Todd O' Hair - July 05, 2007
Rio Tinto Energy America
Spring Creek Mine
Rio Tinto Energy America is one of the largest coal mining companies in the nation, with mining operations in Montana, Wyoming and Colorado. With a combined workforce of 2,200 employees, Rio Tinto Energy America specializes in the production of low sulfur, high energy coal, which is sold to electricity generating utilities across the United States.
In Montana, Rio Tinto Energy America owns and operates the Spring Creek Mine located near Decker, Montana and holds a 50/50 joint venture interest in Decker Coal. RTEA’s Spring Creek Mine is Montana’s largest producing coal mine shipping 14.5 million tons of coal in 2006.
As the second largest coal producer in the country, RTEA is committed to sustainable development in its operations. In our view, sustainable development means “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” This principle is a crucial part of our business practices, exemplified by our motto, “Provide for today, protect for tomorrow.”
RTEA provides the coal that fuels approximately six percent of the nation’s electricity, while at the same time protects for future generations through contributions to our economy, our communities and our environment.
Here in Montana, RTEA’s Spring Creek Mine employs over 175 full time employees with an average salary of $65,000/year with full benefits. Good paying jobs by any standard.
In 2006 alone, the Spring Creek Mine paid nearly $12 million in coal severance taxes and over $3 million in gross proceeds taxes to Montana’s state coffers. At RTEA, we are proud of our contribution to the State’s budget surplus. Keep in mind, this $15 million in taxes does not represent the various other state, local and national taxes, all levied on our operations in Montana.
We view assisting communities in sustainability efforts as a global concept with a local meaning. Community not only refers to the people living in an area, but to the interaction of those people. RTEA and its communities have mutual importance and value for each other.
Through interviews with local leaders and elected officials, we learned that substance abuse is the number one concern in our local communities. Of particular concern, is the devastating affects associated with methamphetamine use.
With the problem clearly defined, Rio Tinto Energy America committed to become part of the solution. One example is our $20,000 donation to the Montana Meth Project that was coordinated with the matching grant of Meth Project founder Tom Seibel resulting in a combined $40,000 tool to help prevent Meth use in Montana.
Similarly, we made a $10,000 contribution to the Thunder Child Treatment Center located near Sheridan Wyoming. Thunder Child Treatment Center is a non-profit, Native American based alcohol and substance abuse treatment center with a recovery model that addresses the disease of chemical dependency while showing full respect for the dignity of the people they serve.
Additionally, Rio Tinto Energy America is committed to sustainable environmental operations. All of our business units have goals for greenhouse gas reductions, minimal fresh water usage and increased energy efficiency to name only a few. We recognize that effective reclamation and reestablishment of post-mine land uses are crucial for ensuring sustainable communities.
At the Spring Creek Mine in southeast Montana, we continue to refine procedures for the development of wildlife habitat on reclaimed land and have constructed unique wildlife habitat features by carefully placing rocks to recreate rimrock structures for wildlife denning, roosting and nesting.
These types of efforts have received national recognition. In 2005, the Spring Creek Mine was the recipient of the national “Excellence in Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Award.”
We are proud of our contributions to Montana’s economy, our communities and our environment. Sustainable development will continue to be at the forefront as we move forward in 2007. RTEA will continue to build long term sustainable relationships with communities, focus our charitable contributions towards the most critical needs, and help ensure our communities are viable well into the future. Community giving is great, but community planning is even better.
For more information on RTEA and its Spring Creek Mine, visit www.rtea.com. This is Todd O’Hair, on behalf of Rio Tinto Energy America.
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