Laserfiche WebLink
In August 1986, the operator submitted a permit revision application to construct a West <br />Mine portal facility in the East Roatcap Creek valley at the Orchard Valley (Bowie No. 1) <br />Mine. This application proposed the construction of anew portal facility and haul road, <br />because the existing portals at the Orchard Valley (Bowie No. 1) Mine had been rendered <br />unusable by an underground coal mine fire. The applicant proposed to upgrade an existing <br />public access road to serve as a coal haul road to the proposedwest portal bench, which <br />was to be constructed by a balanced cut and fill method. The portal bench fill included a <br />130 -foot maximum height terraced earthen fill constructed across East Roatcap Creek. <br />Maximum inter -terrace facial slopes did not exceed a 2.5h: 1.0v (horizontal to vertical) <br />slope gradient. A 48 -inch concrete culvert was installed beneath the cross valley fill to <br />accommodate the 100 -year flow of the East Roatcap Creek. <br />The permit revision application included geotechnical specifications documented in the <br />Orchard Valley (Bowie No. 1) West Mine Appendix, Volume 6, prepared by Golder and <br />Associates, consultants to the operator. This appendix presents the results of geotechnical <br />investigations, stability analyses and detailed engineering designs for the west portal bench <br />cut and fill and the accompanying upgraded haul road. The stability analyses were based <br />upon projected slope configurations and material mechanical properties obtained from <br />material sampling and laboratory analyses. <br />Stability analyses were completed for both the operational and reclaimed configurations of <br />the west portal facility area. Reclamation of the West Mine began in 2000 with complete <br />structural demolition and removal at the West Mine portal bench. The three portal adits <br />were backfilled with compacted, non-combustible material. Structural demolition at the <br />West Mine fan area was also accomplished. Backfilling and grading of the West Mine <br />portal bench began in 2000 as well. However, because of site constraints, complete <br />backfilling and grading was only possible for the upperportion ofthe site. When vegetation <br />has been established on the upper portion, the East Roatcap Creek culvert will be removed <br />and the lower portion will be backfilled and graded. BRL applied for, and received <br />approval for, a partial Phase I bond release for reclamation work performed at the Bowie <br />No. 1 East Mine and the Bowie No. 1 West Mine. <br />XI. Revegetation - Rule 4.15 <br />Information pertaining to vegetation baseline may be found in the PAP, Part 2.04 of <br />Volume 1, and in the Vegetation Appendix of Volume 9A. Information pertaining to the <br />revegetation plan and vegetation success criteria may be found in the PAP, Part 2.05 of <br />Volume 1, and in the Vegetation Appendix of Volume 9A. <br />Disturbance at the Bowie No. 1 Mine began in late 1975. Currently, additional disturbances <br />are not anticipated due to the cessation of mining. Initial disturbance occurred prior to any <br />requirements for preparation ofvegetation inventories; thus, portions ofthis mine site were <br />not surveyed. However, as areas were proposed to be disturbed after the initial permit was <br />issued, they were first inventoried. <br />32 <br />