Annual Review and Forecast of Utah Coal Production and Distribution — 2007

Book excerpt: Utah’s coal industry experienced a difficult and tragic year in 2007. The terrible circumstances surrounding the unexpected closure of the Crandall Canyon mine, followed by the idling of the Aberdeen mine, resulted in a 7.1% decrease in Utah coal production to a total of 24.3 million short tons. These closures also resulted in a 5.3% loss in mine-related employment. In addition, difficult mining conditions at Canyon Fuel Company’s SUFCO and Dugout Canyon mines contributed to production declines. On the brighter side, Canyon Fuel’s Skyline mine, with a full-year of longwall operation, increased its production by 45.4% and UtahAmerican’s West Ridge mine increased its production by 34.3%. Also noteworthy are record production for both Carbon County and State lands, and a 20-year high in the average price for a short ton of Utah coal: $25.18. Distribution of Utah coal decreased slightly in 2007 to 24.5 million short tons, while out-of-state coal imports hit a 20-year low of only 1.5 million tons.