The North Antelope Rochelle Mine is one of America's largest coal mines, producing the lowest sulfur coal in America. The complex shipped a record 91.5 million tons of compliance coal during 2007, and more than one billion tons since the mine began. Remaining coal reserves dedicated to the mine cover nearly 22,000 acres with about 1.2 billion tons of recoverable coal. The mine is located about 65 miles southeast of Gillette, Wyo. The coal seam mined is the Wyodak-Anderson, which ranges from 60 to 80 feet thick and lies from 50 to 350 feet below the surface in the reserve area.

 

The North Antelope Mine began operation in late 1983, with the Rochelle Mine beginning production in late 1985. The two mines were combined in 1999, becoming the largest coal mining operation in the United States. The complex currently has a work force of approximately 1,080 people, and annually injects approximately $63 million into the regional economy in wages and benefits. The complex uses three draglines and five truck-and-shovel fleets for overburden removal and operates on two 12-hour shifts per day, 365 days per year.

 

The coal is mined from four pits and is hauled by truck to one of three hoppers at the complex, where it is crushed and ultimately conveyed to silos for loadout on unit trains. Coal quality averages approximately 8,800 Btu/lb. and 0.20 percent sulfur, making North Antelope Rochelle coal the cleanest in the United States.

 

Two concentric loop tracks connect with the Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Union Pacific railroads joint trackage. The loading facilities consist of five silos that are located over the loop tracks and are capable of handling more than 150 cars per unit train. Coal from the complex is currently delivered to 36 of electricity generating customers operating 60 power plants throughout the United States, by both railroads.

 

North Antelope Rochelle's industry-leading safety and reclamation practices have been recognized with numerous awards over the past four years. Awards received by the mine include.

• Sentinels of Safety Award from the U.S. Department of Labor for operating the nation's safest U.S. surface mine
• The Wyoming Governor's Safety Award for the safest mine in the state
• "Safe Sam" Award from the State Mine Inspector and the Wyoming Mining Association for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006
• Gold Good Neighbor Award, U. S. Office of Surface Mining
• Good Neighbor Award from the Wyoming Mining Association
• Corporation of the Year for Exemplary Conservation Principals from the Wyoming Wildlife Federation

 

The North Antelope Rochelle Mine is part of St. Louis-based Peabody Energy, the world's largest private-sector coal company, with 2007 sales of 238 million tons and $4.6 billion in revenues. Its coal products fuel approximately 10 percent of all U.S. electricity and more than 2 percent of worldwide electricity. The company is serving global coal demand from electricity generators and steelmakers, and is growing to serve new global customers and emerging Btu Conversion markets.