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MIDTERM REVIEW <br />Blue Ribbon Mine <br />Permit No. C-81-047 <br />This document presents the results of the Division of Minerals and Geology (Division) midterm <br />review of Minrec, Incorporated, Blue Ribbon Mine. This midterm review was conducted to <br />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). <br />Pursuant to Rule 2.08.3, the Division is required to review the permit during the permit term, and <br />should not occur later than the middle of the permit term. Based on this review, for good cause <br />shown, the Division may require reasonable revisions or modifications of the permit provisions <br />to ensure compliance with the Act and Regulations. <br />Rules 2.06.2(10), 2.06.3(4), 2.06.5(3) and 2.06.7(5) which detail Experimental Practices Mining, <br />Mountaintop Removal Mining, Variances from Approximate Original Contour Restoration <br />Requirements for Steep Slope Mining, and Vaziances for Delay in Contemporaneous <br />Reclamation Requirements in Combined Surface and Underground Mining Operations, <br />respectively, require that the Division review these practices or variances at some point during <br />the permit term. <br />Rule 3.02.2(4) requires the Division to review the amount of the bond required at the time permit <br />reviews are conducted under 2.08.3 or every two and one-half years, whichever is more frequent. <br />The Midterm Review consisted of a detailed review of the Blue Ribbon Mine permit application <br />and Findings Document to identify any items that may have been overlooked during the initial <br />review. The Division also reviewed all subsequent revisions and stipulation responses to ensure <br />that all permit commitments and conditions were being followed. The reclamation estimate was <br />also reviewed to confirm that all reclamation tasks had been included in the estimate. Problems <br />and observations from past inspection reports were also considered. <br />SECTION I -HISTORY <br />The Blue Ribbon Mine is located in the northeast portion of Delta County, Colorado, <br />approximately two miles north of Juanita Junction in the Hubbard Creek drainage. Juanita <br />Junction is six miles northeast of Paonia along the old Colorado State Highway 133. The mine <br />previously operated a truck scale and coal storage facility adjacent to Highway 133, <br />approximately three miles northeast of Paonia. This facility was released from the permit area in <br />Mazch 1989 because the State Highway Department acquired the land on which the scale facility <br />was located, to provide for the construction of an upgraded highway through the area. The <br />operator dismantled the truck scale facility and regraded the area according to the reclamation <br />plan prior to release of the area. <br />The original permit for the Blue Ribbon Mine was obtained by Sunflower Energy Corporation in <br />] 977. The application was submitted in November, 1976, amended in August, 1977, and <br />subsequently approved later in 1977. <br />