The Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (DRMS) has announced the beginning of construction for Phase One of the Corley Mine Surface Burn Mitigation Project. The project aims to extinguish a burning coal refuse pile located about nine miles south-southwest of Florence, Colorado.
Construction is set to start on May 19, 2025, with completion expected by September 4, 2025. The effort is funded through federal programs designed to reduce the impacts of coal mines on local communities. The accepted bid for the project totals $853,015.
The surface burn involves a 1.5-acre coal refuse pile that has been burning for more than twenty years due to spontaneous combustion. The pile measures approximately 35 feet in height, 150 feet in width, and 300 feet in length. Historical records show that fifteen different mines operated at this site between the 1920s and the 1990s.
Mechanical excavation will remove an estimated 82,400 cubic yards of burning material under DRMS oversight. Water will be used to quench each cubic yard at a rate of five gallons per yard. After quenching, the material will be blended equally with onsite waste piles, cooled further, and then backfilled. Overall excavation and backfill activities are expected to cover about 164,800 cubic yards across a 9.5-acre area.
To minimize fire risk during operations, DRMS will clear vegetation from around the active work zone and maintain a supply of at least 20,000 gallons of water onsite at all times. This water will be stored in tanks equipped with pumps compatible with Florence Fire Protection District equipment. All hot work will stop if sustained winds exceed twenty-five miles per hour or if other weather conditions increase wildfire risk.
The project site is private property and closed to public access; no public roads or recreational areas are affected by these activities. DRMS is working closely with local authorities to ensure safety measures are maintained throughout construction.
Project activities may create visible coal or ash plumes resembling wildfire smoke that could be seen from surrounding areas. DRMS advises residents who have concerns about visible smoke plumes to contact their local fire protection district for information.
Once the current fire is extinguished as part of Phase One, Phase Two will begin with grading using GPS-controlled equipment to shape the land so it blends into its surroundings and limits erosion. Final steps include planting native seed mixes to restore vegetation on disturbed ground.
More details about this mitigation project can be found on the agency’s fact sheet or by visiting the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety website at https://drms.colorado.gov/.
