Laserfiche WebLink
INTRODUCTION <br />This document is the proposed decision of the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and <br />Safety ( Division) in response to a request for a Partial Phase I Bond Release at the West Elk Mine, <br />Division permit number C- 1980 -007. The package contains four parts. These parts include: 1) <br />procedures and summary of the bond release process; 2) criteria and schedule for bond release; 3) <br />observations and findings of the Division regarding compliance with the bond release requirements <br />of the Colorado Surface Coal Mining and Reclamation Act and regulations promulgated thereunder; <br />and 4) the Division's proposed decision on the request for bond release. <br />Detailed information about the review process can be found in the Act and the Regulations of the <br />Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board for Coal Mining. All Rules referenced within this <br />document are contained within the Regulations. Detailed information about the mining and <br />reclamation operations at the West Elk Mine can be found in the permit application, on file at the <br />Division offices, located at 1313 Sherman Street, Room 215, in Denver, Colorado. <br />The West Elk Mine is an underground coal mine, which is permitted and operated by the Mountain <br />Coal Company, LLC (MCC). Land for which bond release has been requested is Federally owned <br />and the coal mined was federally owned. Reclamation for which the Bond Release has been <br />requested was conducted in 2011 and 2013. MCC is requesting Phase I bond release on 19.23 <br />acres. The release includes the proper plugging and abandonment of 22 drill holes (both exploration <br />holes and MDW's), the backfilling and regrading of 22 drill pads and the backfilling and regrading <br />of the associated roads and road spurs. The release also includes the backfilling and regrading of <br />the Monument Dam Borrow Area. All of these sites are located in the West Flatiron and Dry Fork <br />of the Minnesota Creek areas. <br />West Elk Mine 2 13 April 2015 <br />Partial Phase I Bond Release SL -07 Findings <br />