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Proposed Decision <br /> The Colorado Division of Reclamation,Mining and Safety proposes to APPROVE Seneca <br /> Property,LLC's application for permit renewal RN7. <br /> The application was submitted by Seneca Properties LLC. This decision is based on a finding that the <br /> operations comply with all requirements of the Colorado State Program as found in the Colorado Surface <br /> Coal Mining Reclamation Act,C.R.S. 34-33-101 et seq.,and the Regulations promulgated pursuant to the <br /> Act. If no request for a formal hearing is made within thirty(30)days of the first publication of the <br /> issuance of this proposed decision,then this decision becomes final. The permit will be renewed upon <br /> submittal to DRMS of acceptable surety by the applicant. The permit application,all supporting <br /> documentation and any stipulations or conditions become a binding part of the permit. <br /> No coal mining operations may be conducted on any Federal surface or coal until the Assistant Secretary <br /> for Lands and Minerals Management with the U.S. Department of the Interior has approved any required <br /> federal mining plan or modification thereof. <br /> Summary <br /> Seneca Property,LLC,a subsidiary of Peabody Investments Corporation, submitted a permit renewal <br /> application(RN7)in June 2020 for the Seneca IIW Mine. The initial mining and reclamation permit was <br /> issued 31 December 1985,for a 5 year permit term. The permit has been renewed for additional 5 year <br /> permit terms every five years since that date. The previous permit renewal proposed decision (RN6)was <br /> issued 10 May 2017, and the Division's basis for the renewal approval was set forth in the (RN6) <br /> Findings of Compliance document,dated 5 April 2017. <br /> The Seneca IIW Mine is located approximately 7 miles south of Hayden, Colorado in Routt <br /> County. The Seneca IIW Mine is a reclaimed surface coal operation,more specifically a dip slope area <br /> strip mine,which utilized dragline mining methods during active operations. Coal extraction operations <br /> began at Seneca IIW in 1990, and continued until January 2006,when coal production at Seneca IIW <br /> ceased. Annual production ranged from a low of 376,700 tons to a maximum 990,300 tons. Over <br /> the life of the mine, total coal production was 12,069,059 tons. <br /> The total permitted area is approximately 3,878.5 acres. The disturbed area includes the former mine pit <br /> area,surface support facilities,haul roads and drainage control facilities. To date,the total disturbed area <br /> is 1,335.9 acres,including former mine pit areas, surface support facilities,haul roads and drainage <br /> control facilities. Various exhibits and text refer to a number of minimal disturbance areas,totaling <br /> approximately 56 acres. These areas are primarily located along ephemeral drainages between disturbed <br /> areas and sedimentation ponds. <br /> Surface ownership is predominantly private,with right of entry based on a variety of private leases, <br /> subleases and easements. The permit area also includes limited areas of federal surface managed by <br /> BLM,and the State of Colorado. Coal mined at Seneca IIW was owned by private interest,the State of <br /> Colorado, and the Federal government,under lease to Seneca Coal Company, LLC <br /> Coal extraction began at Seneca IIW in 1990,and ceased in early January 2006, due to a combination <br /> of difficult mining conditions and economic factors. Reclamation operations have been completed. <br /> Seneca IIW is a dip-slope area strip mine operation,which primarily utilized dragline mining <br /> methods, with limited auger mining in some final pit locations. <br /> No further coal production is proposed. Reclamation of pit areas was completed in 2007. SPL has <br /> received approval for permanent retention of various facilities. Temporary sediment control structures <br /> Page 2 of 37 <br />