WCI Case Study | February 2008

case
study
USA
Creating and Conserving Crucial Habitat: Sustainable Development in Mining

Rio Tinto Energy America (RTEA) owns and operates Jacobs

Ranch Mine, located in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming,
approximately 50 miles south of Gillette. The mine has a total
permit area of approximately 15,600 acres, and conducts
a traditional surface mining operation that produces sub-
bituminous coal.

Sharing the land with

Jacobs Ranch Mine,
among the antelope, deer
The herd originated during the early
1950s when an area landowner imported
approximately 12 elk from a Montana
game farm and released them into the
crucial elk winter range was determined
independently by the Wyoming Game and
Fish Department.

and small prey, is a herd
of approximately 400 elk
that comprise the Rochelle
Hills elk herd.
hills. Since then, the Wyoming Game Through monitoring and inspections,
and Fish Department has documented a
steady herd growth with rapid increase in
Jacobs Ranch Mine demonstrated that
these reclaimed lands had been backfilled
recent years.Reclaimed Land at Jacobs and contoured to meet the approved
Ranch Mine. post-mining topography; contained topsoil
of appropriate quality and depth that
Jacobs Ranch Mine follows Rio Tinto’s provides a vegetative growth medium; and
environmental standards, which exceed showed established vegetation through
the minimum of regulatory compliance. the planting of an approved seed mix.
These standards include air quality, Through successful maintenance the
water quality and quantity, mineral post-mining land uses were equivalent or
waste management, non-mineral waste superior to the pre-mining land uses.
management, hazardous material and
contamination control, noise and vibration
control, land use stewardship, acid rock
drainage, greenhouse gas emissions and
environmental management systems.
Conservation
Easement
RTEA is also ISO-14001 certified,
which requires the company to follow
international standards that emphasise
rigorous environmental programmes to
Beginning in 2004, RTEA worked closely
ensure continuous improvement.
with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
(RMEF) for the establishment of a nearly
The reclamation efforts at Jacobs Ranch
1000 acre conservation easement at
Mine reflect the principals of the land
Jacobs Ranch Mine to benefit the elk
use stewardship standards by helping to
herd. A conservation easement is an
enhance the condition and classification
agreement between the landowner that
of approximately 730 acres of land, from
is encumbered by the easement and the
rangeland in the pre-mining stage to
holder of the easement that restricts the
crucial elk winter range in the post-mining
development and use of the land in order
reclamation stage. The classification of

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 22 WCI Case Study | February 2008
The Rochelle Hills Conservation Easement is the first easement of any type on reclaimed mining lands
in Wyoming. The area includes four reservoirs, a water well and ten acres of woodlands. Above, the
foreground shows a portion of the Jacobs Ranch Mine reclaimed land that is apart of the easement, with
the Rochelle Hills in the background. The easement will preserve this area’s exceptional vegetation and
wildlife habitat features for future generations.
to achieve certain conservation goals
(such as protection of wildlife habitat).
In other words, this easement ensures
these described lands will be preserved
for wildlife use, indefinitely. The easement
includes the 730 reclaimed acres of
critical elk wintering habitat. In June 2007,
a formal agreement was finalised between
RTEA and the RMEF that created the
Rochelle Hills Conservation Easement
“In keeping with our sustainable
development goals, the company donated
the easement to ensure that the land
continues to be used as grazing land
and wildlife habitat in the years to come,”
RTEA President and CEO Colin Marshall
said. “This is an excellent example of
sustainable development in that the
coal mined from this land provided
energy for today’s economic growth,
while subsequent quality reclamation
will provide sustainable use for future
generations.”
The reclamation features of high
quality forage, diverse topography, and
establishment of water sources in the
form of reservoirs have created conditions
ideal for the Rochelle Hills elk herd. The
number of elk utilising the area of the
conservation easement varies with winter
conditions, extent of drought, and several
other factors. Field observations during
winters with intense weather conditions
and snow cover have noted 60 to 80 elk
using the reclamation component of the
easement.
For further information on Rio Tinto Energy America visit: www.rtea.com
Background
Information
Founded in 1984 and headquartered in
Missoula, Montana, the Rocky Mountain
Elk Foundation is a non-profit organisation
dedicated to ensuring the future of elk,
other wildlife and their habitat. The
Elk Foundation and its partners have
permanently protected or enhanced nearly
5 million acres, a land area more than
twice as large as Yellowstone National
Park. Nearly 500,000 acres previously
closed to public access are now open
for hunting, fishing and other recreation.
Further information is available at:
www.rmef.org
The Rio Tinto Group is a world leader
in finding, extracting and processing
the earth’s mineral resources. Rio Tinto
Energy America specialises in the
production of low sulphur, sub-bituminous
coal, and operates five coal mines located
.
in Wyoming, Montana and Colorado. With
a combined workforce of more than 2400
employees, and with the help of hundreds
of contractors and suppliers, the company
provides fuel to its energy company
customers who generate nearly 6% of the
The Rochelle Hills Conservation nation’s electricity
Easement is the first easement of any
type on reclaimed mining lands in
Wyoming, and the first RMEF easement
on reclaimed lands anywhere in the USA.
The area includes four reservoirs, a water
well and ten acres of woodlands. Studies
have also shown ample productivity and
composition of forage. Long term grazing
activity and on-going wildlife studies in
this area have clearly documented the
achievement of land use objectives for
the reclaimed lands. By entering into a
conservation easement, Jacobs Ranch
Mine has taken the final step to ensure
that these lands will be protected and
that there will always be a place for future
generations to enjoy wildlife and open
spaces in Wyoming.
The innovative nature of the cooperative
conservation easement has been
recognised by the Wyoming Game and
Fish Department through the agency’s
2007 Wildlife Habitat Reclamation and
Stewardship Award. In addition, Jacobs
Ranch Mine was recognised by the
Wyoming Section of the Society of Range
Management through the Excellence
in Rangeland Stewardship Award. The
mine has also been the recipient of the
national Excellence in Surface Mining and
Reclamation Award.