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State AML officials report progress at Bunting Park and outline Central Coal No. 2 grouting work
Summary
Wyoming AML told the Rock Springs City Council that Bunting Park mitigation is nearing a May 22 completion for the park and Elk Street parking lot, and outlined a mid‑May start for grouting work in the Central Coal No. 2 area with homeowner outreach and free one‑year subsidence insurance offered to adjacent residents.
Wyoming’s Abandoned Mine Land (AML) program briefed the Rock Springs City Council on April 21 about ongoing mine‑subsidence mitigation in Bunting Park and plans for a second phase in the Central Coal No. 2 area.
Richard McPeek, AML project manager, said crews have drilled 111 boreholes at Bunting Park, installing roughly 4,058 cubic yards of grout — “that’s roughly two Olympic‑sized swimming pools,” he said — and that the project aims to complete park and parking‑lot work by May 22. McPeek described efforts to protect turf and trees using mats and plastic sheeting and noted that some holes encountered pillars or voids requiring additional grouting.
An AML representative described the Central Coal No. 2 phase, planned to begin in mid‑May and continue into late fall. The targeted work zone includes portions of Wyoming, Vermont, Connecticut and New Hampshire streets. Officials said the work will use careful utility locates, traffic control plans, ground‑motion laser monitoring (sensitive to hundredths of a foot) and pre‑work potholing to reduce risk to utilities and property.
AML also said it offers subsidence insurance to adjacent homeowners: a free policy for the first year while mitigation is underway and an option to continue coverage afterward. The agency described a multi‑layered protection plan if damage occurs, including contractor liability insurance, state contract bond recovery and AML project funds to support repairs.
Councilors asked about slope direction, heave risk in shallow cover areas and whether road‑surface scans would detect changes; AML said they will perform pre‑ and post‑work road scans and use monitoring personnel in addition to laser alarms to detect ground movement. Officials emphasized coordination with residents and that contractors will be required to submit traffic control plans and utility locates for city approval.
What’s next: AML will continue work at Bunting Park into the summer and begin Central Coal No. 2 grouting in mid‑May; councilors asked staff to continue resident outreach and pursue follow‑up updates to the council.
Why it matters: The projects address mine‑related voids beneath public parks and residential streets that pose subsidence and infrastructure risks; the mix of monitoring, insurance options and coordination measures aims to limit damage and expedite repairs where needed.
