State Statistics – Utah

While coal occurs beneath about 18 percent of Utah, only 4 percent of the state has minable reserves. Utah's coal fields are mostly bituminous. Current coal production in Utah is largely by underground mining, making Utah unique among the coal-producing states. Most coal seams are more than 8 feet thick. Utah's coal resources are about 6.3 billion tons, 1.3 percent of the national reserve. Most of Utah's coal resources are held by the Federal Government and Indian tribes and are mined under lease. The climate of the Utah coal region is characterized by hot, dry summers and cold, relatively moist winters. Normal precipition varies from 6 inches in the lower valleys to more than 40 inches on some high plateaus. The growing season ranges from 5 months in some valleys to less than 3 months in mountainous regions. These extreme climatic conditions make reclamation difficult. Utah gained primacy when its regulatory program was conditionally approved January 21, 1981. Full program approval was obtained March 7, 1983. The Abandoned Mine Land Program was approved June 3,1983. A Federal Lands Cooperative Agreement was signed in March 1987; Utah performs all enforcement activities and some permitting activities on federal lands.