PERMFILE47425

• Permit No: C1981044A
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 5/26/2006
• Section_Exhibit Name: 2.06 Requirements for Permits for Special Categories of Mining
• Media Type: D
• Archive: Yes

The Big Bottom hayfields and pastureland are flood irrigated. The main irrigation ditches utilized in the flood
irrigation are depicted on the Structures and Renewable Resources Map (Map 25). It is possible to augment crop
production by sub-irrigation, but the regional practice of flood irrigation is followed in the Big Bottom area. As a
point of fact, the Axial Basin Ranch Company upgraded the main irrigation ditches in the Big Bottom area during
1982, further demonstrating that flood irrigation is the main method of obtaining good yields from the hayfields and
pastures. The hydrology of the Big Bottom alluvium is discussed in greater detail in Section 2.04.7, Hydrology
Information.
Characteristics of the Williams Fork River Alluvial Floor
Like the Yampa River Alluvial Valley Floor, [he Williams Fork River Alluvial Floor has very little topographic relief.
This is typical of the valley floor found throughout the azea. Near the EC mine site, the valley floor is approximately
800 to 1,000 feet wide.
The soils have been extensively mapped and are similar to the soils found in the Yampa River alluvial floor. Except
for the marshy areas and alkali flats, the soils are conducive to hay production. Currently, a local farmer hays the
fields to the north and south of the Eagle No. 5 mine surface facilities. To the south of the No. 5 mine facilities is a
hayfield to the east of the tail track. To the north of the No. 5 mine, three area hayfields surrounding the train scale
and paralleling the railroad track spur. The hayfields are flood irrigated by the farmer and EC. The Worthington
irrigation ditch provides water to the hayfields. A minor amount of subirrigation may augment the flood irrigation of
the fields. However, the agricultural activity in the area is provided water by flood irrigation as is evidenced by the
construction of irrigation ditches.
The hydrology of the Williams Fork alluvium is discussed in greater detail in Section 2.04.7, Hydrology Information.
Construction Activities on the Yampa and Williams Fork River Alluvial Valley Floors
The only facilities located on the Yampa River alluvial valley floor are the ground water monitoring wells. These are
1) YAW-1, 2) YAW-2, 3) YAW-5, 4) YAW-6, and 5) 81-19. As discussed earlier in this section, construction of
surface facilities on the Williams Fork alluvial valley floor occurred as early as 1935. In recent years, EC has
expanded its surface facilities by constructing a drainage and sediment control system, coal storage silo, and mine
water handling system. All of these construction activities have been approved by both the CMLRD and OSM.
In previous permit submittals (1983), a conveyor belt was planned to be constructed from the No. 9 portal to the coal
storage silo. However, since the No. 9 mine has since been abandoned, the conveyor belt and associated structure is
no longer needed.
Mining Operations Under the Yampa and Williams Fork River Alluvial Valley Floors
The now abandoned No. 9 Mine has development entries under the Yampa River AVF. However, no full extraction
mining was conducted. An AVF exemption for this past mining was requested and approved by the CMLRD and
OSM. A copy of the AVF Exemption Request is presented in Exhibit 4, AVF Exemption Request, and the extent of
the No. 9 Mine workings is shown on the No. 5 Mine Plan Map (Map 23). No mining is planned at the No. 9 Mine
during the first five (5) years of mining.
Presently, mains (partial extraction only) of the No. 5 Mine have undermined both the Yampa and Williams Fork
Rivers. However, no further undermining, either partial or full extraction, of the two-(2) rivers is planned.
The No. 6 Mine plans no undermining of the Yampa or Williams Fork Rivers during the first five (5) years of mining
Permit Revision 04-34 2.06-3 Revised 7/2/04