2025-06-30_PERMIT FILE - C1981019A (7)

Home Browse Search

RULE 2 PERMITS South Taylor/Lower Wilson – Rule 2, Page 74 Revision Date: 11/23/21 Revision No.: TR-152 Public Notice of Blasting Schedule Colowyo will annually publish a blasting schedule similar to the one set forth in Volume 1, Section 2.05 Figure 1. Disposal of Excess Spoil Colowyo constructed two separate “valley fills” which are called the East Taylor Fill and the West Taylor Fill. These fills were necessary due to the early operation of the South Taylor mining area; overburden needed to be placed into the fills so that sufficient working area could be developed prior to the placement of subsequent overburden into the mined-out areas. Detailed geotechnical investigations were completed for both the East Taylor Fill and the West Taylor Fill. A report of the investigations can be found in Exhibit 21 Item 1. Construction plans for the fills, addressing the requirements of Rule 4.09, Disposal of Excess Spoil, can also be found in Section 4.09 and Exhibit 21. Locations of the East Taylor Fill and West Taylor Fill can be found in Exhibit 21 and on Map 23. 2.05.4 (1) Reclamation Plan The reclamation objective for the South Taylor area is to restore the mined area to a land use capability which will, be equal to or better than that which currently exists. The first objectives of all reclamation practices are to stabilize the soils, maintain hydrologic and vegetation resources, and to restore the approximate original contour of the mined area. Ultimately, the areas being mined will be returned to their approximate original use as rangeland with watersheds having their approximate pre-mining character. In general, the long term appearance and usefulness of the mine plan area will be similar to that which would have been encountered prior to any mining. The reclamation plan for the existing mining areas provides information relevant to the reclamation of the South Taylor mining area, which can be found in Volume 1, Section 2.05.4. Specific topics requested by the regulations and not incorporated into Volume 1 are included in the following subsections. 2.05.4 (2)(a) Reclamation Timetable The sequence for reclamation following the mining process is shown on Map 29. Final reclamation of the South Taylor pit will be delayed, due to the shape, size and depth of the pit; which will result in leaving the majority of the spoil backfilling process until final pit closure. The majority of the spoil will be stacked in the initial boxcut area and associated valley fill areas, allowing adequate space to perform mining operations in a geotechnically safe environment. Although the final reclamation of the South Taylor will be delayed due to the mining operations in the pit, Colowyo is committed to reclamation in accordance with Rule 4.13 and will perform reclamation activities as contemporaneously as practicable with the South Taylor mining operations. With the limitation of areas available for reclamation prior to final pit backfill, Colowyo will reclaim as many areas as allowed by the mine plan as shown on Map 29, prior to final pit closure. The South Taylor pit reached a steady state operation in 2013; where as all spoil material produced in the advancing cut is backfilled into the previously mined areas. In general, it is anticipated that the vast majority of reclamation activities in the South Taylor pit area will begin in the lower elevation areas and progress upslope to the highest elevation areas. This is a matter of practical necessity due to the operational constraints encountered in the area which were also reflected in the hydrological modeling found in Exhibit 7, Item 20. Major departures from this premise will result in the need to revisit the adequacy of the sediment control structures designed and submitted as part of this permit.