Laserfiche WebLink
V. COAL MINE WASTE <br />Coal mine waste in the form of coal fines scraped up from the coal yazd area, high ash coal that <br />cannot be blended and shipped, and coaly sediment from the cleanout of ditches, sediment traps <br />and the sediment pond will be disposed of in an approved permanent coal mine waste disposal site <br />in the adjacent Munger Canyon permit area (Permit No. C-81-020). The Munger Canyon Mine is <br />also operated by CAM. Detailed construction and reclamation designs for the coal waste disposal <br />site were approved by the Division pursuant to Technical Revision 14 (TR-14) to the Munger <br />Canyon Mine permit, in November 2002. Specific findings pursuant to Rule 4.10.1(2), allowing <br />for disposal of waste material from sources outside of the permit area are included in the approved <br />permit for the Munger Canyon Mine. Development work was completed in the fall of 2004 and <br />initial waste disposal at the Munger Canyon disposal site occurred in late November 2004. <br />Several small temporary coal waste stockpiles are approved in the vicinity of the product coal <br />stockpile at McClane. There is also an approved sediment drying area stockpile near the McClane <br />sediment pond. Material from these stockpile locations will be periodically hauled to the <br />permanent disposal site in the Munger Canyon permit area. <br />The McClane Canyon application also notes that rock slope material will be disposed of in areas <br />of the mine that are no longer actively producing coal, as authorized by MSHA. As noted on page <br />7 of the Division's February 19, 1999 mid-term review document, disposal within the mine is <br />limited to rock generated during the normal course of mining operations, in accordance with <br />standard industry practice, and in compliance with applicable MSHA requirements. Return of <br />coal mine waste from the surface to underground workings is not approved. <br />Non-coal waste (e.g. trash and non-coal combustibles) are stored in a dumpster on site and hauled <br />off for permanent disposal by a commercial trash company. There is no permanent disposal of <br />non-coal waste material on-site. <br />VI. BACKFILLING AND GRADING <br />Information relevant to backfilling and grading is presented in Sections 3.0 and 3.3-1, of the <br />application. Postmining contour maps and cross sections are included as Figures 3.1-1 and 3.1-2, <br />premine topography is depicted on Figure 3.1-3, and a stability analysis section is depicted on <br />Figure 3.1-4. <br />The lower portion of the affected area will be returned to approximate original contour (AOC), but <br />the mine bench area will not be returned to AOC. The operator submitted information in the <br />original permit application, and in association with the 1985 permit renewal demonstrating that the <br />mine bench area qualified as steep slope mining pursuant to 2.06 and 4.27. The Division approved <br />a limited variance to the AOC requirements of 4.14 and 4.27.3, to allow for backfilled slopes of <br />lesser steepness, which would meet applicable stability criteria and support the approved post- <br />mine land use. Average slopes in the mine bench area prior to mining ranged from 80% to 85%, <br />whereas the backfilled valley side slopes will range from approximately 40% to 60%. The <br />post-mine topographic configuration will be similar to premine, and stable drainage channels will <br />be reconstructed in their approximate original locations. The highwall will be completely <br />backfilled, with the natural sandstone outcrop which forms a near vertical face above the portals to <br />remain undisturbed. The existing cut slope along the south side of the mine bench area will be cut <br />back a short distance to tie in with the backfill, and ensure a stable configuration. Stability <br />analyses performed by the operator indicate that the reclaimed slopes will achieve the required 1.3 <br />21 <br />