AML targets Reliance mine void

In some locations across Sweetwater County, the remnants of the county’s rich coal mining heritage can still be found in the numerous mine voids beneath the mining towns founded to extract coal needed to feed the Union Pacific trains.

In Reliance, a large mine void is causing Abandoned Mine Lands officials to plan a multiphase effort to mitigate it before it can cause any damage. The void is the result of undermining beneath the town and threatens both the county road and water line running through the town, and is believed to be beneath a few residences as well.

The problem is compounde...