Black Butte Coal Co. - North American Mining Magazine

Black Butte Revival

October 16, 2025April 1, 2026 NAM Staff

Highwall mining at Black Butte, Pit 10. The new mine plan modification facilitates an extension of Pit 10 in its southeast corner of 50 acres and the development of a new pit (Pit 15) north of Pit 10 on 400 acres. Photo: Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

A mine plan modification will restore full-scale mining and prolong operations at the historic site through 2039. by Josephine Patterson The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) has approved a change in the mining plan for the Black Butte mine in Sweetwater County, Wyo., approximately 25 miles east of Rock Springs. The modification enables Black Butte Coal Co. to recover…

Black Butte expansion extends operations through 2039

September 11, 2025September 11, 2025 NAM Staff

The U.S. Department of the Interior has approved a mining plan change for the Black Butte mine in Sweetwater County, Wyo. The change allows the Black Butte Coal Co. to recover about 9.2 million tons of federal coal in two new areas, known as Pit 15 and Pit 10. “The Black Butte mine expansion strengthens our nation’s Energy Dominance by…

Black Butte Coal allegedly initiates more layoffs

April 24, 2024July 30, 2024 NAM Staff

After laying off 19 employees in November, Black Butte Coal Co. has allegedly started a second round of layoffs at its surface mine in Sweetwater County, Wyo., reported Wyoming Public Radio citing a SweetwaterNOW article. In this latest round, 30 employees are likely to be laid off – about a third of the company’s current payroll. “Some of these people…