2024-05-14_PERMIT FILE - C1980007A (2)

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West Elk Mine 2.05-25 Rev. 06/05, 01/06, 03/06, 04/06 & 05/06- PR10; 01/09- MR350; 04/09- TR116; 04/09- MR353; 05/09- MR354; 08/09- TR118; 08/09- TR119; 09/12- MR387; 11/12- MR390; 07/18-PR15; 11/18- MR430; MR438- 09/19; MR439- 11/19; 07/20- MR447; 6/22- MR464; 6/22 MR466; 6/22 MR468; 11/22 MR471; 07/23 MR474; 8/23 MR476; 09/23 MR477, 10/23 MR478, MR479, 3/24 MR480, 05/24 MR-481 constructed in the Spring of 1997. Other light-use roads for the Sylvester Gulch Facilities Area include the electric borehole road, the ventilation shaft #3 road, the degasification borehole road, and the powerline light-use road. Light-use and low-volume roads are also used in association with mine ventilation boreholes (MVB) access for drilling and operations. These roads are typically 14 feet in running width with an average 25 feet construction width. The MVB pads and roads are generally reclaimed in the next construction season following the active life of the ventilation boreholes. Some light-use roads, such as those needed to access field data (e.g. soil sampling or geotechnical borehole) acquisition sites, will be field-designed and fit, utilizing earthwork contractors who are experienced in this locale in building light-use roads to minimize erosion and sedimentation. Following construction of such roads, as-built designs will be submitted to the CDRMS as a minor revision to certify that the light-use road was constructed per the light-use road standards of Rule 4.03.3. Field-designed roads as-built minor revisions will be included in Exhibit 80. Existing roads constructed prior to the mine, which provide access to monitoring stations, and other existing site roads, not otherwise designated, will be utilized and maintained as light-use roads. Some existing public roads (e.g. USFS roads, etc.) are utilized for access to monitoring sites, etc. A Road Use Permit, with annual updates as necessary, was issued by the USFS, which authorizes these uses and any maintenance required. These existing roads will not be reconstructed if they do not meet light-use road design standards, unless a maintenance problem is identified, requiring a design revision. The pre-existing roads located outside the mine site will not be removed or restored to approximate original contour, as these roads were a part of the pre-mine site original contour. Department of Highway Approvals State Highway 133, completed with modifications in 1985, provides primary access to West Elk Mine. Map 53 shows where the mine's main haul/access road joins the highway east of the lower refuse pile. The old haul road now functions as an access road to the stack tubes and other mine facilities, but was designed and may occasionally be utilized for hauling coal or coal refuse. During the initial permitting of West Elk Mine, State Highway 133 was located on the north side of the North Fork of the Gunnison River. The unit train loadout facility is sited within 100 feet of State Highway 133. In 1981 and early 1982, MCC went through the public process of obtaining approval from the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) for siting of the unit train loadout. Subsequently, CDOT approved the siting of the loadout facilities and the CDMG granted the appropriate variance in accordance with Rule 2.07.6(2)(d)(iv). In 1985, the CDOT relocated State Highway 133 to the south side of the North Fork of the Gunnison River adjacent to the surface facilities of the West Elk Mine. The mine's surface facilities had been constructed beginning in 1981 and were existing at the time of CDOT’s relocation of State Highway 133. With the highway relocation, surface facilities were existing, and CDOT relocated the highway to within 100 feet of the facilities, however, the mine was not required to seek a variance for the facilities which are now within 100 feet of the highway.