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Water usage during operations was from consumption in the mines, in the coal preparation plant, <br /> and in the surface facilities. Since operations have ceased, consumptive use has been terminated. <br /> In association with PR-3, based on projected mining related water depletions to the Colorado <br /> River, Snowcap Coal Company entered into a Recovery Agreement with the U.S. Fish and <br /> Wildlife Service to comply with obligations associated with recovery of the endangered fish <br /> species of the Upper Colorado River Basin. <br /> Mine Water Discharge <br /> A permanent, gravity flow minewater discharge site (Outfall 016) has been established in the <br /> vicinity of the reclaimed North Decline facility area. The installation involved angled drilling into <br /> the lowest elevation of the South Mine workings. Outfall 002, a siphon type discharge located at <br /> the backfilled Northwest Intake Portal adjacent to I-70 has been inactivated. Outfall 002 was <br /> previously the primary minewater discharge for the South Mine workings,but in the future will be <br /> used only as an emergency back-up to Outfall 016. Outfall 001, a back-up/supplemental discharge <br /> via 4" pipe that extends through the concrete seal in the South Mine conveyor portal entry, was <br /> used during active operations. The minewater discharge from the South Mine never required <br /> treatment to meet CDPS discharge standards, and was discharged directly into the Colorado River. <br /> The 001 discharge valve was closed upon activation of Outfall 016. The Outfall 001 pipe was then <br /> permanently plugged with pumped concrete in conjunction with the South Portal facilities area <br /> reclamation project. The plugged Outfall 001 pipe that extended out of the sealed South Portal <br /> began to leak at some point following the sealing of the pipe with 6 cubic yards of grout. SCC <br /> submitted Technical Revision No. 56 in March 2008 to provide a plan to completely reseal the <br /> pipe. TR-56 was approved by the Division and the pipe has been sealed in accordance with the <br /> approved plan. SCC capped off the end of the pipe and encased it in approximately two additional <br /> cubic yards of concrete. The site was then backfilled. The repair was successful and the pipe has <br /> not leaked since the repair. <br /> Discharge from the North Mine workings ceased in 1999 when mining ceased and the pumps were <br /> shut down. The mine was subsequently sealed and backfilled, and future discharge is not <br /> anticipated, based on projected final ground water elevation. <br /> General Reclamation Summary <br /> The approved reclamation plan requires that reclamation of most areas is to begin upon cessation <br /> of mining. Some locations including the lower benches of the Cameo Refuse Disposal Sites and <br /> the North Decline were reclaimed in the mid 1990's. Final reclamation of remaining facility areas <br /> and refuse pile areas was initiated in 2000, with extensive earthwork and revegetation completed <br /> during 2002. Reclamation activity is completed. Initial tasks included removal of structures and <br /> facilities, and sealing of underground openings. Following completion of structural demolition in <br /> a specified location, the area was backfilled and graded to approved configuration. Topsoil was <br /> redistributed on most reclaimed surfaces, and all reclaimed areas were seeded and mulched. Roads <br /> not approved for postmining use have been removed when no longer needed for reclamation <br /> activities. Details of the reclamation plan are included in Tab 14 of the approved permit <br /> application package. <br /> 13 <br />