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<br /> <br /> <br /> 58 C1981-041 RN7 findings <br /> A. Fish and wildlife habitat is a planned post-mining land use. The applicant has <br />selected appropriate plant species and distributions to benefit fish and wildlife <br />(4.18(5)(i)). <br /> <br /> <br />XIV. Protection of Underground Mining <br /> <br />The Division proposes to approve surface coal mining activities being conducted <br />within 500 feet of an active or abandoned underground mine. This approval is <br />proposed based on the fact that approval for such has been granted by MSHA and <br />Colorado Division of Mines, and that improved resource recovery, abatement of <br />water pollution, and elimination of hazards will result (4.19(1) and 4.22.4(1)). <br /> <br />XV. Subsidence Control <br /> <br />Subsidence Survey, Monitoring, and Control Plans are addressed in Tab 20, Volume <br />6 of the permit application. <br /> <br />Powderhorn Coal Company has completed a survey of structures and renewable <br />resource lands existing within the permit area. The permittee has delineated several <br />structures overlying the proposed underground workings. The Ute Water District, <br />which serves approximately 45,000 people, has a water treatment plant, several <br />storage tanks, and a 24-inch treated water distribution pipeline above the existing <br />Roadside Mine workings. Several raw water collection pipelines also cross the <br />proposed Cottonwood mining area. Limited alluvial deposits, which represent minor <br />surficial aquifers, do exist within the flood plain areas of Cottonwood Creek and Rapid <br />Creek drainages. <br /> <br />The currently approved mining and reclamation plan does not include any further coal <br />extraction. The North Mine portals, 2 West Portals, and South Fan shaft, Northwest <br />Intake Portal, and North Decline Portals have been sealed and backfilled. The South <br />Mine Portals have been sealed and backfilled. There are no remaining portals or mine <br />openings that have not been sealed. <br /> <br />The most recently approved five-year mine plan that did include coal extraction, did <br />not involve additional mining below the Ute Water Conservancy District facilities or <br />supply pipelines. Extraction was also projected beneath the raw water collection <br />pipelines within the Cottonwood lease area. In the case of both the supply and raw <br />water pipeline facilities, the worst possible anticipated consequence of mining would <br />be the disruption of the pipeline. In both cases, the permittee demonstrated that the <br />materials necessary for repair are readily accessible and that the disruption would not <br />result in cessation of service to the water district's water users. The permittee <br />proposed to prevent material damage to both the raw water collection pipelines, <br />channels, and associated alluvial aquifers of both Rapid Creek and Cottonwood Creek <br />through the retention of stable pillars. Protective pillars were also to be retained below <br />Coal Creek and Jerry Creek in the North Portal mining area.