REV97244

• Permit No: C1982057
• IBM Index Class Name: Revision
• Doc Date: 6/12/2006
• Doc Name: Proposed Decision & Findings of Compliance
• From: DMG
• To: Seneca Coal Company
• Type & Sequence: PR5
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Introduction
This document is the decision package prepared by the Colorado Division of Minerals and
Geology (the Division) for the Seneca II-W Mine, for Permit Revision No. 5 (PR-5). This
document includes: 1) the proposed decision to approve the application; 2) a summary which
includes a general permitting history, operational status, and summary of the review of the
PR-5 application, a description of the environment affected by the operation and a description of
the mining and reclamation plan; and 3) the written findings of compliance the Division has made
as required by the Colorado Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Act. Detailed information
concerning the findings of compliance can be found in the Regulations of the Colorado Mined
Land Reclamation Board for Coal Mining.
In this decision document, amended narrative associated with PR-5, and other
modifications made to update the document to reflect current operational status, aze in bold
print.
This document was originally prepared in June 2001 for Permit Renewal No. 3 (RN-3) for
surface coal mining and reclamation operations at the Seneca II-W Mine. The application was
submitted by Seneca Coal Company (SCC), the current operator and permittee. The document
was updated in May 2003, for Permit Revision No. 3 (PR-3), and in November 2004, for
Permit Revision No. 4 (PR-4). PR-3 allowed for a significant expansion of disturbance
within the previously approved permit boundary, and PR1t allowed highwall mining
operations in specified final pit locations. Information regarding PR-3 and PR-4 is
summarized in this document, but for a detailed description of operational changes and
specific approvals relevant to these permitting actions, please refer to the May 2, 2003
(PR-3) and November 17, 2004 (PRA) Findings of Compliance updates. Please refer to
the June 2001 RN-3 Findings Document for a more detailed account of operational status
at that time, and a summary account of the previous operational and permitting history.
This document bas been further updated (June 12, 2006) to incorporate findings associated
with Permit Revision No. 5 (PR-5). The PR-5 application was submitted by SCC, and
received by the Division May 10, 2005. Seneca Coal Company submitted the revision
application due to a corporate decision by Peabody Energy Corporation to cease coal
production in early 2006, several years earlier than previously planned. SCC cited
economic factors and adverse mining conditions for the decision, including the
determination that highwall mining would likely not meet initial production expectations.
Highwall mining was employed for a short time at SCC's Yoast Mine, located several
miles east of Seneca II-W. The technique had been approved for use at Seneca II-W, but
was not implemented.
Coal extraction was in fact completed at Seneca II-W by early January 2006. Reclamation
operations are on-going.
Seneca R-W Findings Document 1 June 12, 2006
Permit Renewal No. 5