REV00950

• Permit No: C1981047
• IBM Index Class Name: Revision
• Doc Date: 6/9/2005
• Doc Name: Midterm Review Findings Document
• From: DMG
• To: Minrec Inc
• Type & Sequence: MT5
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

MIDTERM REVIEW
West Elk Mine
Permit No. C-80-007
This document presents the results of the Division of Minerals and Geology (Division)
Midterm Review of the Blue Ribbon Mine. This Midterm Review was conducted to
fulfill the requirements of Rules 2.08.3, 2.06.2(10), 2.06.3(4), 2.06.5(3), 2.06.7(5) and
3.02.2(4).
Pursuant to Rule 2.08.3, the Division is required to review the pennit during the permit
term, and should not occur later than the middle of the permit term. Based on this review,
for good cause shown, the Division may require reasonable revisions or modifications of
the permit provisions to ensure compliance with the Act and Regulations.
Rules 2.06.2(10), 2.06.3(4), 2.06.5(3) and 2.06.7(5) which detail Experimental Practices
Mining, Mountaintop Removal Mining, Variances from Approximate Original Contour
Restoration Requirements for Steep Slope Mining, and Variances for Delay in
Contemporaneous Reclamation Requirements in Combined Surface and Underground
Mining Operations, respectively, require that the Division review these practices or
variances at some point during the permit term.
Rule 3.02.2(4) requires the Division to review the amount of the bond required at the
time permit reviews aze conducted under 2.08.3 or every two and one-half years,
whichever is more frequent.
The Midterm Review consisted of a detailed review of the Blue Ribbon Mine permit
application and Findings Document to identify any items that may have been overlooked
during the initial review. The Division also reviewed all subsequent revisions and
stipulation responses to ensure that all permit commitments and conditions were being
followed. The reclamation estimate was also reviewed to confirm that all reclamation
tasks had been included in the estimate. Problems and observations from past inspection
reports were also considered.
SECTION I -HISTORY
The Blue Ribbon Mine is located in the northeast portion of Delta County, Colorado,
approximately two miles north of Juanita Junction in the Hubbard Creek drainage.
Juanita Junction is six miles northeast of Paonia along the old Colorado State Highway
133. The mine previously operated a truck scale and coal storage facility adjacent to
Highway 133, approximately three miles northeast of Paonia. This facility was released
from the permit azea in Mazch 1989 because the State Highway Department acquired the
land on which the scale facility was located, to provide for the construction of an
upgraded highway through the azea. The operator dismantled the truck scale facility and
regraded the azea according to the reclamation plan prior to release of the area.