RECLAMATION SUCCESS

The Falkirk Mine, a subsidiary of North American Coal Corporation, provides lignite coal for steam generation at the nearby Coal Creek Generating Station. The operation has received numerous reclamation and safety awards, including the Office of Surface Mining’s 25^th Anniversary Director’s Award for Cultural, Historical, and Archaeological Preservation, OSM’s Excellence in Surface Mining for Wetland Reclamation, and the North Dakota Chapter of Wildlife Society Habitat Award. 

The Falkirk Mine is located in a landscape that was home to prehistoric indigenous Indian groups. Permitting over the past 25 years has required many archeological and historic site surveys, resulting in preservation prior to mining. In addition, Falkirk made discoveries during mining that included prehistoric burial and bison kill sites. Mining operations were halted until all evidence could be recovered and permanent protection established.

 The mined lands all eventually will return to either crop or grassland status. An exception is land adjacent to the city of Underwood which was developed into a beautiful 250-acre, nine-hole golf course which replaced a small sand green course which was mined by Falkirk and subsequently reclaimed. The company planted a special mix of grass known as a fairway mix. Because the golf course requires lots of water to keep the grass green and the shrubbery growing, Falkirk has been supplying water from its pits south of town to irrigate the golf course.

Falkirk’s headquarters are four miles south of Underwood and drop-in tours are available May through September. In its mining and reclamation process, Falkirk focuses on restoring the original diversity of values to the land, including not only agriculture but wildlife, vegetation, and recreation.