2018-01-23_REVISION - C1981041 (21)

Home Browse Search

15 C1981-041 RN7 findings Water usage during operations was from consumption in the mines, in the coal preparation plant, and in the surface facilities. Since operations have ceased, consumptive use has been terminated. In association with PR-3, based on projected mining related water depletions to the Colorado River, Snowcap Coal Company entered into a Recovery Agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to comply with obligations associated with recovery of the endangered fish species of the Upper Colorado River Basin. Mine Water Discharge A permanent, gravity flow minewater discharge site (Outfall 016) has been established in th e vicinity of the reclaimed North Decline facility area. The installation involved angled drilling into the lowest elevation of the South Mine workings. Outfall 002, a siphon type discharge located at the backfilled Northwest Intake Portal adjacent to I-70 has been inactivated. Outfall 002 was previously the primary minewater discharge for the South Mine workings, but in the future will be used only as an emergency back-up to Outfall 016. Outfall 001, a back-up/supplemental discharge via 4” pipe that extends through the concrete seal in the South Mine conveyor portal entry, was used during active operations. The minewater discharge from the South Mine never required treatment to meet CDPS discharge standards, and was discharged directly into the Colorado River. The 001 discharge valve was closed upon activation of Outfall 016. The Outfall 001 pipe was then permanently plugged with pumped concrete in conjunction with the South Portal facilities area reclamation project. The plugged Outfall 001 pipe that extended out of the sealed South Portal began to leak at some point following the sealing of the pipe with 6 cubic yards of grout. SCC submitted Technical Revision No. 56 in March 2008 to provide a plan to completely reseal the pipe. TR-56 was approved by the Division and the pipe has been sealed in accordance with the approved plan. SCC capped off the end of the pipe and encased it in approximately two additional cubic yards of concrete. The site was then backfilled. The repair was successful and the pipe has not leaked since the repair. Discharge from the North Mine workings ceased in 1999 when mining ceased and the pumps were shut down. The mine was subsequently sealed and backfilled, and future discharge is not anticipated, based on projected final ground water elevation. General Reclamation Summary The approved reclamation plan requires that reclamation of most areas is to begin upon cessation of mining. Some locations including the lower benches of the Cameo Refuse Disposal Sites and the North Decline were reclaimed in the mid 1990’s. Final reclamation of remaining facility areas and refuse pile areas was initiated in 2000, with extensive earthwork and revegetation completed during 2002. Reclamation activity is completed. Initial tasks included removal of structures and facilities, and sealing of underground openings. Following completion of structural demolition in a specified location, the area was backfilled and graded to approved configuration. Topsoil was redistributed on most reclaimed surfaces, and all reclaimed areas were seeded and mulched. Roads not approved for postmining use have been removed when no longer needed for reclamation activities. Details of the reclamation plan are included in Tab 14 of the approved permit application package.