The legal notices in the Saturday, Sheridan Press, July, 19th 2025. Ramaco Coal states, "although a prior schedule identified blasting to begin on June 20th, 2025 Brook Mining LLC hereby notifies the public that no blasting has occurred to date and no blasting is currently planned or scheduled."
Blasting is how mining would happen at the Brooks Ramaco, open pit, coal mine.
Jill Morrison, of Powder River Basin Resource Council, wrote for the Western Organization of Resource Councils, 2017. "Investigation of Ramaco principals reveals shady history." This news article, identifies that Randall Atkins and Charles Atkins, were both sentenced, in what the New York Times reported as, "one of the largest tax cases ever filed." The New York bankruptcy court found Charles Aktins and others involved, liable for $32 million. The New York Times noted that Charles Aktins was referred to as, "the boy wonder of tax shelters." Randall Aktins was found guilty of a breach of feduciary duty. In 1988, Charles Aktins, was sentenced, by the New York District Court to two years in jail and four years of community service, for 28 counts of conspiracy to defraud the IRS.
The Brooks Mine, is located on land originally mined, by Kiewit Mining from, 1943-1988. The mine, was the Big Horn Coal Company, located approximately 9 miles north of Sheridan. This is the present location of the Acme Special Use District.
In 1988, Big Horn Coal Company, provided, 46% of Sheridan County's assessed tax valuation. The mine employed 230 people, but the company's, final contract to supply coal, to Commonwealth Edison end in 1988. During it's years of operation the coal was delivered to multiple parties under contract and was delived by train.
In a letter, written by the President of Peter Kiewit Mining, Dean Skalla, in 1985, Skalla says, in part, "However the realities of today's coal market - dropping demand, over supply and production costs at many mines, that are well below Big Horn's coal costs - suggest that new coal contracts are unlikely." Kiewit restored, the Big Horn Coal pit.
Brooks Mine is located next to Interstate 90 and the Sheridan High Tech Business Park. The location of Weatherby, Kennon, Vacutech, and many other businesses are located. There is no railroad access to this area.
If Ramaco does not blast, how will it mine the coal?
Sheridan Press, July 12th, 2025, Brook Mine Open for Digging, Ramaco's Chief Operation Officer, Chris Blanchard, said, "We don't have to do any drilling and blasting or anything expensive to crush the material." Correct, but, blasting is necessary to get the "material".
Ramaco's, July 1st, 2025, letter to its shareholders has the following, "Cautionary statements regarding foward-looking statements". Ramaco states, "These foward-looking statements represent Ramaco Resources' expectations or beliefs concerning guidance, future events, anticipated revenue, future demand and production levels, macroeconomic trends, the development of ongoing projects, costs & expectations regarding the commercial feasibility of mining and extracting Ramaco's REEs, and it is possible the results described in this letter will not be achieved.
What is Ramaco saying to its shareholders?
Dream a little dream of Ramaco's Brook Mine.
To join in on the dialog, contact sheridanclash@gmail.com.