2020-06-25_REVISION - C1981019 (3)

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RULE 4 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS 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 this power line at all times, and will be conducting ground disturbances activities within their 150' right-of-way, at their discretion and need. These ground disturbing activities anywhere along Tri-State's right of way for this power line within the permit boundary, 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 minimize surface water flow from the area of disturbance to native areas. Once ground conditions allow access, the entire road footprint will have the topsoil re-spread on the area, and it will be seeded in accordance with the approved reclamation seed mixture. Please see Figure 4.12-4 for a location of the emergency road that was constructed to repair the power pole. In 2016, the Inactive Mine and Reclamation Program (IMR) began a drilling program to define the burn limits to abate an underground mine fire at the abandoned underground workings at the Axial Mine. The Axial Mine workings are shown on Map 22 and are labeled as the Red Wing Mine. The Axial Mine and Red Wing Mine shared common workings. The drilling project will create ground disturbance within the permit boundary to support the drilling program. These disturbances may include but are not limited to temporary roads, drill pads, and mud pits. The Rule 4 Performance Standards 4-31 Revision Date: 5/14/20 Revision No.: MR-218