APPCOR10343

• Permit No: C1981021
• IBM Index Class Name: Application Correspondence
• Doc Date: 6/24/1982
• Doc Name: PERMIT REVIEW FOR BOURG COAL MINE FN C-021-81
• From: MLR
• To: MICHAEL SAVAGE
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

423 Centennial Building,1313 Sherman Street
Denver, Colorado 80203 Tel. [phone]
TO: Michael Savage
FROM: Roy L. Cox
•
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STATE OF COLORADO NiC HAND D. LAMM. Gov r. mn.
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
D. Monte Pascoe, Executive Director
MINED LAND RECLAMATION
June 24, 1982
l/°~
David C. Shelton
Director
RE: Permit Review for Bourg Coal Mine, File No. C-02I-BI
I have completed my review of the Bourg coal mine permit application. The
applicant has supplied sufficient information to make findings on ground water,
surface water, geology, water rights, probable hydrologic consequences of
mining and selective handling of overburden. Also, a cumulative hydrologic
impact study (CHIS) could be prepared, using the information in the Bourg permit
application and the existing CHIS in the Wyoming Fuels findings document. The
following discussion speaks only to the need for selective handling of over-
burden. The other sections should require 5 to 7 days to prepare.
Given the currently proposed operations plan for the Bourg mine, overburden
strata which have toxic cons titvents will be adequately mixed and diluted within
the spoils. The multiple handling of the overburden will provide this mixing.
The potential toxic elements identified in the overburden analyses are Selenium,
Boron, and Molybdenum. The most toxic strata are the Hoyle and Sudduth Coals
and the over- and under-lying strata associated with these coals. The overlying
and underlying strata of the Hoyle coal seam and the overlying strata of the
Sudduth coal seam will be adequately mixed within the spoils. The strata under-
lying the Sudduth seam is a shale. The weathering of this shale will be minimal
due to the low permeability of the strata and the limited exposure at the pit
bottom. Thus, the contribution of dissolved solids to the ground water system
will be minimal. Dtost of the coal will be removed from the site during mining
and thus reduce the potential toxicity.
Oxidized coal from outcrops, however, will have to be selectively handled if
not sold. To reduce the toxic effects of the oxidized coal, this material
should be placed above the pre-existing water table and out of the root zone of
plants. The operator has a map showing the pre-existing ground water levels,
Figure 7. This crap, in conjunction with a map of the reclaimed surface contour,
would delineate those areas which would be suitable for isolating the oxidized
coal.