2016-05-20_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1981035

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County staff held frequent, regular meetings with the applicant in order to assist the applicant with achieving a compliant Land Use Permit. The County also recognizes, however, that the applicant is ultimately responsible for providing a compliant and completed application. It is noted that the project scope, as defined by the applicant, has evolved over the course of the review period and is summarized in Table 1 below. Table 1. Project Scope Evolution Data Source Annual Production Daily Loaded Employees Haul Trucks (does not include haul drivers) 11/20/12 700k tons current 87 employees current narrative 6/10/14 traffic study 1M tons by 2022 124 avg trucks by 2022 120 employees by 2022 9/3/14 750k tons current 140 employees current; narrative 165 future 7/31/15 and 1/29/16 975k tons current 140 employees current; narratives 165 future 7/31/15 and 11/19/15 940k tons current; 156 avg trucks traffic studies 1.3M tons projected *Note. On 11/13/14 in a draft staff report COA, the County communicated that the Daily Loaded Haul Trucks could be 120 average trucks; 140 maximum/day upon build -out, containing all required roadway improvements. IV. PROJECT DESCRIPTION GCC Energy King II Coal Mine consists of 26 acres of surface operations and approximately 415 acres of below -ground mining. GCC is currently pursuing (1) a "lease modification" and (2) an exploration permit, which could lead to a "lease by application" in the future, both via the BLM. Also, both actions could lead to an increased area of below -ground coal excavation, though GCC indicates this would be accomplished with no change to surface or coal transport operations beyond what is proposed as part of this land use permit. Surface operations include coal processing, coal storage, vehicle circulation, and office buildings as well as parking for personnel. The coal seam exists below approximately 300 feet of overburden, and is approached in a horizontal direction from the ground surface. Neither vertical shafts nor blasting is employed at the mine. The type of coal mined is low sulfur Bituminous. Within the coal seam, approximately six miles of tunnels, and somewhat greater than two miles of roadways, are laid out in a grid fashion. The mine uses a method known as "room and pillar" in which a series of 10' to 18' wide "rooms", or work areas, are cut into the seam; with each of the "rooms" being approximately 6' to 10' in height. A "continuous miner" machine moves horizontally through the coal seam and uses steel spikes to cut the coal. As the coal is cut, the machine applies a water mist to control airborne particulate matter to levels required by the federal Mining and Safety Health Administration (MSHA). The coal is then projected into a trailer which carries the coal to a conveyor belt and out of the mine for processing. On the surface, coal is crushed and screened into three grades: mill -run, lump, and stoker. Coal is then loaded onto contracted trucks that transport the coal to users, ranging from the D&SNGR in Durango (lump coal) or to New Mexico for rail transport. The applicant hires third -party truck drivers to transport the coal around the clock and GCC reports that each truck carries approximately 28.5 tons of coal. GCC seeks a land use permit to use 6.4 miles of north CR 120 for haul truck access, to and from the mine, with improvements to the road to meet La Plata County road standards and mitigation of the produced traffic's impacts. Project No. 2012-0089 PC 4852-5627-2942, v. 3 Page 4 of 32 (DM, VS, DP)