|
WCR Coal Coreholes (MR13- 269, MR13 -272, MR14- 275, MR14 -276, MR14 -277, MR14 -278, MR14 -279,
<br />MR14 -280, MR14 -281)
<br />TC proposes to develop access, construct drill -pads, and drill and log up to 49 coreholes in the Eastern Mining
<br />District (EMD) and Northern Mining District (NMD). The purpose of the corehole program is to more accurately
<br />define the extent, configuration, and quality of the Wolf Creek Reserve (WCR) and associated geology and
<br />partings, and to assess overburden and coal physical and chemical characteristics, for planning and implementation
<br />of possible future mining operations in this area. The proposed activities will occur on lands, and will affect
<br />surface and minerals owned or controlled by TC, and will be conducted during the fall through summer of 2013
<br />through 2015, with some activities potentially extending into fall 2015, as shown on Figures EX52 -F1, EX52 -F2,
<br />EX52 -F3, EX52 -F4, EX52 -175, EX52 -176, and EX52 -177, WCR Coal Coreholes. Environmental baseline studies,
<br />including cultural resource surveys and wildlife consultation with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, have been
<br />completed for the proposed drill- sites, and are documented by cultural resource survey reports (Exhibit 6L), and
<br />wildlife consultation letters.
<br />Drill -sites have been selected and located to facilitate access from existing County, mine, and ranch roads, and to
<br />avoid stream buffer zones and any cultural resource exclusion areas. Minor maintenance may be required for
<br />portions of the existing roads, including grading to address rills or washouts and placement of suitable road -base
<br />materials or rock/gravel, to assure good access during any wet conditions and minimize any road damage. Where
<br />direct access from existing roads is not feasible, drilling equipment and supplies may travel overland short distances
<br />during periods when ground conditions are favorable to access the drill sites, or short temporary connecting roads
<br />will be constructed. Where road maintenance or construction involves any significant new disturbance, soil
<br />materials will be recovered and stockpiled for later use in reclamation, as appropriate. The maximum anticipated
<br />road maintenance /construction disturbance requirements would be approximately 38,800 feet (22.3 acres with a 25
<br />ft. maximum road disturbance width).
<br />Drill pads will range from approximately 75 x 75 feet (0.15 acres) to 250 x 250 feet (1.43 acres) depending on
<br />drilling conditions, with soil material stripping limited to an area around the drillhole collar, and the area
<br />surrounding any mud pits necessary to support drilling operations, in order to minimize disturbance and facilitate
<br />site reclamation. If additional site work is required to establish a level pad, any affected areas will be stripped and
<br />the soil material stockpiled for use in reclaiming the site. Wattles, sediment fence, and/or berms will be used to
<br />control site drainage and prevent off -site sediment transport, with drainage and sediment control for the associated
<br />disturbance being address as Small Area, Exemptions (SAE's). Nominal 4.805 -inch to 10.750 -inch drillholes will
<br />be completed using rotary drilling methods and drilling mud as the circulation medium, to depths ranging from 800
<br />to 1,800 feet. Any drilling fluids will be fully contained on site using either mud pits or temporary porta -pits. Core
<br />samples will be recovered from all drillholes, and all drillholes will be geophysically logged.
<br />On completion of drilling and logging, all drillholes (except those to be completed as monitoring wells — WC013A
<br />and WC -008A) will be plugged and sealed in accordance with State Engineer requirements, and drill -sites will be
<br />reclaimed by removing all equipment and supplies, allowing any mud pits to dry-out, backfilling the pits, grading
<br />any disturbance to blend with the surrounding terrain and reestablish natural drainage patterns, replacing stockpiled
<br />soil materials, and seeding with either the rangeland or dryland pasture seed mixtures (dependent on the pre -
<br />disturbance vegetation community).
<br />(3) Mine Facilities
<br />(a) A narrative and mans, to meet the standards prescribed in 2.10, describing; the location,
<br />construction, modification, use, maintenance and removal of mine facilities in the permit area including all
<br />buildings, structures and utility corridors.
<br />RESPONSE
<br />The existing Foidel Creek Mine surface facilities consist of building structures, material handling system, utilities,
<br />and surface areas as shown on Map 24, Surface Facilities. Previously disturbed areas within the surface facilities
<br />area may be leveled and then utilized for additional storage.
<br />MR14 -281 2.05 -17.3 08/25/14
<br />
|