2018-04-13_PERMIT FILE - C1981019A

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RULE 4 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS remedial action, refer to Section 2.05.3 and Exhibit 17, Haul Road Facilities Modifications. This area has remained stable since implementation of the remedial measures. At approximately 6:29 pm on June 30, 2012 Colowyo's Meteorological Station recorded wind gusts up to 81.65 miles per hour. Within several minutes, Colowyo employees identified smoke coming from the area immediately North of the mine access road West of the Lower Administration building. After securing the scene for the safety of employees and the local responder crews including BLM, Moffat County and Rio Blanco County resources, Colowyo supervisors immediately sent heavy equipment to the Eastern and Western extents of the area actively burning and constructed fire lines approximately 20 feet wide along a defendable perimeter. The source of the fire was determined to be power lines contacting the ground due to a power pole being snapped in half on the 25KV White River Electric Association line that runs parallel with the mine access road on the North side of the road. This line provides power to the Gossard Loadout Area and associated facilities in the Axial Basin. In 2012, approximately 5 acres within Colowyo's permit boundary was affected by the moderate intensity fire as shown on Figure 4.12-1. The area is comprised of a mix of wheatgrass and low density sagebrush. Additional surface disturbances within the permit boundary were created as a result of the necessity to facilitate replacement of the broken power pole, re -hanging of the lines, and access corridors on the Western and Eastern side of the fire for construction of the fire lines. Approximately 26 additional acres burned outside of Colowyo's permit boundary on Colowyo private property, primarily in low density sagebrush rangeland. A few acres of inactive wheat fields were also burned comprised mostly of volunteer winter wheat. The relatively low intensity nature of the fire does not appear to warrant or require supplemental seeding within the permit boundary, however the areas impacted by the fire line and power pole repair access will be smoothed over as soon as possible and broadcast seeded with the approved sagebrush steppe reclamation seed mix as fall approaches. In 2013, approximately 0.96 acres within Colowyo's permit boundary (outside the disturbance boundary) were affected by a small intensity wildland fire shown on Figure 4.12-2. The area that was affected was comprised of a mix of Gambel's Oakbrush, Mountain Mahogany, and low density sagebrush. A small area of 2011 reclamation was disturbed by Colowyo personnel to create an access to the fire and to also create a fire line to control the fire from spreading. Colowyo promptly repair the access road through the reclamation and reseeded it with the approved seed mixture soon after extinguishing the fire. Tri-State Generation and Transmission Assoication, Inc. (Tri-State), owns and operates a 345 kV power line which is located within the permit boundary and is shown on Map 22. Tri-State is required to maintain proper phase to ground clearences under all their power lines, and will be conducting ground disturbances activites within their 150' right-of-way, within the permit boundary, in two approximate locations as shown on Figure 4.12-3. The final loctions will be determined by Tri-State. These ground disturbing activites are not associated with the Colowyo Mine and will not be required to be permitted and bonded for in accordance with Rule 3.02.1(2). In February of 2016, the Colowyo Mine site experienced a very high wind event which snapped a power pole off at the base and left the power pole dangling from the line. Colowyo constructed an emergency road into the pole location (0.4 acres of disturbance) to access the location, stabilize the line, and replaced the broken pole. Topsoil was windrowed with a dozer down gradient of the road footprint to minimimze Rule 4 Performance Standards 4-34 Revision Date: 8/28/17 Revision No.: TR -115