GENERAL41258 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

The mine elevation is approximately 6,400 feet. Predominately south and west exposures in the surface disturbance area combined with the low precipitation have resulted in poorly developed soils and sparse vegetation in the portal area. The permit area is within the Tongue Creek watershed, a tributary of the Gunnison River. ward Creek, a perennial stream, and Williams Creek, an intermittent stream, are the major drainages within the permit area. The facilities area is located on an ephemeral tributary of Ward Creek. A number of irrigation ditches operated by the Granby Ditch and Reservoir Company supply water to orchards and pastureland in the Williams and Ward Creek valleys, and adjacent to the permit area. Pre-mining land use in the 21-acre surface disturbance area associated with the Red Canyon Mine, as well as immediately adjacent areas, was primarily wildlife habitat. Previous surface and underground mining activities have disturbed lands within and adjacent to the surface facilities area. Mining began in the permit area in 1916, and has been intermittent since that time. Grand Mesa Coal Company began mining at the Red Canyon No. 1 Mine in 1977. Land uses adjacent to the Red Canyon Mine include wildlife habitat, irrigated pastureland, and orchards. Pre-mining land use at the Delta Loadout was industrial (a sugar processing plant) . During mining operations at the Red Canyon Mine, a 13.65-acre Loadout was maintained in Delta, Colorado. The Loadout was previously the site of the Holly Sugar plant. The silos and other facilities used by the operator were previously a part of the sugar plant. The reclamation at this site called for cleaning up coal waste, which was done in the fall of 1986. Approximately 4,865 tons of material was hauled to the underground development waste disposal area at the mine site. The plan did not call for revegetation, as the end land use was industrial and the facilities used by the operator were retained at the site. However, a non-toxic cover material was placed to a depth of 6-12 inches at the site, and the Loadout was broadcast seeded with a dry land pasture mix. GMCC's request for bond release of the Loadout was approved June 1987. Cultural and Historic Resources-Rules 2.04.4 and 2.05.6(4) Cultural and historic resources are discussed in Section 2.04.4 of the permit. A cultural resource study was performed in July, 1981. A 100 percent survey of the existing facilities area and a 10 percent survey of the permit area were made. Two lithic scatters and five isolated aboriginal finds were recorded during the 10 percent survey of the permit area. None were eligible for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places due to the presence of limited artifacts and lack of diagnostic features to ascribe cultural affiliation and temporal placement. Hvdrologic Balance-Rules 2.04.5. 2.04.7, 2.05.3(4). 2.05.6(3) and 4.05 Groundwater information can be found in the permit document in Section 2.04.5(1) and volume 8 of the permit application. Volume 8 addresses all groundwater concerns identified by the Division during the preliminary review process. A description of groundwater occurrence and mining impacts on groundwater within the permit and adjacent areas can be found in the "Probable Hydrologic Consequences of Mining" section of this document and the "Cumulative Hydrologic Impact Study" document for this mine area. There are significant amounts of groundwater underlying the Red Canyon Mine permit area. A surficial "glacial-alluvial" deposit mantles a major portion of the permit area. The deposit is fully saturated in most area and is a regionally significant aquifer. This aquifer ie recharged by perennial, spring-fed streams such as Williams Creek, Cottonwood Creek, and Ward Creek. The aquifer is up to