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XXIV. Special Categories of Mining (2.06, 4.22 through 4.29) <br />- (A PORTION, ONLY: RULES 2.06.7 and 4.22) - <br />Colorado Yampa Coal Company requests a~variance for delay in contemporaneous <br />reclamation requirements for the combined surface and underground mining <br />operations from the existing pit of the Energy No. 1 Mine. It is from this <br />low-wall of the existing surface mine pit that CYCC proposes to portal into <br />the Foidel Creek underground mine workings. A variance from contemporaneous <br />reclamation of the final pit at the Energy No. 1 Mine was granted previously, <br />as a portion of approved Permit No. 79-177. An increase in the variance area <br />is requested by the applicant, in order to permit development of the Foidel <br />Creek underground mine's portals and its associated surface facilities. In <br />addition, the applicant intends to modify the existing highwall and spoils <br />slope configurations within the Energy No. 1 Mine pit, in order to increase <br />their respective slope stabilities. The applicant intends to utilize the <br />excavated spoil and highwall materials for construction of an approximately <br />660,000 cubic yard temporary bench, upon which surface support facilities will <br />be constructed. Exhibit 8 of the permit application and Maps No. 3a, No. 5a, <br />No. lla and No. 15a depict the applicant's plans to reconfigure the portal <br />area slopes. <br />The information submitted by the applicant is adequate to satisfy the <br />regulatory requirements of Rules 2.06.7 and 4.22. Stability analyses have <br />been completed for alternative configurations of both the highwall and the <br />existing spoil slopes within the vicinity of the proposed Foidel Creek Mine's <br />portals. The applicant has also submitted a stability analysis and engineered <br />design for the temporary stockpile-surface facility berm area. The applicant <br />proposes the installation of spoil slope and highwall surface diversion <br />ditches to prevent deleterious saturation of the slope materials and to assure <br />improved surface slope stability. <br />It is the Division's finding that the plans proposed for reconfiguration of <br />the existing Energy No. 1 Mine's low-wall surface mine pit will result in <br />compliance with the requirements of Rules 2.06.7 and 4.22. It is, therefore, <br />appropriate to approve the applicant's request for variance from <br />contemporaneous reclamation requirements in this instance. <br />/mt <br />Doc. No. 968 <br />