Laserfiche WebLink
. <br /> <br />DRAFT FINDINGS <br />XVI. Explosives (2.05.3(6)) <br /> <br />The use of explosives, as described within the amended Trinidad Basin Mine <br />permit application, is found to be in compliance with the requirements of <br />the permanent program regulations. <br />XVII. Backfilling and Grading (2.05.3(3), 2.05,3(9), 2.05.4(2)(a), 2.05.9(2)(c), <br />4.09, 4.13, 4.Z4) <br />-(A PORTION OF)- <br />The Trinidad Basin Mine is a contour strip mine. Briefly described, the <br />operational scheme consists of a series of five pits, three of which have been ~- <br />completed to date. Within each pit, the primary cut is excavated and the <br />overburden material temporarily stored in overburden stockpiles. Successive <br />cuts are then excavated and overburden carried back and placed in the preceding <br />cut. Upon completion of the final cut of any pit, material is then transported <br />from the temporary overburden stockpiles to backfill the remainder of the <br />final pit cut. <br />Trinidad Basin Mining has projected a I6% inherent swell factor for the over- <br />burden encountered at their mine. More than offset by coal extraction, this <br />inherent swell of overburden appears to result in a slight deficit of back- <br />filled material. This deficit wi1Z result in a post-mining topography slightly <br />below that of the pre-mining configuration. The applicant has indicated that <br />its projection of overburden swell is based upon the analysis of previous <br />mining results at the Trinidad Basin Mine. In order to allow verification of <br />this analysis, the Division deems it necessary to impose the following stipu- <br />lation upon approval of the permit. <br />Stipulation: <br />THE DIVISION DIRECTS TRINIDAD BASIN MINING TO SUBMIT THE DATA AND <br />ANALYSIS OF OVERBURDEN SWELL AND AfATERIAL BALANCES RELIED UPON BY <br />THE COMPANY TO PROJECT OVERBURDEN SWELL FACTORS FOR THE TRINIDAD <br />BASIN MINE. THIS INFORMATION RND A REPORT OF THE ANALYSIS SHALL <br />BE SUBMITTED TO THE DIVISION FOR REVIEW WITHIN 30 DAYS FOLLOWING <br />APPROVAL OF THE PERMIT. THIS INFORMATION SHALL INCLUDE DISCUSSION <br />OF PREVIOUS PIT VOLUMES, PRE- AND POST-MINING TOPOGRAPHY OF <br />PREVIOUSLY MINED AREAS, INCLUDING PROPOSED AND EXISTING ROAD <br />CONFIGURATIONS, AND OVERBURDEN STRATIGRAPHY AND SWELL CHARACTERISTICS, <br />AT A MINIMUM. MINING SHALL NOT PROCEED BEYOND CUT NO. I3 OF PIT <br />NO. 4 PRIOR TO WRITTEN APPROVAL BY THE DIVISION OF THIS ANALYSIS. <br />The operator has submitted material balance calculations based upon its <br />projections of overburden swell at the Trinidad Basin Mine. The Division's <br />examination of the projections contained upon amended Table V-1, determined <br />that calculation or typographic errors were contained within the amended <br />table. Recalculation of these tabulated material volumes has determined <br />