# Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania

> Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania: four producing coal mines, 469,820 short tons in 2024. Buckhead Energy buys coal mineral rights and coal royalties.

- URL: https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/pennsylvania/westmoreland
- Last updated: 2026-11-01
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Quick answer

Buckhead Energy buys coal mineral rights and coal royalties. Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania had four producing coal mines in 2024, which produced 469,820 short tons of coal, according to mine-level data in the U.S. Energy Information Administration's Annual Coal Report for 2024.

## Producing coal mines in Westmoreland County

The producing mines are one underground mine and three surface mines.^\[1\] They produced bituminous coal, and EIA places them in the Appalachia Northern coal supply region.^\[1\] Mines in the county produced 495,797 short tons in 2023, so output fell by about 5 percent in 2024.^\[1\]

| Mine | Type | Coal rank | Short tons, 2024 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Rustic Ridge #1 Mine | Underground | Bituminous | 431,898 |
| Mellon # 5 Mine | Surface | Bituminous | 29,678 |
| Adc, Inc Pit 008 | Surface | Bituminous | 5,010 |
| Auger 11 | Surface | Bituminous | 3,234 |

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Annual Coal Report mine-level data for 2024, released November 19, 2025. Data compiled November 1, 2026.

## What the data means for coal owners in Westmoreland County

Surface mining is often used when coal is less than 200 feet underground, and underground mining is used when coal lies deeper.^\[2\] Bituminous coal is the most abundant rank found in the United States, and lignite has the lowest energy content.^\[3\] The coal leases in a 2020 West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals decision carried a tonnage royalty, a minimum annual royalty and a fixed term of years.^\[4\] Pennsylvania is one of the 24 states with an approved coal regulatory program, so the state is the primary regulator of coal mining there and handles permitting, inspection and enforcement, with oversight from the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement.^\[5\]

## Coal rights in Pennsylvania

Anthracite generally has the highest heating value of the ranks, and all U.S. anthracite mines are in northeastern Pennsylvania.^\[3\]

Pennsylvania's Bituminous Mine Subsidence and Land Conservation Act requires an underground mine operator who affects a public or private water supply to restore or replace it.^\[6\]

The Appalachian coal region includes Alabama, eastern Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, and underground mines supply most of its coal.^\[7\]

## What you sell and what you keep

What Buckhead buys depends on the deal, and Buckhead tells the seller up front which interest it is offering to buy — for example, the payments for the rest of the current lease term, a term easement, or a longer-term interest. The coal leases in a 2020 West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals decision carried a tonnage royalty, a minimum annual royalty and a fixed term of years.^\[4\] Coal rights can also be divided by seam: in one West Virginia case, the leases covered all the coal in all seams above a named seam on the leased tracts.^\[4\]

Educational information only — not legal, tax, or investment advice. The figures are public reference data, not a valuation or appraisal of any interest. Consult a qualified attorney, CPA, or landman about your specific situation.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much coal did Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania produce in 2024?

Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania had four producing coal mines in 2024, which produced 469,820 short tons of coal, according to mine-level data in the U.S. Energy Information Administration's Annual Coal Report for 2024.^\[1\] Mines in the county produced 495,797 short tons in 2023, so output fell by about 5 percent in 2024.^\[1\]

### Which coal mines produced coal in Westmoreland County in 2024?

The mines were Rustic Ridge #1 Mine (underground, 431,898 short tons), Mellon # 5 Mine (surface, 29,678 short tons), Adc, Inc Pit 008 (surface, 5,010 short tons) and Auger 11 (surface, 3,234 short tons).^\[1\]

### Can I sell coal mineral rights or coal royalties in Westmoreland County?

Buckhead Energy buys coal mineral rights and coal royalties. What Buckhead buys depends on the deal, and Buckhead tells the seller up front which interest it is offering to buy — for example, the payments for the rest of the current lease term, a term easement, or a longer-term interest.

