Coal Basin Ranch in Redstone will host two place-based history coffee talks this summer to highlight the region’s human imprint on the landscape: July 11 with reclamation specialist Steve Renner and August 1 with former Mid-Continent Coal & Coke Company employee Jeff Bier.

The place-based history talks are intended to provide background information about the Coal Basin region with experts who can reference place-names and geography while discussing their areas of expertise. The talks will take place from 9-11 am near the Coal Basin Ranch kiosk. Coffee and donuts will be served.

Renner’s talk takes place on Saturday, July 11, and will cover the Colorado Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety’s Coal Basin Reclamation Project in the early 1990s, which aimed to clean up the landscape after the departure of Mid-Continent Coal & Coke in 1992. Renner was the project manager for the clean-up initiative from its inception in 1993 through completion in 2001. For the history talk, Renner will provide an overview of mining history and discuss the reclamation efforts, including goals, strategies and processes.

A geologist by training, Renner has more than 35 years’ experience pertaining to evaluation of mining related environmental impacts and abandoned mine land restoration. He worked for the Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety as administrator of the Colorado Coal Mine regulatory program before managing the Coal Basin Reclamation Project. After completing that project, Renner was involved in other mine restoration projects, including evaluation and abatement of fires at abandoned coal mines. Renner went on to establish an abandoned uranium mine assessment program for the U.S. Department of Energy. He is an adjunct professor at Colorado Mesa University, teaching a course in Mined Land Rehabilitation. Renner, his wife Mimi, and dog Sprocket live near Grand Junction where they enjoy the outdoors and being near their sons and grandchildren.

Although not necessary, RSVP is desired for the July 11 history coffee talk to: info@coalbasinranch.com or by texting 970-274-1861.