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Introduction <br /> This document is the decision package prepared by the Colorado Division of Reclamation, <br /> Mining and Safety(the Division) for the West Elk Mine, permit no. C-1980-007. This document <br /> includes: 1) the proposed decision to approve the renewal application; 2) a summary which <br /> includes a history of the review of the permit application, a description of the environment <br /> affected by the operation and a description of the mining and reclamation plan; and 3) the written <br /> findings of compliance the Division has made as required by the Colorado Surface Coal Mining <br /> Reclamation Act. Detailed information concerning the findings of compliance can be found in <br /> the Regulations of the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board for Coal Mining. <br /> The Division has received an application for Permit Renewal No.7 (RN-07) to conduct surface <br /> coal mining and reclamation operations at the West Elk Mine. The application was submitted by <br /> Mountain Coal Company, LLC. (MCC), the mine operator, on February 1, 2016, and the <br /> Division deemed the application complete for the purposes of filing on the same day. The mine <br /> permit area comprises 19,854.9 total acres, of which 13,358.4 acres are located on federal lands <br /> and 6,496.5 acres are located on private lands, within Delta and Gunnison Counties, Colorado. <br /> The legal description of the lands included within the permit area is: <br /> All or portions of Sections 9 through 36 (inclusive), Township 13 South, Range 90 West; <br /> Sections 23 through 26 (inclusive), Township 13 South, Range 91 West; Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, <br /> 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22 and 23, Township 14 South, Range 90 West; all of the <br /> 6th Principal Meridian. <br /> The stipulation history for the West Elk Mine was reviewed with this renewal application. The <br /> review included an investigation of any stipulations imposed, and any responses to existing <br /> stipulations received since the last midterm review. Any stipulations associated with this permit <br /> and issued over the life of this operation which are not discussed in this review have been <br /> complied with or terminated. <br /> Three outstanding stipulations remain attached to permit number C-1980-007 and are listed <br /> below: <br /> Stipulation No. 3 <br /> THE OPERATOR SHALL,UPON CLOSURE,INSTALL WATER-TIGHT SEALS WITHIN THE MINE TO <br /> PREVENT GRAVITY DISCHARGE. THIS REQUIREMENT MAY BE WAIVED UPON THE DIVISION'S <br /> APPROVAL OF A PLAN SUBMITTED BY THE OPERATOR. THIS PLAN SHALL INCLUDE A <br /> DEMONSTRATION THAT THE WATER QUALITY OF THE DISCHARGE FROM THE MINE <br /> WORKINGS WILL BE OF ACCEPTABLE QUALITY AND WILL REMAIN ACCEPTABLE AFTER MINE <br /> CLOSURE. THIS SHALL INCLUDE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND A PREDICTIVE MODEL THAT USES <br /> OXIDATION AND REDUCTION POTENTIAL TO DETERMINE LONG-TERM WATER QUALITY OF <br /> MINE WATERS. ALSO,THE PLAN SHALL INCLUDE THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SUITABLE <br /> CHANNEL FOR MINE DISCHARGE. <br /> STATUS: FUTURE <br /> 3 <br />