Laserfiche WebLink
V <br />or regulation of the United States, or any State law, rule, or <br />regulation, or any provision of the Surface Mining Control and <br />Reclamation Act or the Colorado Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Act <br />(2.07.6(2)(g)(i)). <br />8. The operator does not control and has not controlled mining operations <br />with a demonstrated pattern of willful violations of the Act of such <br />nature, duration, and with such resulting irreparable damage to the <br />environment as to indicate an intent not to comply with the provisions of <br />the Act (2.07.6(2>(h)). <br />9. The Division finds that surface coal mining and reclamation operations to <br />be performed under this permit will not be inconsistent with other such <br />operations anticipated to be performed in areas adjacent to the permit <br />area (2.07.6(2>(i)). <br />10. The Division currently holds a reclamation bond in the amount of $393,000 <br />for the North Thompson Creek Mines. The bond is in the form of a letter <br />of credit from the Central Bank of Grand Junction, N.A. This portion of <br />the bond was retained following a Phase I bond release in 1988, at which <br />time bond money for backfilling and grading obligations was released. <br />The above bond amount reflects the Division's projections of reclamation <br />costs for worst-case disturbance which will occur during the proposed <br />permit term. It also reflects a 60 percent bond release from reclamation <br />work completed by, the operator in 1967 in the area of the mine. This <br />release was approved by the Division during previous permit terms <br />(2.07.6(2)(j>). <br />11. The Division has made a positive determination for the presence of prime <br />farmland within the permit area. A small portion of the haul road at the <br />loadout crosses designated prime farmland. .Rule 4.25.1 exempts certain <br />coal preparation plants, support facilities and roads of underground <br />mines that are actively used from the prime farmland performance <br />standards. Therefore, the portion of the haul road which crosses <br />designated prime farmland is exempt from the prime farmland performance <br />standards (2.07.6(2)(k)). <br />12. Based on information provided in the application, the Division has <br />determined that an alluvial valley floor exists within the permit or <br />adjacent area. This alluvial valley floor is known as the Roaring Fork <br />Valley and was affected by the loadout. The alluvial valley floor will <br />be minimally affected by the proposed operations, because the essential <br />hydrologic functions of these areas will be preserved (2.07.6(2)(K) and <br />2.06.8(3>(C)>. <br />For additional findings concerning this alluvial valley floor, please see <br />Section 6, VIII. <br />13. The Division hereby approves the post-mining land uses of the operation. <br />It was determined that rangeland meets the requirements of Rule 4.16 for <br />the mine site permit area (2.07.6(2)(1)), and Agricultural/Rural/ <br />Residential/Industrial meets the requirements of Rule 4.16 for the <br />loadout site permit area. <br />_l0_ <br />