2015-01-27_REVISION - C1982056 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Peab 0 1111 ENERGY Twentymile Coal, LLC 29515 Routt County Road 27 Oak Creek, CO 80467 970.879.3800 Jason Musick, Environmental Protection Specialist January 6, 2015 Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety (Revised 01/20/15) 1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 Denver, Colorado 80203 (303) 866 -3567 X8134 RE: Twentymile Coal, LLC, Foidel Creek Mine (C -82 -056) — Permit Revision (PR14 -10) Wolf Creek Reserve Development and Mining Dear Mr. Musick: Twentymile Coal, LLC (TC) respectfully requests CDRMS approval of a Permit Revision to our existing approved Permit, to include progressive development and longwall mining of the Wolf Creek Coal Seam Reserve. Initial development, including development and placement of long -term support for a 3 -entry rock -slope access, development of up to six sets of gate -roads and bleeder entries to support future longwall development, and related ancillary activities, including underground dewatering activities and extension of mine ventilation and support systems, has been approved and the related work is proceeding under TR13 -83. The requested Permit Revision addresses mining of three of the initial panels (WC -9RT, 8RT, and 7RT (partial)) developed under TR13 -83; subsequent development (or partial development) of two additional panels in the Wolf Creek Reserve (WC -6RT and 5RT); and mining of TC's owned and leased reserves in Panels WC -7RT (remainder), 6RT, and 5RT (partial). It also includes development of an internal (underground) ventilation and utility shaft in the Wolf Creek main entries adjacent to the WC -8RT Panel and an adjustment to shift a segment of the eastern Permit Boundary to the east ( +160 acres). The proposed plan modifications are necessary to facilitate ongoing mining operations for the Foidel Creek Mine and provide for a smooth and timely transition from the current mining operations in the Wadge Coal Seam to development and mining of the recoverable Wolf Creek Coal Seam reserves. Activities under the proposed mine plan modification will include underground continuous -miner development of main and sub -main entries, gate- roads, and bleeder entries; longwall mining operations; construction of an internal ventilation shaft; and related ancillary activities. This phase of the Wolf Creek operations will not require construction of any new surface facilities, however, longwall mining operations will result in controlled incremental subsidence of overlying areas which have previously been subsided by recent mining operations in the Wadge Coal Seam. TC does anticipate the potential future need for an additional ventilation shaft at the eastern end of the WC -7RT Panel, but design and permitting of this installation (if needed) will be addressed by a future permit revision. TC has previously mined the Wadge Coal Seam in Panels 3RT through TORT in the Eastern Mining District (EMD), and 12RT through 24RT in the Northern Mining District (NMD). The Wolf Creek reserves, which would be developed under this proposed mine plan modification, are approximately 150 feet below the Wadge Seam, and underlie Panels 7RT through TORT in the EMD (TC is pursuing a Federal Lease Modification and LBA for areas underlying Panels 9RT through 14RT in parallel with