It is no secret that now is a turbulent time for the coal
industry in Wyoming and across the county.
My hometown was once synonymous with coal mining; in fact, my
great-grandfather moved from working in the coal mines of
Walsenburg, Colorado to Wyoming to work in the coal mines of Rock
Springs. To say coal mining was once robust in my home state would
have been an understatement. At one time, there were said to be more than 130 coal mines
operating in Sweetwater County, Wyoming. Read the full essay on
Rock Springs, Wyoming by Chris Propst on WyoHistory.org here.
We have all seen the recent headlines concerning bankruptcies,
debates about self-bonding and coal mine remediation requirements
and coal-reliant states diversifying their revenue sources in light
of the downturn in the coal industry. Slightly under the radar,
however, another coal-related issue has been happening without too
much publicity – the increased regulation of coal mine
dust.
