and completed the spillway, the final element of BW-1. The completion of this item made BW-1 self-regulating in water el-evation and flow.

Also in 2011, in consultation with USDA National Resources Conserva-tion Services, Walnut Creek created fish habitat in BW-1. CAT 785 Haul truck tires were placed at various depths around the perimeter of the end lake. This diversity will help fish thrive by cre-ating a varied habitat.

The article “Closure Plan for the Pro-posed Millennium Project”, S. Tuttle and R. Sisson, 1998, Suncor Energy In-corporated, discusses the economic and environmental benefits and challenges of end lakes. In reference to Canada the article states, “Reclaimed lands are to be maintenance-free, supporting self-sustaining ecosystems with the ca-pability equivalent to pre-development conditions.” By using many different reclamation techniques, including end lakes, this goal, which has been achieved in Canada, can also be achieved by mine-sites in the United States.

By creating an end lake we have taken an unusable, potentially hazardous, open pit and turned it into a beautiful habi-tat for a wide variety of flora and fauna, while creating recreational possibilities for future generations. This final chapter in our reclamation of Pit 2 will last long into the future and leave us all dreaming of our perfect retirement home views.


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As a member of Walnut Creek Min-ing Company’s (WCMC) Environmen-tal Department, we have the privilege of helping take raw, newly reclaimed ground and turning it into land that is verdant and teaming with life and pos-sibilities for the future of Texas.

Mine reclamation can be defined as the process of restoring land that has been mined to a natural or economically usable purpose. End lakes are one of the tools of reclamation that a minesite can use to accomplish this goal, while creat-ing a myriad of environmental benefits.

The creation of an end lake is relatively simple in concept. The land is shaped into the permitted end lake contours and size that are designed according to the

topography of the area. This is done in an effort to follow the approximate origi-

the work was just beginning on the construction of BW-1 and the

reclamation of Pit 2.

nal contours of the site. Also, the lakes can only exist if the topography and drainage patterns, natural and created of the permit area can support the hydro-logic requirements of the lake. Due to the topography and hydric constraints, end lakes come in all shapes, sizes and are as varied as the Texas landscape itself.

The natural topography of WCMC’s permit area lent itself perfectly to the creation of an off-channel end lake. The drainage patterns and flow all converge at one location: BW-1. In 2006, the lake was the only item left to complete in Pit 2 reclamation. The construction consist-ed of three primary elements: spoil grad-ing and construction of the end lake side slopes, topsoil placement and vegetation, and construction of the spillway that directs discharges from BW-1 through the permanent pond SPC-27 and on to Walnut Creek.

The total construction time was im-peded by rainy conditions, but WCMC employees persevered and the first two elements (spoil grading and construction of the end lake side slopes and topsoil and revegetation) were completed at the end of 2007.

At full capacity BW-1 will hold ap-proximately 5000 acre feet (or 1.5 bil-lion gallons) of water and is projected

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Environmental BenefiWalnut Creek Min

End-lake P

2008 - A partially full lake before the addition of pit depressurization water in to a wide array

RECLAMATION ISSUE



Looking over a lush rolling pasture scattered with mottes of trees that show-cases the beauty of the land, you can find tucked into the landscape a beautiful lake

fit in Reclamation, ning Company’s Project

that invites with its promises of cool wa-ter. It begs you to bring along your fish-ing pole on an adventure to discover the beauty found in postmine reclamation.

Abigail Martin, Environmental Coordinator, Walnut Creek Mining Company

ray of wildlife.



Documents

2012 07 Texas Mining mag - TMRA Mining Magazine... · Aaron Schramm - Acme Brick Company Greg Shurbet - American Electric Power Darrell Silverthorne - Marshall Mining, LLC ... Kolmar