Here's a link to the 2007 Wyoming Geological Survey map which shows the location and scale of the coal mines in Wyoming State: http://www.wsgs.uwyo.edu/Coal/images...

[Note: You'll need to download and install the following plugin for Explorer in order to view this map: http://www.lizardtech.com/download/d... ]

I've taken some time to examine the footprints of the mines on this map. It appears that the length of the Jim Bridger Coal Mine is closest to 18 miles. The Jim Bridger Coal Mine has been in existence since the early 1970s and started off as a surface mine. In recent years, it has become a surface, high-wall, and long-wall combination mine.

Here's a presentation given at the recent Mine Expo (September 2008) that describes the metamorphasis of the Jim Bridger Coal Mine: http://www.minexpo.com/Presentations...

Contact information (Source > Wyoming Mining Association: http://www.wma-minelife.com/members/... ) :

PACIFICORP/ROCKY MOUNTAIN POWER
2840 East Yellowstone Highway
Casper, Wyoming 82609

Bridger Coal Company
Jim Bridger Mine
9 1/2 Miles NE of Point of Rocks
P.O. Box 2068
Rock Springs, WY 82902-2068
(307)382-9741 FAX (307)362-5330
E-mail: first name.last name@pacificorp.com

Here's an interesting excerpt from an accident report that MSHA published in 2005 for the Jim Bridger Mine:

RE: overland conveyor belt system

"Bodell Construction Company (Bodell), based in Salt Lake City, Utah, was contracted by Pacific Minerals to design and construct three lengths of an overland belt conveyor system and four transfer towers from the Bridger Underground Coal Mine portals to the existing Truck Dump Station #2. This truck dump station was originally used by surface coal haul trucks from the Jim Bridger Mine, a surface coal mine operated by Bridger Coal Company, and was being modified to receive coal from the new overland conveyor belt system."

Source: http://www.msha.gov/FATALS/2005/FTL0...


** Please forgive me if my investigation is way off track...