Laserfiche WebLink
Midterm Review <br />New Horizon Mine <br />(C-1981-008) <br />This document presents the results of the Division's Midterm Review of Western Fuels of <br />Colorado's, A Limited Liability Company, New Horizon Mine permit. This Midterm Review <br />was conducted to fulfill the requirements of Rules 2.08.3, 2.06.2(10), 2.06.3(4), 2.06.5(2), <br />2.06.7(5) and 3.02(4). <br />Rule 2.08.3 requires that the Division conduct a review of each permit issued, prior to its <br />midterm. Based on this review, for good cause shown, the Division may require reasonable <br />revisions or modifications of the permit provisions to ensure compliance with the Act and <br />Regulation. <br />Rules 2.06.2, 2.06.3, 2.06.5 and 2.06.7 require that experimental practices, mountaintop removal <br />vaziances, variances from approximate original contour (AOC) and variances from <br />contemporaneous reclamation, respectively, be reviewed by the Division where applicable <br />during the Midterm Review. <br />Rule 3.02.2(4) requires that the Division review the amount of the bond and the terms of <br />acceptance of the bond every 2 %2 years. <br />This Midterm Review consists of a review of the New Horizon Mine permit application and <br />Findings Document to identify items that may have been overlooked during the initial review. <br />The Division also reviewed all subsequent revisions and stipulation responses to ensure that all <br />permit commitments and conditions were being followed. Problems and observations from past <br />inspection reports were also considered. <br />SECTION I -HISTORY <br />The New Horizon Mine is a surface coal mining operation located in Montrose County at the <br />town ofNucla, Colorado. The original permit for C-81-008 was submitted by Peabody Coal <br />Company on January 9, 1981 and was approved by the Division on April 14, 1983. The permit <br />was subsequently renewed for an additional 5-year term by the Division in May of 1998. The <br />mine azea is divided into Mine 1 (the former Peabody Nucla Strip Mine), and Mine 2, the current <br />operations located immediately west of Nucla. Operations at the New Horizon Mine began in <br />1983 under Peabody Coal Company and ran continually until 1991. Western Fuels-Colorado <br />(WFC) purchased the mine from Peabody in May 1992. An application for permit renewal was <br />submitted by WFC on November 23, 1992. A permit renewal was approved on Apri126, 1993. <br />WFC changed the name of the mine from Nucla Mine to the New Horizon Mine and began <br />mining operations in 1993. The Division in March 1998 approved Permit Renewal No. 3. <br />New Horizon Mine -2- November 23, 2005 <br />