GENERAL38536

• Permit No: C1981013
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Date: 12/1/1992
• Doc Name: Midterm Review Findings Document
• Permit Index Doc Type: Findings
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

MIDTERM REVIEW
Golden Eagle Mine (C-81-013)
This document presents the results of the Division's Midterm Review of Wyoming
Fuel Company's Golden Eagle Mine. This Midterm Review was conducted to
fulfill the requirements of Rules 2.08.3, 2.06.2(10), 22.06.3(4), 2.06.5(3),
2.06.7(5) and 3.02.2(4).
Rules 2.08.3 requires that the Division conduct a review of each permit
issued, prior to its midterm (2-1/2 years). The midterm was due July 1991,
but due to drastic workforce reductions in 1991, the midterm is being issued
in December 1992. Based on this review, for good cause shown, the Division
may require reasonable revisions or modifications of the permit provisions to
ensure compliance with the Act and Regulations.
Rules 2.06.2, 2.06.3, 2.06.5 and 2.06.7 require that experimental practices,
mountaintop removal variances, variances from approximate original contour
(AOC), and variances from contemporaneous reclamation, respectively, be
reviewed by the Division where applicable during the Midterm Review. The
Golden Eagle Mine does not have any experimental practices or any variances
from mountaintop removal, AOC, or from contemporaneous reclamation.
Rule 3.02.2(4) requires that the Division review the amount of the bond and
the terms of acceptance of the bond every 2-1/2 years.
This midterm review consisted of a detailed review of the Golden Eagle Mine
permit application and findings document to identify any items that may have
been overlooked during the initial review. The Division also reviewed all
subsequent revisions and stipulation responses to ensure that all permit
commitments and conditions were being followed. Hydrologic monitoring data
was reviewed in conjunction with the review of the application to assess the
adequacy of the monitoring plan and discussion of hydrologic impacts.
Problems and observations from past inspection reports were also considered.
Section I - History
The Golden Eagle Mine is located in Las Animas County, Colorado, approximately
27 miles west of Trinidad along State Highway 12. The Golden Eagle Mine was
formerly known as the Maxwell Mine and has been in existence since 1977. The
Maxwell Mine had been operated under an interim permit issued on
January 25, 1978. The owners, CF&I Steel Corporation, submitted an
application for a new permit on February 4, 1981 and a proposed decision was
issued on December 19, 1983. Because permit rights were being transferred to
Wyoming Fuel Company on January 31, 1984, the permit was issued to Wyoming
Fuel Company, on January 25, 1984.
On April 13, 1988, the Division notified Wyoming Fuel that the five-year
permit term would expire on January 24, 1989 and that the application to renew
the existing permit was due by July 25, 1988. On August 2, 1988, the
application was received and deemed complete by the Division. A permit
renewal was issued on January 24, 1989 for another five-year period, to expire
on January 25, 1994.