Achieving Rehabilitation Success Globally - Peabody Energy's Experience in Mongolia

摘要

The Ereen Coal Mine, operated as a Peabody joint venture project in Mongolia, suspended operations in early 2009. Consistent with Peabody's policy of environmental stewardship and rehabilitating mine lands, a plan to achieve these goals for the Ereen Mine was initiated in spring 2009. The project would also fulfill the spirit and intent of the 2006 Mongolian Minerals Law. Project development included analysis of environmental baseline conditions and application of best rehabilitation practices necessary to create an erosionally stable landform and restore traditional land use. Mongolian scientists and engineers from Ulaanbaatar teamed with U.S. Peabody engineering and environmental staff to develop and implement a plan to meet Mongolian regulatory requirements and restore pre-mine land capability. The mine area, out-of-pit dumps and adjacent undisturbed lands were surveyed to develop a postmine landscape design to establish through drainage and return a stable landform. The potential backfill material was sampled to identify any spoil that could be unsuitable for plant growth or acid or toxic forming. Backhoes, trucks and dozers accomplished the pit backfilling, final grading and replacing a 20 centimeter topsoil depth. Analysis of adjacent native vegetation was used to develop a seed mix of four native species. Ground water encountered in the pit was traced to an alluvial system allowing development of a shallow well and pond for domestic and livestock use. The project was partially completed in 2009, with final topsoiling and seeding in summer 2010. The Mongolian work force spearheaded on-site management and field implementation, including use of a new type of seeder. A management and monitoring plan was implemented. The project successfully rehabilitated an 18 hectare site to premine conditions and accomplished the first complete coal mine rehabilitation project in the history of Mongolia.