19-05-2025
Fremont County begins project to extinguish over 20-year-old burning coal pile
(FREMONT COUNTY, Colo.) — The Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety (DRMS) announced Phase One of the Corley Mine Surface Burn Mitigation Project to extinguish a coal pile that has been burning for over two decades.
The project aims to address a 1.5-acre surface coal refuse pile that has been actively burning for over two decades due to spontaneous combustion. Construction is scheduled to begin Monday, May 19, and is expected to be completed by Thursday, Sept. 4. The pile measures approximately 35 feet tall, 150 feet wide, and 300 feet long, and is located south of Florence. The pile is the legacy of historical coal mining on site, which saw operations by 15 different mines between the 1920s and the 1990s.
The project is being funded through the federal funds established to reduce the impacts of coal mines and communities, and has an accepted bid amount of $853 million.
DRMS said they would oversee the mechanical excavation of an estimated 82,400 cubic yards of hot burning material, and each yard of burning coal will be quenched with water at a rate of give gallons per cubic yard. Once quenched, the water would be blended 1:1 from onsite waste piles, cooled, and then backfilled. Excavation and backfill activities will cover a total of 164,800 cubic yards over 9.5-acre site.
To reduce fire danger, 9.5 acres of vegetation will be cleared around the active area, and 20,000 gallons of water will be available onsite at all times during hot work.
The project will halt if there are sustained winds exceeding 25 miles per hour or if weather conditions present an immediate wildfire risk.
After excavation is done, Phase Two, 'Geomorphic Regrade and Revegetation,' will begin:
Cold material backfilled and contoured to match natural topography and minimize erosion
Native seed mix planted for site rehabilitation
Long-term stabilization of the site through natural landform design
The project is not expected to impact any public roads, trails, or recreational areas.
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