2019-04-09_REVISION - C2009087 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Peabo!q Peabody Sage Creek Mining, LLC Ms. Tabetha Lynch Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety 1313 Sherman Street - Room 215 Denver, Colorado 80203-2273 Peabody Sage Creek Mine 29515 RCR 27 Oak Creek, CO 80467 '"77CEIVED APR 0 9 2019 April 5, 2019 RECLAMATION h1d w4G AND SAFETY RE: Peabody Sage Creek Mine (Permit No. C-2009-087) — Minor Revision (MR31-19) Wetlands Enhancements Dear Ms. Lynch: Peabody Sage Creek Mining, LLC (PSCM) requests Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety (CDRMS) approval to conduct maintenance (repair/replacement) on the wetland enhancements that were previously established downgradient of Pond 002 in 2013 as approved under Minor Revision MR19-13, and to establish new wetland enhancements in the area downgradient of Pond 004. Implementing these wetland enhancement activities is consistent with PSCM's ongoing efforts to comply with environmental performance requirements under both the applicable CDRMS regulations and applicable water quality effluent limitations under our Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment — Water Quality Control Division (WQCD) discharge permit. PSCM's proposal would involve two components: Maintenance (repair/replacement) of previously established wetland enhancements in the area downgradient of Pond 002 that were initially approved and completed in 2013. The referenced Pond 002 wetland enhancements were approved by Colorado Division of Mining Reclamation and Safety (CDRMS) as Minor Revision MRI 9-13 and under a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) Nationwide Permit 27 authorization from Mr. Stephen Moore dated June 13, 2013. Completion of new wetland enhancements in the area downgradient of Pond 004. The proposed Pond 004 enhancements are similar to those established for Pond 002, including selective placement of straw bales to slow and distribute channelized flow over the wetland areas and planting of willow/riparian root -balls to enhance the existing wetland vegetation community. The proposed new Pond 004 wetland enhancements have been permitted through the CDRMS as a Minor Revision (MR31-19) to the approved Mining and Reclamation Permit C-2009-087. The existing wetlands below both Ponds 002 and 004 are effectively "manmade" wetlands, since they are the result of continuous discharge from the constructed Sedimentation Pond 002 and 004 structures. The existing and proposed wetland enhancements are designed to serve a twofold purpose; 1) To expand and improve the existing wetland areas as a means of providing effective long-term passive treatment of runoff from reclaimed mine areas; and 2) As a land reclamation and habitat enhance measure to increase ecological diversity and provide additional wetland/riparian habitat, which is utilized by a wide variety of wildlife species, consistent with the approved postmining land uses of wildlife habitat and livestock grazing. The proposed enhancements are the same as those previously authorized at Pond 002. Wheat straw bales will be staked within the current shallow channels and distributed flow paths in wing formations