BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – After decades of work at two major North Dakota coal mines, farmers and ranchers are finally able to use reclaimed land.

Excavists have been hard at work out at the Falkirk Mine in McLean County and at Coteau Properties Co-Freedom Mine in Mercer County. But they haven’t just been digging; at the same time, they’ve been reclaiming the land to restore it to its former state when mining is complete.

Now, two large portions of land have been bond released and are ready to be put back into private operation for agricultural production again.

North Dakota is ripe for the picking when it comes to coal.

The Department of Mineral Resources estimates the state contains about 25 billion tons of the mineable, natural resource. But when a coal company seeks a permit to mine here, they must pay a bond to the Public Service Commission.

The money is used to ensure the company restores the land. If it fails to do so, the PSC can use the bond funds to reclaim the land. It’s not until the bond is released, proving the land has been returned to adequate condition, that the land can go back to the people.

“For many years, I can remember hearing complaints that there’s not enough bond release going on. Now, as these mines reach more maturity, we’re starting to see more bond release packages in good sized chunks come out,” said Randy Christmann, the North Dakota Public Service Commission chairman.

One of those chunks that was bond released is a 642-acre stretch of land owned by the North Dakota Department of Trust Lands that’s been under the control of Falkirk Mine in Underwood since the 1980s.

After an extensive process of mining, reclaiming, leasing out to ranchers and productivity-record keeping, the land has been restored.

“It is grasslands, and we reviewed it. It is good quality grasslands, good water out there for the livestock, good fencing around it,” said Christmann.

Across the river at the Coteau mine, 343 acres have been bond released.

Like at Faulkirk, PSC Chairman Randy Christman said the land will mostly be used for grasslands but also some cropland.

“Getting that land back into good condition is good for the environment. It’s good for wildlife, and it’s good for ag production. That is the main point of all this,” said Christmann.

As the chapter closes on a decades-long process, another begins for the farmers and ranchers who will now have access to these expanses.

Christmann said both mines have permits to continue operations on nearby stretches of land for decades to come.

The coal from both mines is primarily used for electricity generation.