The Eagle Butte mine is a coal mine located north of Gillette, Wyoming in the United States in the coal-rich Powder River Basin. The mine is an open pit, "truck and shovel", mine producing a low-sulfur, sub-bituminous coal from the Roland and Smith seams that is used for domestic energy generation. Coal produced by the mine is shipped to its customers via railroad. The mine is owned and operated by Eagle Specialty Materials LLC after being acquired from Blackjewel LLC in 2019.
As of 2009, Eagle Butte had reserves of of sub-bituminous coal and a maximum permitted production capacity of per year. Typical annual production has been in 20-25 million ton range for the last several years though. The average quality of the coal shipped from Eagle Butte is 8,400 BTU/lb, 0.34% Sulfur, 4.50% Ash, and 1.90% Sodium (of the ash). Train loading operations at the mine are done with a batch weigh bin system that is coupled to a "weigh-in-motion" track scale system. Silo capacity at the mine's rail loop, which can accommodate up to 5 unit trains, is 48,000 tons. In 2008, the mine produced just over of coal, making it the 9th-largest producer of coal in the United States. In 2022, this had dropped to just over 15 million short tons of coal. However, this still made it the 5th-largest coal mine in the US.
History
The Eagle Butte Mine shipped its first train of coal in 1978 after beginning pre-production work in 1976. Since mining operations began, the mine has shipped over of coal to its customers. Eagle Butte mine has changed hands many times through mergers and sales. Previous owners include AMAX, Cyprus AMAX, RAG and Foundation Coal.
In 2005, the Eagle Butte mine was awarded two awards from the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality for Excellence in Surface Mining Reclamation and Innovation. Eagle Butte was selected to receive these awards because of the superior quality of shrub patches that the mine had established on its reclamation.
On July 1, 2019 CEO Jeffery Hoop announced that Blackjewel LLC, the operator of Eagle Butte had filed for bankruptcy and closed the mine. According to the Casper Star-Tribune, court documents show that Blackjewel owes $500 million in liabilities, including $6 million to employees. This was after Blackjewel was denied $20 million in financing by the United Bank of West Virginia.
On August 4, 2019 Contura Energy Inc. announced that they won the bid to purchase the Eagle Butte and Belle Ayr mines from Blackjewel. However, it was unclear if and when any of the mines would reopen. On October 21, 2019 Eagle Specialty Materials put out an announcement that it had closed its deal to buy the Eagle Butte and Belle Ayr coal mines from Contura, after the latter was unable to come to an agreement with the federal government about unpaid royalties needed to close the previous deal.
Production
Year Coal production(short tons) Employees 2022 15,062,345 267 2021 13,549,294 222 2020 12,303,698 229 2019 11,642,248 216 2018 17,055,796 306 2017 17,264,483 303 2016 19,003,005 291 2015 19,649,723 290 2014 20,690,237 286 2013 19,904,433 255 2012 22,466,733 301 2011 25,365,054 310 2010 23,225,757 298 2009 21,496,124 280 2008 20,443,413 274 2007 25,010,089 275 2006 25,355,158 270 2005 24,137,448 242 2004 22,997,687 238 2003 24,549,824 236 2002 24,888,124 236 2001 24,826,910 236 2000 18,622,992 181 1999 24,826,910 186 1998 18,074,546 184 1997 17,921,000 188 1996 15,642,744 184 1995 16,942,000 180 1994 17,161,000 201 1993 16,838,000 227 1992 13,669,000 217 1991 13,922,000 219 1990 15,402,000 246 1989 13,606,000 265 1988 12,915,000 271 1987 12,977,000 299 1986 12,000,000 299 1985 11,808,000 314 1984 13,365,000 310 1983 11,030,000 308 1982 9,100,000 1981 8,400,000 1980 8,500,000 1979 4,500,000 1978 500,000
References
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