We strive to make a positive impact on the places where we live and work. We invest in local communities to help keep them vibrant and strong through volunteer activities, financial support to local nonprofits, and by providing stable, well-paying jobs.
Coteau’s Freedom Mine received the Distinction in Reclamation Award from the American Society of Reclamation Sciences (ASRS) for its Pollinator Habitat Project. In collaboration with the North Dakota 4-H group, our community stewardship program provided reclaimed land to establish two pollinator plots. The project involved six high school ambassadors who learned about equipment, observed the seeding of the plots and hand-seeded certain areas. The Freedom Mine supplied post-mine land use maps, topographic maps, post-reclamation soils information and the native grassland seed mixture used in the surrounding reclaimed hayland. The two-acre plots were seeded with pollinator-friendly plant species chosen by the participants based on their research, creating vibrant habitats for a variety of pollinators and enriching the reclaimed landscape. The youth group played a crucial role in creating the seed mixture for pollinators and prepping and loading the seeding equipment. Through innovative reclamation efforts and community engagement, the Freedom Mine is setting a standard for environmental stewardship and education.
