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An environmental monitoring system will be installed, maintained, and operated by the permittee on all <br /> alluvial valley floors during surface coal mining and reclamation operations and continued until all bonds <br /> are released in accordance with Rule 3 (Rule 4.24.4). <br /> XXIII. Operations on Steep Slopes- Limited Variances- Rule 4.27.4 <br /> The operations conducted at the Mine are found to be in full compliance with Rules 4.27.4 and 2.06.5. <br /> With the approval of Permit Revision No. 2 (PR-02) in June 1992, the Division approved a limited <br /> variance from approximate original contour for the South Taylor Pit. This variance is for areas with <br /> slopes of 20 percent or greater. <br /> The Division has not authorized the retention of a highwall remnant for the South Taylor Pit. The <br /> highwall will be ripped and dozed to a 3h:Iv slope to blend in to the approved post-mining topography. <br /> Colowyo will be reducing steep slopes (20 percent and greater) along the perimeter of the South Taylor <br /> Pit to no more than 3h: Iv. These reduced slopes will decrease the peak flows from runoff from <br /> precipitation and snow melt, thereby reducing the contribution of suspended solids to the receiving <br /> streams. The watershed will, thereby, be improved. More detail can be found in the PAP in Section 4.27 <br /> and on Maps 18A and 19B,the pre-mining topography and the post-mining topography,respectively. <br /> Land above the highwall will only be disturbed to rip and grade the highwall to blend with the backfilled <br /> and regraded pit and to achieve highwall reduction. This reduction will also help to control surface water <br /> runoff by diverting the water into an approved post-mining drainage channel. No temporary overburden <br /> storage is planned for above the highwall. <br /> The lands where the variance is being requested are owned by both Colowyo and the BLM. Both <br /> Colowyo and the BLM have requested, in writing,that the variance be granted. <br /> Colowyo is not planning on retaining any spoil material on the highwall bench. <br /> Mining and reclamation activities for the Collom area will predominantly occur on slopes that are less <br /> than 20 degrees, and Rule 4.27 is not applicable for this part of the mine. <br /> This concludes the Proposed Decision and Findings of Compliance for the Colowyo Mine Permit <br /> Revision No. 5 (PR-05). <br /> PR-05,Colowyo Coal Mine(1981-019) 56 November 2025 <br />