BISMARCK – The North Dakota Public Service Commission recently announced Coteau Properties Company and Falkirk Mining Company as recipients of this year’s Award for Excellence in Surface Coal Mining and Reclamation. The PSC’s Reclamation Division recommended that both companies be recognized for going above and beyond regulatory requirements.

“The PSC holds North Dakota’s lignite mines to very high standards. They often exceed expectations and in special cases like these, our Reclamation Awards highlight this exceptional performance,” said Commission Chair Randy Christmann, who holds the coal reclamation portfolio.

During last summer, night shift operators at Coteau’s Freedom Mine were working overtime to remove overburden in one of their active mining areas. The overburden was being removed about 60 feet below the ground surface. During the course of the night, a dozer operator noticed an object that seemed out of place. The dozer operator immediately stopped work to investigate and soon realized that it appeared to be the remains of a large animal. After informing his supervisor, work was stopped in the area and the site was secured. They determined that it was possible this was the remains from a woolly mammoth.

The North Dakota State Historical Society and other state and federal agencies were notified about the find and after visiting the site, it was confirmed that this was a tusk and bones from a woolly mammoth. The North Dakota Geological Survey led the excavation and preservation of the woolly mammoth. Coteau is in the process of restoring the remains and they are planning to donate it to the state.

All employees at the Freedom Mine undergo training when they are hired regarding proper procedures and protocols if an unanticipated find is discovered. Because of this training, the woolly mammoth was identified and was able to be preserved.

The second award was presented to Falkirk Mining Company for its professionalism while working with the PSC’s Reclamation Division and knowledge of the state’s laws and rules during a busy period of mining permits and revisions.

The PSC’s Reclamation Division received applications for eight permit areas held by the largest coal mining operators in North Dakota. Based upon their review, the Falkirk Mine exceeded expectations by submitting complete and accurate permit applications that met the satisfaction of the Reclamation Division in a timely manner.

Over the past five years, Falkirk submitted 18 permit revision applications for its active permits, including a significant revision that added more than 3,000 acres to an existing permit. Staff determined their initial permit applications required only a minimal number of corrections. Notably, the process to add more than 3,000 acres to an existing permit was completed in just over a year from the initial application to final approval.

The awards were presented to the companies during the Lignite Energy Council’s annual meeting in Bismarck.