2018-02-05_REVISION - C1992081 (29)

Home Browse Search

Description of the Operation Plan Detailed information on the Loadout operation plan is found in Tab 12 of the PAP. Reclamation activities associated with the Loadout and rail loop are described in Tabs 16 — 20 and 23 of the PAP; and in Section B of this document. Construction of the Loadout and rail loop began in 1978 and coal was shipped to market from the facility until the spring of 1987. Coal was again stored at the Loadout beginning late in 1992. All coal material has been removed and coal is no longer stored on site. Technical Revision No. 5 (TR -5), approved July 24, 2000, allowed for utilizing the Loadout to off-load coal from incoming rail cars. Technical Revision No. 6 (TR -6) provided additional detail for load -in operations. The facilities approved in TR -6 were never constructed. The load - in facilities were approved to handle 2,000,000 tons of coal per year. Coal was to be hauled by truck along the TAHR to the Hayden Power Station. Prior to utilization as a load -in facility, HGT support facilities approved with TR -6 would require construction. Expired air emission permits would have been required to be renewed with the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division prior to implementation of load -in operations. Water control systems and sediment ponds throughout the permit area were deemed appropriate for the load -in operation. The existing roads would be utilized for the load -in operations with the addition of a new haul road approved under TR -6. HGT operated the Loadout facility as discussed above and was permitted to store up to 50,000 tons of coal at the Loadout and ship 1,000,000 tons of coal per year. In the summer/fall of 2011, HGT initiated reclamation of the facilities area. The load -in facilities were never constructed and the Loadout facilities were demolished and removed from the site. The disturbed area was graded, topsoiled, and seeded. The Division granted Phase I bond release at the site under SL -1. The future operations plan for the site during the next five year permit term will be based on future needs. No additional disturbance is planned for the next five year permit term. Two existing sediment ponds and their associated NPDES outfalls serve as sediment control for the runoff from the Loadout area. The Truck Loop Pond (Pond A, NPDES Outfall 006) which treats the truck loop and office area and the Rail Loop Pond (Pond B, NPDES Outfall 007) which treats the coal crushing, storage and tipple areas. A system of ditches divert freshwater around the disturbance and another system of culverts and ditches convey runoff under roadways and to the sediment ponds. Sixteen small area exemptions are permitted for the three topsoil stockpiles associated with the Loadout and six topsoil stockpiles and on temporary waste stockpile associated with the TAHR outside the sediment control system. A small area exemption has been approved for the electrical substation located in the northwest corner of the facilities area. The office/parking lot/leach field has been approved as a small area exemption. HGT has demonstrated that due to the revegetation efforts of the disturbance associated with the railroad loop, peak settleable solids concentration is below the water quality effluent standard. As such, the rail loop serves as a small area exemption. Two additional areas designated as Areas 1 and 2, identified on Exhibit 12-2 of the permit application have been granted a small area exemption. A small area 10