|
The permit area encompasses approximately 20,100 acres. This permit renewal (RN-06)
<br />proposes to approve 30.0 acres of disturbance associated with Phase II of the three phase Refuse
<br />Disposal Area Expansion approved with Technical Revision 67, but does not propose to enlarge
<br />the permit boundary.
<br />
<br />USGS Quadrangle maps of Milner and Rattlesnake Butte cover the majority of the permit area.
<br />Disturbed areas of the mine include the main surface facilities area along Foidel Creek and
<br />numerous smaller outlying facilities. These mine-related facilities result in 636.87 total disturbed
<br />acres. The main mine facilities lie in Sections 29, 31, 32, T5N, R86W of the 6th Principal
<br />Meridian and are located in, and adjacent to, a strip pit excavated originally by Colorado Yampa
<br />Coal Company's (CYCC) surface mining operation (No. C1981-071). Other facilities currently
<br />within the permit area, but separate from the main portal facility area, include the Fish Creek
<br />Borehole (FCB) facility, the Southwest ventilation facility (SW vent), the Eastern Mining
<br />District ventilation facility (EMD vent), the Eastern Mining District dewatering facility (10RT
<br />borehole), the 18-Right Escape Shaft and MAC borehole, the 18-Left Ventilation boreholes and
<br />MAC borehole, the 6-Main North Ventilation Shaft, the 6-Main North escape shaft and supply
<br />boreholes, the 6-Main North reservoir, the 16-Left Utility Borehole, the Sandstones substation
<br />and Barricade chamber, the Fish Creek Tipple (FCT) facility, the Eastern Mining District grout
<br />hole pad, and various roads and waterlines throughout the permit area.
<br />
<br />The Fish Creek Borehole (FCB) is located on Fish Creek approximately two miles northwest of
<br />the main facility area in Section 25, T5N, R87W. The FCB facility consists of two dewatering
<br />boreholes, an inactive ventilation shaft that has been reconfigured to a mine water borehole, three
<br />treatment ponds, associated roads, a substation, a utility building, and water treatment
<br />equipment. The SW vent was reclaimed in 1996 and is located in Section 36, T5N, R87W. The
<br />EMD vent facility is located in Section 14, T5N, R86W and consists of two ventilation shafts
<br />(intake air and return air), intake air heating unit, associated buildings, powerlines, and fuel tank.
<br />The 10 Right boreholes (formerly referred to as the EMD borehole) disturbed area is located in
<br />Section 21, T5N, R86W and consists of two boreholes, a pump building, several buried water
<br />lines, topsoil stockpiles, and a graveled pad. The Sandstones substation in Section 20, T5N,
<br />R86W no longer serves as a power drop to the mine. The nearby Barricade chamber (formerly
<br />referred to as the North Escape Shaft) has no facilities but exists as a completed three-foot
<br />diameter shaft that has been capped with a temporary steel cap. The shaft at the Barricade
<br />chamber is used to direct water back into the mine as a part of the mine water system.
<br />
<br />The Fish Creek Tipple (FCT) facility is located approximately five miles northeast of the main
<br />portal area in Section 2, T5N, R86W, about seven miles downstream on Fish Creek from the
<br />FCB facility. It was originally permitted separately under permit No. C1981-036 but since has
<br />been incorporated into the Foidel Creek permit No. C-1982-056. It consisted of a rail load out,
<br />crushing and screening equipment, conveyors, stockpile areas, and a sediment control system of
<br />ditches and one pond. The FCT facility has been demolished and the area has been backfilled
<br />and regraded and received Phase I Release in 2013 with SL-01.
<br />
<br />The 6-Main North (6MN) facilities were constructed in 2007-2009 and are located in Section 17,
<br />T5N, R86W. The 6MN facilities consist of an escape shaft with a man hoist for emergency
<br />evacuation, cuttings pit, topsoil stockpiles, transformer, two rock dust tanks and associated
<br />boreholes, Mine Atmosphere Control (MAC) borehole, and materials boreholes, compressor
<br />
<br />
<br />7
<br />
<br /> Foidel Creek MineOctober 8, 2013
<br />
<br />
|