Jurisdiction: Abandoned Mine Lands
2001 Emergency Projects Archive
Lehigh Emergency Project
Work began on the Lehigh Emergency Project on October 12, 2001. Dickinson Ready Mix bid $21,850 for the injection of 400 cubic yards of flowable fill concrete (grout) into the three sinkholes. The contractor formulated our standard grout formulation and began pouring grout at about 2:45 PM CT. A subcontractor, Winn Construction, pumped grout into the sinkhole between the two buildings. A total of 34 loads (306 cyd) were injected into two of the sinkholes, 24 into the largest hole (after the light pole had been removed) and 10 into the hole between the two buildings. At that point, Dickinson Ready Mix ran out of flyash and it was dark anyway. None of the holes were completely filled and work will continue today.
On the last load into the large sinkhole, at about 8:00 PM, the ground shook slightly and all the grout apparently drained into another mine cavern. Grout had been within five feet of the top of the hole and, within a couple seconds, the grout level dropped down almost to the original depth of the sinkhole, about 25 feet. This will probably result in a contract cost overrun. It's a good thing though, because the grout certainly found its way into another underground mine cavity and may prevent other hazardous mine collapses in the future.
- Lehigh Photo 1 (217kb jpg)
- Lehigh Photo 2 (227kb jpg)
- Lehigh Photo 3 (228kb jpg)
- Lehigh Photo 4 (206kb jpg)
- Lehigh Photo 5 (188kb jpg)
Beulah Sailer Equipment Shed
Two sinkholes, one ten foot deep and one fifteen foot deep opened beneath the floor of an equipment shed, located northeast of Beulah, ND in Mercer County. A tractor has been nearly consumed by the shallower hole, and two combines are in jeopardy from the deeper hole. The site is contiguous with a Game and Fish Management Area on which a number of reclamation projects have been undertaken. This entire area has been impacted by a large underground mining operation abandoned many years ago. An emergency declaration is being sought from OSM-Casper. The following are digital photographs taken February 8, 2001:
- Beulah Photo 1 (159kb jpg)
- Beulah Photo 2 (129kb jpg)
- Beulah Photo 3 (132kb jpg)
- Beulah Photo 4 (137kb jpg)
