Jurisdiction: Abandoned Mine Lands

Staff | Phone: 328-4096| FAX: 328-2133| E-Mail: Director, Jim Deutsch

2006 Office of Surface Mining Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Award - Garrison, ND

Mission Statement (6 kb pdf)
AML Standard Specifications (283 kb pdf)
Flyash Usage in Pressurized Grouting Jobs
Articles written by AML staff
OSMRE Oversight Report 2005 (7.84 mb pdf)
Oversight Pictures, 2006

Bid Tabulations
2008 Procurement Schedule (kb pdf)
2008 Project Invitation for Bids
2008 Grouting Prequalifications (20 kb pdf)
2007 Procurement Schedule (9 kb pdf)
2007 Project Invitations for Bids
2006 Project Specifications
2006 Bid Results
Note: Go to State Procurement Online for state procurement practices and principles.

2006 Abandoned Mine Land Award - Garrison AML Project

Recent Action | Current Projects | Future Projects

The Public Service Commission administers the Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) Program on behalf of the State of North Dakota. The State AML Program was authorized by action of the Department of Interior in 1981 under authority of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (P.L. 95-87, Title IV). Program funding comes from a ten cent per ton production tax on lignite coal mined within the State. Currently State lignite production is about thirty million tons per year. Thus, approximately three million dollars is paid annually into the AML Fund, administered by the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), Department of Interior. A portion of this money is returned to the State of North Dakota to eliminate existing and potential public hazards resulting from abandoned surface and underground coal mines.

Since the inception of the North Dakota State AML Program over 100,000 linear feet of dangerous highwall, 155 vertical openings, 1,893 acres of subsidence (caused by underground mine collapse) and other hazardous features caused by abandoned mines have been eliminated. Under funding of our program below federal statutory levels has resulted in reclamation delays and additional risk to the public.

Address any comments or questions to Sheila Hibl, e-mail address: shibl@nd.gov

RECENT ACTION
A project to suppress coal outcrop fires (7 mb pdf) at three sites in western North Dakota was completed in March 2007.

A project to fill approximately 60 dangerous mine-related sinkholes near Beach, Beulah, Hanks, Haynes, Havelock, Scranton, Sawyer and Wilton was completed in April 2007.

Contracts were awarded in May 2007 for surface mine reclamation near Columbus (Columbus Phase VIII) and underground mine reclamation near Williston (Williams County Road 9 Phase II).  Both projects are expected to start in late May and to be completed by the end of September.

The AML Division is in the process of assembling a Mine Map and Information GIS Database. This will combine and consolidate abandoned mine maps, mine inventory information, historic coal mine inspection data and other information into interactive map(s) and a searchable database.  It will aid the PSC staff in identifying, prioritizing and reclaiming abandoned underground mines that are a potential hazard to public safety.  It will also allow property owners, mining companies, realtors, public planners, researchers and others to quickly access locations and data for abandoned coal mines in North Dakota.

CURRENT PROJECTS/ACTIVITIES
Work on Columbus Phase 7 started the week of May 29, 2006. Drilling at the Beulah/Zap Phase X project began the week of June 3, 2006. Grouting at Beulah/zap Phase X began July 24, 2006 (County Road 20).

FUTURE PROJECTS/ACTIVITIES
Drilling and grouting at the Williams County Road 9 site is planned to commence in August.