The Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (DRMS) has announced the beginning of Phase One for 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. Funding for this effort comes from federal resources dedicated to reducing the impact of coal mines on nearby communities. The accepted bid for the project totals $853,015.
The mitigation work will address a surface coal refuse pile that covers 1.5 acres and has been burning for over twenty years due to spontaneous combustion. The pile is approximately 35 feet high, 150 feet wide, and 300 feet long. Historical mining at the site involved operations by fifteen different mines between the 1920s and the 1990s.
DRMS will supervise the mechanical excavation of an estimated 82,400 cubic yards of burning material. Each cubic yard will be quenched with five gallons of water before being blended in equal parts with onsite waste piles, cooled further, and then backfilled into place. Overall excavation and backfill activities are planned to cover about 164,800 cubic yards across a total area of 9.5 acres.
To lower fire risks during construction, DRMS will clear vegetation from around the active work area and keep at least 20,000 gallons of water onsite at all times in a tank equipped with a high-capacity pump compatible with local firefighting equipment. Work involving heat or sparks will be suspended if sustained winds exceed 25 miles per hour or if weather increases wildfire danger.
Access to the site is restricted as it is located on private property; no public roads or recreational areas will be affected by these activities. DRMS is working closely with local authorities to ensure safety measures are maintained throughout construction.
There may be visible smoke or ash plumes during excavation that could resemble wildfire smoke and might be seen from considerable distances. “If the public has any questions or concerns about a local smoke plume it’s always a good idea to reach out to their local fire protection district,” according to DRMS officials.
After extinguishing the fire in Phase One, Phase Two will begin with grading using GPS-controlled equipment designed to blend restored landforms into surrounding terrain while minimizing erosion risk. The final step involves revegetating disturbed ground using native seed mixes.
Further information about this project can be found on DRMS’s fact sheet and through its website dedicated to coal mine fire reclamation efforts.
