Laserfiche WebLink
Proposed Decision <br />The Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety proposes to approve an application for <br />permit renewal. <br />The application was submitted by Seneca Property LLC (SP) for the mine. This decision is based <br />on a finding that the operations will comply with all requirements of the Colorado State Program <br />as found in the Colorado Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Act, C.R.S. 34-33-101 et seq., and the <br />Regulations promulgated pursuant to the Act. If no request for a formal hearing is made within <br />thirty (30) days of the first publication of the issuance of this proposed decision, then this decision <br />becomes final. Upon submittal of acceptable surety by the applicant, the permit will be issued. <br />The permit application, all supporting documentation and any stipulations or conditions will <br />become a binding part of the permit. <br />No coal mining operations may be conducted on any Federal surface or coal until the Secretary of <br />the Interior has approved the proposed mining plan. <br />Mine Status and History <br />The Seneca II -W Mine is located approximately 7 miles south of Hayden, Colorado in Routt <br />County. The initial mining and reclamation permit for the mine was issued December 31, 1985, <br />for a 5 -year permit term. The permit has been renewed for additional 5 -year permit terms five <br />times prior to RN -6. The previous permit renewal proposed decision (RN -5) was issued December <br />10, 2010, and the Division's basis for the renewal approval is set forth in the (RN -5) Findings of <br />Compliance document, dated December 9, 2010. <br />Coal extraction began at Seneca II -W in 1990, and continued through 2005. Coal extraction ceased <br />in early January 2006, due to a combination of difficult mining conditions and economic factors. <br />Reclamation operations have been completed. Seneca II -W is a dip -slope area strip mine operation, <br />which primarily utilized dragline mining methods, with limited auger mining in some final pit <br />locations. The total permitted area is approximately 3,878.5 acres. The maximum proposed <br />disturbed area is 1,334.5 acres, including the reclaimed mine pit areas, support facilities, <br />permanent access roads and permanent drainage control structures. No additional disturbance is <br />anticipated during reclamation and maintenance operations. Surface ownership is predominantly <br />private, with right of entry based on a variety of private leases, subleases and easements. The <br />permit area also includes limited areas of federal surface managed by BLM, and state lands <br />managed by the State of Colorado. Coal mined at Seneca II -W was owned by private interest and <br />the Federal government, under lease to Seneca Property, LLC. <br />Over the mine life, Seneca Property, LLC produced in excess of 12 million tons of coal at Seneca <br />II -W. Annual production ranged from a low of 376,700 tons to a maximum of 990,300 tons. No <br />further coal production is proposed. Reclamation of pit areas was completed in 2007. SP has <br />received approval for permanent retention of a number of the facilities. Temporary sediment <br />control structures will be removed upon demonstration that reclaimed areas have been adequately <br />stabilized by vegetation, unless approved as permanent impoundments for the post -mining land <br />use. Sediment ponds that have been approved for permanent retention include Pond 005, Pond <br />U11 <br />