2015-01-26_PERMIT FILE - C1981012A ‎(5)‎

• Permit No: C1981012A
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 1/26/2015
• Section_Exhibit Name: Section 2.05 Operation and Reclamation Plan
• Media Type: D
• Archive: Yes

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Many of the obsolete facilities at the West Portal have been reclaimed. The East
Portal facilities are in the process of being upgraded in anticipation of renewed
coal production from the New Elk Mine at both the East Portal and Bates Portal.
The RDA is the only facility at the New Elk Mine requiring contemporaneous
reclamation as respective benches are completed. Seeding and mulching is
required by the first planting season after bench completion and topsoiling.
Should the RDA require reclamation prior to reaching its full design capacity, an
alternative final reclamation plan will be developed and submitted as a technical
revision. Drainage on the upper bench is designed to direct drainage away from
the front slope and toward the back and side perimeter ditches, eventually
channeling the water to the armored down - drains and to pond 8. Slopes will be
minimized while positive drainage maintained. This will significantly reduce
erosion and sediment accumulation in Pond 8 while preparing the RDA for final
cover and topsoil.
A listing of all facilities and structures to be ultimately removed at the New Elk
Mine can be found in Exhibit 28, Bond Calculations. The operator plans to
salvage all iron and steel scrap, which is of value within these structures and
remove them from the mine site. Materials which can not be salvaged such as
concrete and rebar, insulation, and non - recyclable steel and metal siding will be
disposed of on -site within the mine disturbance area. A minor amount of
structural wood products may also be included.
Las Animas County officials referred the operator to the Colorado Department of
Public Health and Environment (CDPH &E). Solid waste disposal is regulated by
CDPH &E and requires a certificate of designation for each solid waste disposal
site. However the CDPH &E web -site stated, and CDPH &E personnel confirmed,
that for any person or other non - governmental unit disposing of one's own waste
on one's own surface is exempt from that requirement provided that the site
complies with State regulations and is not a public nuisance. For mine - related
activities these activities are regulated through the Division of Reclamation,
Mining, and Safety mine permitting process.
Disposal areas are shown on Map 15 - Surface Disturbance/Post Mining Land
Use East Portal and Map 16 - Surface Disturbance/Post Mining Land Use West
Portal. Each disposal site will comply with Section 4.11.4, and will be located to
ensure that leachate and surface runoff do not degrade surface or ground water,
fires are prevented and that the area remains stable and suitable for reclamation
compatible with the natural surroundings. Waste material buried on -site will be
compacted and covered with a minimum of two foot of soil medium.
Sediment control structures and surface drainage ditches, which are required to
route water to the sediment ponds, will be left intact during the revegetation
Section 2.05 TR -68 12/10/2014