Walnut Creek Mining Company - Bredmond, Texas
Kiewit Mining Group Inc. owns and is responsible for project operations and day-to-day management of this lignite mine located between Dallas and Houston, Texas. The operation includes an 80-cubic-yard dragline, a 20-cubic-yard mass excavator, an 18-cubic-yard hydraulic backhoe and a fleet of 150-ton end-dump trucks to move more than 20 million cubic yards of material annually.
The captive lignite operation produces more than two million tons of lignite per year and incorporates a blending program that provides consistent quality lignite to fuel two 150-megawatt circulating-fluidized-bed power plants. Quality control is maintained through a comprehensive testing program, and also includes an on-site staff of environmental specialists to ensure total compliance. Safety and compliance records have been exceptional with the mine, winning the MSHA Sentinels of Safety Award nearly each year of production, in addition to a Special Projects Reclamation Award from the Texas Mining and Reclamation Association.
The mine's primary client generates, purchases, transmits, distributes and sells electricity to 250,000 residential, electrical and industrial customers in 85 municipalities in Texas and New Mexico.