Laserfiche WebLink
Description of the Environmen <br />The Coal Ridge No. 1 Mine is located in Garfield County approximately seven miles west <br />of Glenwood Springs, Colorado, within the Colorado River Basin. The mine can be found <br />on the USGS Storm King quadrangle map. The mine is just south of the Colorado River, <br />with the surface facilities located on alluvial/colluvial fan terraces approximately 150 feet <br />above the river. Only small ephemeral drainages are located within the permit area. <br />There are thick alluvial bodies present along the Colorado River in the vicinity of the <br />proposed mine. This alluvium is often used as a major source of agricultural water for the <br />region. The mine plan area encompasses 2,525 acres. Of this area, 35 acres were disturbed <br />on the surface. The mine elevation is approximately 5,800 feet. The climate is semi-arid <br />with an annual precipitation of 16 inches. Average monthly precipitation varies little <br />throughout the year. Summers are hot, marked by very low humidity and cool nights. <br />Winters are cold, generally snow-free, but with frequent blizzard conditions. Additional <br />information can be found in section 3.1 of the permit application package. <br />Ground water occurs in both bedrock and alluvial deposits in the vicinity of the proposed <br />mining operation. The potential of the Williams Fork strata to produce water within the <br />area of the proposed mine is greatly limited by the extreme dip of the rock strata which <br />results in prohibitive drilling depths within a short distance. <br />The vegetation within the vicinity of the mine is characterized as Pition-sagebrush, mountain <br />shrub, and irrigated cropland. The area is used for limited grazing and wildlife habitat. <br />Wildlife that inhabit the area include large and small game animals and numerous birds and <br />small mammals. Soils in the area are characterized as moderately deep to deep, <br />well-drained loams with a dark colored surface layer. Variability in the characteristics of <br />the soil in the area is primarily due to slope and topography. Deeper soi]s are located in <br />the valley bottoms and at the foot of slopes while the shallower soils occupy the steeper side <br />slopes. <br />Ge loev <br />Although the rock strata dip ranges from 30 to 70 degrees, there is little evidence of faulting <br />along the Grand Hogback. Minor folds trending north-south to northwest-southeast occur <br />throughout the region. <br />The exposed rock sequence in the permit area is Jurassic through Tertiary in age and <br />includes (proceeding from the base to the top, oldest to youngest) the Morrison Formation, <br />Dakota Sandstone, Mancos Shale, the coal-bearing Mesaverde Group, and the Wasatch and <br />Ohio Creek formations. <br />The Mancos Shale forms strike valleys along the Grand Hogback. It consists of two marine <br />shale members separated by a limestone member and is at least 4,000 feet thick in the mine <br />azea. The stratigraphy of the Mesaverde Group includes interbedded and lenticular <br />sandstones, shale, siltstone, and coal beds. In ascending order (oldest to youngest), the. <br />Coal Ridge No. 1 Mine 4 Permit Renewal No. 3 <br />