Laserfiche WebLink
Mid-Term Review <br />Deserado Mine -Permit No. C-81-018 <br />This document presents the results of the Division of Minerals and Geology (Division) <br />Mid-term review of the Deserado Mine operated by Blue Mountain Energy, Inc. This review <br />was conducted to fulfill the requirements of Rules 2.08.3, 2.06.2, 2.06.3, 2.06.5, 2.06.7, <br />and 3.02.2(4). <br />Rule 2.08.3 requires that the Division conduct a review of each permit issued, prior to its <br />Mid-term (2-1/2 years). Based on this review, for good cause shown, the Division may <br />require reasonable revisions or modifications of the permit provisions to ensure compliance <br />with the Act and Regulations. <br />Rules 2.06.2, 2.06.3, 2.06.5, and 2.06.7 require that experimental practices, mountain top <br />removal variances, variances from approximate original contour (AOC), and variances from <br />contemporaneous reclamation, respectively, be reviewed by the Division where applicable <br />during the Mid-term 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 2-1/2 years. <br />The Mid-term review of the Deserado mine consisted of a review of the findings document, <br />the permit application and subsequent revisions, stipulations, enforcement actions, cost <br />estimate and other assorted permit files and information. <br />The document has six sections. Section I contains a brief history of the mine. Section II <br />contains a summary of permit actions. Section III is a review of the stipulations attached to <br />the permit. Section IV is a review of the enforcement actions issued since Permit Renewal <br />#4 (RN-04). Section V is a summary of the review and a discussion of any problems <br />identified as a result of this review that are required to be resolved. Section VI is a review <br />of the Bond(s) and the reclamation cost estimate. <br />Section I -Mine History and the Environment <br />The Deserado Mine is an active underground coal mining operation located in Rio <br />Blanco County, approximately nine miles northeast of Rangely, along County Road 65, <br />near Kenney Reservoir. The initial DMG permit for the operation was issued to <br />Western Fuels-Utah, Inc., (former operator) on July 27, 1981. Facilities construction <br />and underground development were initiated shortly thereafter. <br />Mining operations during previous permit terms have utilized longwall extraction and <br />room and pillar techniques to extract coal from the "D" Seam. "D" Seam mining within <br />