2018-12-12_REVISION - C2010088 (10)

Home Browse Search

12 Two light use roads are planned for the Loadout. Light Use Road #1 runs parallel to the rail loop, providing access to silt fences, ditches, and ponds. This road is nearly level, and is approximately 1.4 miles in length. Light Use Road #2 enters the permit area from US Hwy. 6 & 50 at 14 Road, and provides construction access to the portion of the permit area west of Reed Wash. Loadout Facilities are illustrated on permit Map 16, and Coal Handling Facilities are detailed on permit Map 17. Coal delivered to the site by truck will be placed in a stockpile via a radial stacking conveyor. The anticipated size of the coal stockpile is 40,000 tons. Coal is transferred to the train loading system by way of a 330-foot reclaim tunnel that runs beneath the stockpile. A rail spur, rail loop, and rail bridge are approved to be constructed at the Loadout, as shown on permit Map 21. The Union Pacific line runs parallel to US Highway 6 & 50, immediately north of the permit area. The applicant is approved to construct a spur from the line, with a 120-foot open deck bridge crossing Reed Wash, and a rail loop which passes through the facilities area where the coal will be loaded. Specifications for construction of the rail portions, provided by Union Pacific Railroad, are featured in Exhibit 16 of the permit. Approximately 2.1 miles of rail line will be constructed. All proposed surface disturbances associated with the Loadout will occur during the initial construction of the facility. The areas approved to be disturbed are shown on the Mine Facilities Maps 3, 4, and 19 in the PAP. The previously disturbed areas are shown on Map 19. The Billings soil at the site is predominantly 'unsuitable' due to high salinity and sodicity; however, it is the only native, non-disturbed soil material on the project area and it supports the greasewood vegetation community. The upper 6 inches of soil will be salvaged and stockpiled in two stockpiles, one on either side of Reed Wash. The reclamation plan for all areas is to remove all buildings, support facilities and the rail spur, rail loop, and railroad bridge. All areas will be graded to approximate original contour, with topsoil being replaced on areas from which it was salvaged. Areas designated with a post- mining land use of rangeland/fish and wildlife will be re-topsoiled, then re-seeded with native species and mulched. Six inches of cover fill salvaged from the loadout construction will be replaced on areas designated with an industrial post-mining land use. These industrial post- mining land use areas will then be covered with an additional 3 inches of ballast and sub-ballast salvaged from the reclaimed rail road bed. Weeds on the Colorado Noxious Weed Act 'A' list and on the Mesa County noxious weed list will be aggressively managed during the operation and reclamation phases of the operation. Section 2.04.7(3) of the permit application contains a discussion of the water rights in the permit area and adjacent area and a discussion of the alternative water supplies. Map 18, "Water Rights Location", shows the locations of the water rights referred to in the permit application text. There are a total of 34 water rights listed in the permit application for the permit area and the