Laserfiche WebLink
The West Mine portal bench area drained to one sedimentation pond except for exempted <br /> portions of the fill face which had a waiver (SAE). With the reclamation work at the West <br /> Mine portal bench area, the backfilled and graded area now drains to two sedimentation <br /> ponds. A system of lined and unlined ditches conveys waters from the disturbed areas to <br /> the ponds. <br /> The ROM area drained to a sediment pond,which has been reclaimed. BRL's SL-05 Bond <br /> Release Application utilized a vegetation cover evaluation and subsequent soil loss <br /> comparison as justification to remove this pond(submitted with Technical Revision No. 58). <br /> The soil loss information compares pre- and post-mining sediment yields by calculating the <br /> expected sediment yields for both conditions. BRL utilized the Revised Universal Soil Loss <br /> Equation (RUSLE) calculation method, which calculates the expected average annual soil <br /> loss per acre of land. It was observed during the bond release inspection that the revegetated <br /> areas were not contributing sediment above pre-mining levels. <br /> Ponds have also been reclaimed at the East Mine. BRL's SL-06 Bond Release Application <br /> utilized a vegetation cover evaluation performed during October of 2016 and a soil loss <br /> comparison submitted as a part of Technical Revision No. 62 as justification to remove and <br /> reclaim these ponds. As with the ROM area, it was observed during the bond release <br /> inspection that the revegetated areas were not contributing sediment above pre-mining levels. <br /> Subsidence effects have the potential to impact any or all springs, seeps, and ponds within <br /> the affected permit area. In order to protect water resources, but still allow mining, the <br /> operator has developed a subsidence damage preventative mine plan, subsidence repair <br /> procedures, a water replacement plan, and an intensive monitoring system. The mine plan <br /> had been designed to preclude mining in certain critical areas where water rights exist. For <br /> example,the north extreme of East Roatcap Creek was not undermined to prevent impacts <br /> to certain water rights. In areas where the overburden depth was less than 800 feet, BRL <br /> conducted limited coal extraction under streams to minimize the potential for any <br /> subsidence. Should damage to any pipeline, spring, pond, or other structure be identified <br /> as the result of mining, BRL will repair the damage in accordance with their "Subsidence <br /> Repair Handbook." This handbook, incorporated into Volume 3 of the application, <br /> contains detailed procedures that will be implemented to repair water resources and <br /> structures should they be impacted. <br /> A general water replacement plan was prepared by the operator to augment water to users <br /> while any mine related damage is being repaired. BRL has demonstrated water is available <br /> and can be transported to affected water users if damage occurs. BRL's water rights consist <br /> of both springs and ditch water that could supply a variety of users. Impacts on water users <br /> would not be all at once. Rather, impact would progress slowly over areas as coal was <br /> mined. The applicant also agreed to reduce leaks and seeps on some ditches and has <br /> changed the point of diversion of the Overland Ditch from East Roatcap Creek to West <br /> Roatcap Creek to further protect the rights of present water users. To protect stock and <br /> wildlife,the applicant committed to maintaining a designated number of stockponds on the <br /> permit area which will be protected from damage. <br /> 27 <br />