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towards the Williams Fork River. It is likely that much of the discharge from these ponds infiltrate <br /> into the permeable Twentymile Sandstone outcrop prior to reaching the Williams Fork River. <br /> Therefore, the Division finds that the proposed surface coal mining operations will not interrupt, <br /> discontinue, or preclude farming on the Williams Fork AVF, and will not materially damage the <br /> quantity or quality of water in surface or ground water systems that supply the Williams Fork <br /> AVF (4.24.3(1)), (4.24.3(3), and 2.06.8(5)(a)(11)). <br /> The Division finds that: <br /> 1. Proposed mining activities comply with the requirements of the Act and the Regulations <br /> with respect to alluvial valley floors, (2.06.8(5)(a)(111)). <br /> 2. The surface coal mining and reclamation operations will be conducted to preserve the <br /> essential hydrologic functions of alluvial valley floors outside the permit area and to <br /> reestablish the essential hydrologic functions of alluvial valley floors within the affected <br /> area throughout the mining and reclamation process (4.24.2). <br /> XVIII. Operations on Prime Farmland <br /> No prime farmlands currently exist within the proposed permit area. Therefore any specific <br /> approvals under this section do not apply. <br /> XIX. Mountaintop Removal <br /> No specific approvals are granted to the applicant under this section. <br /> XX. Operations on Steep Slopes <br /> Trapper was approved for a variance from backfilling and grading to the approximate original <br /> contour in the L Pit and in the Ash Pit with PR9. The following summarizes the findings required by <br /> Rule 2.06.5 for the incorporation of a variance from the approximate original contour restoration <br /> requirements for steep slope mining: <br /> (2)(a) TMI is not revising the post-mining land use for rangeland, wildlife habitat and <br /> cropland. The L and Ash pits will be reclaimed to support the approved post mine land <br /> use of rangeland which will support grazing as an agricultural use. <br /> (2)(b) The post-mine land use established by reclamation of the L and Ash pits <br /> constitutes and equal or better economic use. <br /> (2)(c) The applicant is not proposing an alternative post-mining land use whereby this <br /> is not applicable. <br /> (2)(d) TMI has demonstrated the watershed of lands within the proposed permit area <br /> and adjacent areas will be improved by the operation. TMI demonstrated there will be a <br /> reduction in the total suspended solids or other pollutants discharged to the surface waters <br /> from the permit area as compared to such discharges prior to mining in the L and Ash <br /> Pits. <br /> (2)(e) TMI provided documentation the landowners of the affected land associated <br /> with the variance; TMI and the Colorado State Land Board has knowingly requested, in <br /> writing, as part of the (PR9) application, that a variance be granted. <br /> (2)(f) The applicant has demonstrated that the proposed operation will be conducted in <br /> accordance with Rule 4.27.4: <br /> (1) The L and Ash Pits highwalls will be eliminated and backfllled with spoil <br /> and the post mine configuration will exceed the required 1.3 factor of safety as <br /> required by the rule. <br /> 22 <br />