2014-05-20_REVISION - C1982056 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Response: The CRDA has been designed and permitted to meet the anticipated refuse disposal needs for the remainder of the Foidel Creek mine -life, and for the life -of -mine for the Sage Creek operations. The currently permitted Sage Creek operations represent only a small portion of the total Sage Creek life -of -mine reserve. The CRDA permitted capacity is more than adequate to meet the refuse disposal requirements for the currently permitted Foidel Creek Mine and Sage operations, plus the anticipated Wolf Creek Reserve (life of reserve) operations. Any refuse generated from mining and processing of coal from the Wolf Creek Reserve will utilize capacity previously identified for the Sage Creek life -of -mine operations. If additional refuse capacity is needed in the future to compensate for reallocation of this incremental capacity, TC will review options for either an additional expansion of the existing CRDA or a separate CRDA location, and prepare and submit the necessary design and permitting documents for CDRMS review and approval. Given that the existing CRDA is designed and permitted to support approximately 25 years of operations, and that any requirement for additional refuse capacity would not occur for 15 to 20 years, this approach is both reasonable and viable. The relevant PAP text has been revised to include a reference to use of a portion of the designed capacity of the CRDA for the Wolf Creek operations, and copies of the revised text accompany these responses. 6. The submitted application form for TR -83 identifies 1, 600 acres as a proposed change in affected area, however, proposed page 2.05 -1.2 states that there will be no change in affected area. Due to the fact that the area of the proposed Wolf Creek mining has previously been affected, the gate - roads and bleeder entries will not be identified as affected again. However, based on proposed Map 23, the area of the ramp down has not been affected. Please identify the number of new affected acres, only those acres not previously mined. Response: The figure of 1,600 acres reflects the area that would be re- affected by mining at such time as actual full -scale mining and the associated subsidence occur. The Division's approach in not showing this re- affected area as incremental disturbance is reasonable, and in fact, this area would not be impacted by the proposed initial development activities because the proposed development activities would not result in subsidence. Similarly, the ramp -down area would not result in any surface disturbance or subsidence, since it will be driven within the Mine from the existing Wadge Seam workings down to the Wolf Creek Seam and would incorporate supplemental support so that there would be no collapse or subsidence. Given these considerations, TC has corrected the application form to reflect no change in affected area, a copy of which accompanies these responses. 7. Proposed page 2.04 -41 identifies Map 14 as the Five -Year Mine Plan Baseline Hydrology. The approved Map 14 is labeled the Wadge Seam Piezometric Contour Map 1999. Please identify the correct Map for inclusion as Map 14. Response: Map 14 was updated and the titled was changed, as noted. The map reference has been updated to reflect this change, and a copy of the revised page accompanies these responses.