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<br /> <br /> <br />2 <br /> <br />Midterm Review <br /> <br /> McClane Canyon Mine <br /> (C-1980-004) <br /> <br />This document presents the results of the Division’s Midterm Review for the McClane Canyon Mining, <br />LLC’s McClane Canyon Mine permit. This midterm review was conducted to fulfill the requirements <br />of Rules 2.08.3, 2.06.2(10), 2.06.3(4), 2.06.5(3), 2.06.7(5), and 3.02.2(4). <br /> <br />Rule 2.08.3 requires that the Division conduct a review of each permit issued, prior to its midterm (2-1/2 <br />years for 5-year permits). Based on this review, for good cause shown, the Division may require <br />reasonable revisions or modifications of the permit provisions to ensure compliance with the Act and <br />Regulations. <br /> <br />Rules 2.06.2, 2.06.3, 2.06.5, and 2.06.7 require that experimental practices, mountain top removal <br />variances, variances from approximate original contour (AOC), and variances from contemporaneous <br />reclamation, respectively, be reviewed by the Division where applicable during the Midterm Review. <br />The McClane Canyon Mine includes a variance for steep slope mining conditions and this approval <br />was reviewed for compliance. <br /> <br />Rule 3.02.2(4) requires that the Division review the amount of the bond and the ter ms of acceptance of <br />the bond every 2-1/2 years for 5-year permits. <br /> <br />This midterm review consists of a review of the McClane Canyon Mine permit application and the <br />Division’s Findings of Compliance for the 2018 permit renewal (RN-08). The Division also reviewed <br />all subsequent revisions and stipulation responses to ensure that all permit commitments and conditions <br />were being followed. Problems and observations from past inspection reports were also considered <br />during this review. <br /> <br /> <br />SECTION I – HISTORY OF SITE <br /> <br />Current Status <br /> <br />The McClane Canyon Mine is an underground coal mining operation in temporary cessation, located on <br />federal and private lands within Garfield County, Colorado. The mine permit area encompasses 3,561.4 <br />acres, of which 1,641.7 acres are projected to be affected by mining. Permitted surface disturbance is <br />14.35 acres. Existing facilities consist of a portal bench and coal handling/stockpile area; an access/haul <br />road approximately ½ mile in length leading from State Highway 139 up to the portal area; an office <br />traile r, bathhouse and parking area on the East Salt Creek valley floor; and topsoil and construction <br />material stockpiles, temporary waste storage pile, a supply storage area , and sediment pond mid-way <br />between the office area and the portal bench area. The two-level portal bench area includes a mine <br />conveyor to a portal-mouth screen and crusher, which feeds product coal onto a stacker conveyor. <br />Coal is stockpiled on the lower level bench and loaded into trucks for transport to market. Facilities on <br />the upper level mine bench include four portal entries, including the fan portal and conveyor portal, <br />water and fuel tanks, support trailers, a shop, a transformer and substation, ventilation fan, and rock dust <br />bin. Coal is mined underground using room and pillar techniques. Maximum annual coal production is <br />500,000 tons, with a projected production of 300,000 to 500,000 tons per year when the mine is active .