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-57- <br />final construction of the roadway. However, the Division believes <br />that the operator should complete a thorough geological <br />reconnaissance mapping of proposed roadway corridor and design <br />projections, based upon the findings of that preliminary <br />reconnaissance. For this reason, the Division believes it <br />appropriate to impose the following stipulation upon approval of <br />the permit revision application. <br />Stipulation No. 15 <br />THE DIVISION DIRECTS WEST ELK COAL COMPANY TO COMPLETE A THOROUGH <br />RECONNAISSANCE GEOLOGIC MAPPING OF THE PROPOSED UPPER WASTE PILE <br />ACCESS ROADWAY CORRIDOR. THE APPLICANT SHALL PLACE SPECIFIC <br />EMPHASIS UPON THE DETECTION OF SLOPE INSTABILITY EVIDENCE AND <br />DRAINAGE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PROPOSED ROAD ALIGNMENT. <br />FURTHER, THE DIVISION DIRECTS WEST ELK COAL COMPANY, UTILIZING THE <br />RESULTS OF THE RECONNAISSANCE GEOLOGIC MAPPING, AND EARLIER <br />ADJOINING SURFACE FACILITY ROAD DESIGN STUDIES, IF APPROPRIATE, TO <br />COMPLETE A PRELIMINARY ACCESS ROAD CUT-SLOPE STABILIZATION AND <br />DRAINAGE DESIGN. <br />THE MAPPING AND PRELIMINARY DESIGN SHALL BE APPROVED BY THE <br />DIVISION, IN WRITING, PRIOR TO ANY DISTURBANCE OF THE ACCESS ROAD <br />CORRIDOR. <br />The above stipulated mapping and design efforts will produce a <br />preliminary stabilization and drainage design for the upper waste <br />pile access road at the Mt. Gunnison No. 1 Mine. However, actual <br />site-specific geotechnical cut-slope conditions will only be <br />verified upon pioneer excavation of the actual roadway. <br />Assumptions inherent in the preliminary design may prove to be <br />incorrect, requiring amendment in completing a final stabilization <br />and drainage design for the proposed roadway. For this reason, the <br />Division believes it appropriate to impose the following <br />stipulation upon approval of the permit revision application. <br />Stioulation No. 16 <br />THE DIVISION DIRECTS WEST ELK COAL COMPANY TO CONSTRUCT THE UPPER <br />WASTE PILE ACCESS ROAD AS AN INITIAL PIONEER ROAD WITH MINIMIZED <br />EXCAVATION. UPON EXPOSURE OF THE EXCAVATED CUT-SLOPES OF THAT <br />PIONEER ROADWAY, THE OPERATOR SHALL COMPLETE A FINAL GEOTECHNICAL <br />INVESTIGATION OF THE ACCESS ROAD CORRIDOR. THIS GEOTECHNICAL <br />INVESTIGATION SHALL BE COhIPLETED BY APPROPRIATELY QUALIFIED <br />PROFESSIONAL GEOLOGICAL OF ENGINEERING PERSONNEL. THE PURPOSE OF <br />THIS FINAL INVESTIGATION SHALL BE TO VERIFY, OR APPROPRIATELY <br />AMEND, THE FINDINGS OF THE RECONNAISSANCE GEOLOGIC MAPPING OF THE <br />ROADWAY CORRIDOR. <br />