Belle Ayr Mine

The Belle Ayr Mine is a coal mine located in the state of Wyoming in the United States, about 18 miles southeast of Gillette in the Powder River Basin. The mine is an open pit, "truck and shovel" operation producing low-sulphur coal.

In 2007, the mine produced just over 26.6 million short tons of coal, making it the 7th-most productive coal mine in the United States. The following year, production had increased to 28.7 million tonnes.

The mine is owned and operated by Foundation Coal, and is run with a non-union workforce.

Mine Data

 * MSHA ID:	4800732
 * Operator:	Foundation Coal West
 * Controller:	Foundation Coal
 * Union:
 * County:	Campbell
 * State:	WY
 * Latitude:	44.1025
 * Longitude:	-105.418611
 * 2007 Production (short tons):	26,608,765
 * Coal Type:	Bituminous
 * Mining Method:	Surface
 * Mine Status:	Active
 * Average No. of Employees:	 282

Environmental groups sue BLM over coal leases in Wyoming
It was announced on August 23, 2011 that three environmental groups are suing the Bureau of Land Management over the agency's decision to allow Alpha Natural Resources to mine a tract at the Caballo Mine containing 130.1 million tons of coal for $143.4 million along with one other lease the BLM approved, including the Belle Ayr Mine tract which contains 130.1 million tons of coal and is operated by Peabody Energy. WildEarth Guardians, Sierra Club and Defenders of Wildlife. The groups contended the BLM did not properly conduct its assessment of the environmental impacts of the proposed operation.

The groups contend that the coal from the tracts is enough to fuel 152 coal-fired power plants and would release 643 million tons of carbon dioixide, or the same amount as that released by 111.7 million passenger vehicles a year, using EPA calculations.

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