Under the management of Kiewit Mining Group Inc., Black Butte Coal Company operates one of the largest surface coal mines in the nation covering an area more than 70 sq. mi. The mine ships over three million tons of coal per year and has sold more than 110 million tons to the north central Rocky Mountain market.
Facilities consist of a coal plant, laboratory, water treatment plant, warehouse, shop, changehouse and office. Innovations at Black Butte include a 19,000-ft. overland conveyor transporting coal at a rate of 3,500 tons per hour and the use of global positioning technology. With the plant controlled by one operator, the coal is resampled, weighed and loaded onto 110 car trains below the loadout building prior to shipment.
The reclamation effort is concurrent with mining activities and strives to preserve and protect the natural ecological balance of the environment. As mining progresses, overburden is placed in a previous cut, graded to the natural topography and covered with topsoil. Regraded land is fertilized, mulched and seeded with native grasses and bushes for wildlife habitat and livestock grazing.