People's Choice Awards:
Sunnyside Project, Utah
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2001 Western Region and People's Choice Awards: Sunnyside Project, Utah |
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From the late 1800’s until 1992 the Sunnyside Coal mine removed coal seams averaging nine feet thick. This mine has a rich history as one of the longest continuously producing coal mines in the United States. Early exploration revealed that coal in the Sunnyside area was of superior quality for coking because of the metallurgical quality of the coal. Initially coal was shipped 40 miles to be coked; however, by 1917, the Sunnyside Mine had over 800 coking ovens. By 1919 the Sunnyside coke plant was the largest single beehive oven operation in the United States. Each 12’ - 13’ oven took 7.5 tons of coal per charge to convert a total of 6,142 tons of coal to 4,387 tons of coke per day, or 1.6 million tons of coke a year. In 1927 the coke oven operation was closed and the mining declined until World War II changed the economic situation in the mines and production boomed once again. Production continued until closure in 1992 ended in bankruptcy. With the courts controlling the mine bankruptcy, assets were liquidated by auction in 1994 and beginning in 1997, funds were transferred from the courts to an abandoned mine reclamation account. From nearly 100 years of operation, mine workings and associated surface facilities were extensive. Facilities were scattered over a six square mile area. Reclamation included nearly 200 acres of surface disturbance that eliminated nine hazardous shafts, 48 hazardous portals, a 1/4-mile reach of creek restoration, and the planting of over 600 potted trees and shrubs.
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Railroad tracks owned by the Union Pacific Railroad played a constraining role in the reclamation since they were required to remain. A 400-foot long tunnel used to load coal into rail cars was removed while protecting and preserving the tracks inside.
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Abandoned portals that were flanked with historic Italian-cut sandstone retaining walls were closed and the walls preserved intact
Closure of mine shafts was done with heavy reinforced concrete bulkheads, then covered with soil. The custom-designed bulkheads were 18 inches thick and spanned shafts 16 feet in diameter. Portals were backfilled. A few of the larger portals were flanked with historic Italian-cut sandstone retaining walls. These were closed; but, preserved the historic stone intact. Today, with reclamation complete, these structures are an historical feature and a reminder of the Italian miners of the early 1900’s who build houses, walls, and other structures using rock from the surrounding canyons.
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