|
example, the G -Seam is separated into G7, G8 and G9 in the South Taylor Area). The South
<br />Taylor Pit will be nearly 4,000 feet wide, 6,000 feet long, and 550 feet deep. Pit progression is
<br />from southeast to northwest. Projected life of the South Taylor Pit is estimated to be until 2017,
<br />not including potential highwall mining, which could prolong this schedule.
<br />The East Taylor Fill is permitted for approximately 19.8 million cubic yards of permanent
<br />excess spoil from this pit. Additionally, Colowyo has permitted the West Taylor Fill for
<br />approximately 27.6 million cubic yards of permanent excess spoil.
<br />Reclamation in the South Taylor Pit is expected to conclude in 2029.
<br />Permit, Performance Bond, and Bond Release History
<br />The permanent program mining permit was issued on November 4, 1982. Six successive permit
<br />renewals have been approved subsequent to the initial permanent program permit approval; the
<br />most recent, Permit Renewal No. 6, was issued April 5, 2013, for a permit term that will expire
<br />November 5, 2017. The Division currently holds a reclamation bond, in the form of a self bond,
<br />in the amount of $80,517,829.00.
<br />Colowyo applied for nine previous bond releases: SL -01 was a Phase I/II Bond Release submitted
<br />on June 2, 1987 and approved on October 8, 1987; SL -02 was a Phase I Bond Release submitted on
<br />September 25, 1997 and approved on April 27, 1998; SL -03 was a Phase II Bond Release submitted
<br />on September 26, 2000 and approved on August 15, 2001; SL -04 was a Phase I/II Bond Release
<br />submitted on June 1, 2010 and approved on May 2, 2011; SL -05 was a Phase III Bond Release
<br />submitted on June 28, 2010 and approved on July 25, 2012; SL -06 was a Phase I Bond Release
<br />submitted on April 26, 2012 and approved on April 9, 2013; SL -07 was a Phase I Bond Release
<br />submitted on April 2, 2013 and approved on August 29, 2013; SL -08 was a Phase I Bond Release
<br />submitted on May 20, 2015 and approved on January 7, 2016; SL -09 was a Phase I Bond Release
<br />submitted on February 29, 2016 and approved on September 28, 2016. See Map 1 in the SL -10
<br />application for the locations of the previous Phase III Bond Releases at the Colowyo Mine. See
<br />Table 1 in this document for the previous bond release acreages and Table 2 in this document for
<br />the previous bond release amounts (no amount was released with SL -02 and SL -03 as the associated
<br />monies were "floated" to other areas of the mine where there was new disturbance).
<br />SL -10 Partial Phase III Bond Release Application
<br />The SL -10 application was received by the Division on July 18, 2016 and deemed complete on July
<br />28, 2016. Colowyo published notice of the bond release application in the Craig Daily Press once
<br />weekly for four consecutive weeks, beginning June 24, 2016 and ending on July 15, 2016.
<br />Additionally, Colowyo published notice of the bond release application in the Rio Blanco Herald
<br />Times once weekly for four consecutive weeks, beginning June 23, 2016 and ending on July 14,
<br />2016. Colowyo notified land owners within and adjacent to the mine permit area, the Office of
<br />Surface Mining (OSM), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and other interested parties of the
<br />application for bond release, as required by Rule 3.03.2(1). No comments, written objections or
<br />Proposed Decision and Findings of Compliance January 2017
<br />Partial Phase III Bond Release SL -10 Page 3
<br />
|