The Black Thunder mine, located near Wright, Campbell County, was recognized by the state mine inspector for strong reclamation management and for an innovative use of geographic information systems (GIS) to track, monitor and advance reclamation and bond release.
It accepted the award at the annual Wyoming Mining Association Convention on June 17, where Black Thunder also received praise for achieving the best safety performance among large surface mines in the state (as measured by lost-time incident rate, or LTIR).
“These statewide awards recognize the men and women of Thunder Basin for their long-established and unwavering commitment to excellence in safe and responsible mining practices,” Arch President and COO Paul Lang said. “This exemplary performance showcases what can be achieved when sharp focus is placed on our core values of workplace safety and environmental care.”
Black Thunder, opened in 1977, is one of the largest coal mining complexes in the U.S. It sold 99.5 million tons last year.
