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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br />PR-04, Colowyo Coal Mine C1981-019 25 August 2016 <br /> <br />3.3 Description of the Operations and Reclamation Plans <br /> <br />3.3.1 Operations Plan <br /> <br />Detailed information on the Colowyo operations plan is found in Section 2.05.3 of the PAP, and <br />performance standards are in Section 4 of the PAP (Volume 1 for the East Pit, West Pit, Section <br />16 Pit, Facilities Area and Gossard Loadout, Volume 12 for South Taylor, and Volume 15 for <br />Collom expansion). <br /> <br /> <br />The Colowyo Coal Mine is an open pit mine, which historically has consisted of several pits <br />(East Pit, Section 11 Pit, West Pit, Section 16 Pit, and South Taylor Pit). Current mining <br />operations are solely in the South Taylor Pit. Future operations are planned for the Collom Pit. <br /> <br />The area to be mined within the Collom Pit covers an area of two long ridge lines at about 7900 <br />feet in elevation, bisected by the stream channel of Little Collom Gulch. The Collom Pit is <br />anticipated to cover 880 acres and reach a depth of 600 feet. Coal production in the Collom Pit <br />is expected to begin in 2016 and is expected to be complete by 2031. Truck/shovel mining <br />techniques, as well as dragline operations, are planned. <br /> <br />Overburden and interburden will be hauled to a temporary spoil pile located north of the pit. The <br />temporary spoil pile is anticipated to contain approximately 168 million cubic yards of material <br />(anticipated maximum over the life of the operation). The temporary spoil pile will be used to <br />backfill the pit to approximate original contour (AOC). A 20 percent swell factor for the <br />overburden is expected. Proposed mine plan volumetric calculations (Table 2.05.6-5) illustrates <br />that no permanent out of pit spoil fills will be required to achieve the proposed post-mining <br />topography. <br /> <br /> <br />Topsoil Removal <br /> <br />Topsoil in the Collom area will be removed using bulldozers, loaders, and/or scrapers prior to <br />facilities construction and pit development in the Collom Pit (as described in Section 2.05.3 in <br />the PAP). Topsoil will be stockpiled in two topsoil stockpiles: 11A and 25A as shown on <br />Map28C. This map also shows the stripping plan, with estimated schedule. <br />During the first three years of topsoil stripping, in all high potential areas for cultural resources, <br />additional cultural resource monitoring will be conducted by a Colorado-permitted archaeologist <br />(Exhibit 5, Item 3). Results of the additional assessments will be submitted to the Division no <br />later than December 31 of the year monitoring occurred. <br />