### Are the coal mines in Westmoreland County surface or underground mines?

The producing mines are one underground mine and three surface mines.^\[1\] Surface mining is often used when coal is less than 200 feet underground, and underground mining is used when coal lies deeper.^\[2\]

### Who regulates coal mining in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania is one of the 24 states with an approved coal regulatory program, so the state is the primary regulator of coal mining there and handles permitting, inspection and enforcement, with oversight from the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement.^\[5\]

### Which nearby Pennsylvania counties also have producing coal mines?

Nearby Pennsylvania counties with producing coal mines include Indiana County (2,101,608 short tons in 2024), Armstrong County (679,691 short tons in 2024), Somerset County (1,261,394 short tons in 2024), Fayette County (11,747 short tons in 2024) and Cambria County (1,099,917 short tons in 2024).^\[1\]

## Related pages

[Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Pennsylvania](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/pennsylvania)

[Selling Coal Mineral Rights and Coal Royalties](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights)

[Oil and gas mineral rights in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/mineral-rights/pennsylvania/westmoreland)

[Mineral rights in Pennsylvania](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/mineral-rights/pennsylvania)

[Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Indiana County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/pennsylvania/indiana)

[Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Armstrong County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/pennsylvania/armstrong)

[Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Somerset County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/pennsylvania/somerset)

[Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Fayette County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/pennsylvania/fayette)

[Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Cambria County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/pennsylvania/cambria)

## Sources

\[1\] [Annual Coal Report, mine-level production (2024 data, released November 19, 2025)](https://www.eia.gov/coal/data.php) — U.S. Energy Information Administration (accessed November 1, 2026)

\[2\] [Coal explained: Coal mining and transportation](https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/coal/mining-and-transportation.php) — U.S. Energy Information Administration (accessed November 1, 2026)

\[3\] [Coal explained](https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/coal/) — U.S. Energy Information Administration (accessed November 1, 2026)

\[4\] [Iaeger Energy Development, LLC v. Moore, No. 18-0409 (memorandum decision, Jan. 13, 2020)](https://www.courtswv.gov/sites/default/pubfilesmnt/2023-12/18-0409memo.pdf) — Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia (accessed November 1, 2026)

\[5\] [Regulating Active Coal Mines](https://www.osmre.gov/programs/regulating-active-coal-mines) — Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (accessed November 1, 2026)

\[6\] [Surface Owner Rights and Responsibilities Summary: Bituminous Mine Subsidence and Land Conservation Act](https://greenport.pa.gov/elibrary/PDFProvider.ashx?action=PDFStream&docID=5671&chksum=&revision=2&docName=SURFACE+OWNER+RIGHTS+AND+RESPONSIBILITIES+UNDER+THE+BITUMINOUS+MINE+SUBSIDENCE+AND+LAND+CONSERVATION+ACT&nativeExt=pdf&PromptToSave=False&Size=153641&ViewerMode=2&overlay=0) — Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (accessed November 1, 2026)

\[7\] [Coal explained: Where our coal comes from](https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/coal/where-our-coal-comes-from.php) — U.S. Energy Information Administration (accessed November 1, 2026)

## Ready to Sell Your Coal Mineral Rights or Royalties?

Buckhead Energy buys coal mineral rights and coal royalties.

[Get a Free Written Offer](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/sell#inquiry:source=%2Fcoal-mineral-rights%2Fpennsylvania%2Fwestmoreland&county=Westmoreland+County)

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Are the coal mines in Westmoreland County surface or underground mines?**
The producing mines are one underground mine and three surface mines. Surface mining is often used when coal is less than 200 feet underground, and underground mining is used when coal lies deeper.

## About Buckhead Energy
Buckhead Energy is a direct buyer, not a broker — we purchase mineral and royalty interests with our own capital. Buckhead Energy buys mineral and royalty interests across all 50 states and has completed acquisitions in 33 states. Buckhead Energy has been buying mineral and royalty interests since 2006. Buckhead Energy holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. Buckhead provides a free written offer. Buckhead Energy typically provides an offer within 24–48 hours. Closings typically take 30–45 days, subject to title review and clearance. Buckhead Energy's written offers stay open for 14 days.

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