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-2- I. REVIEW OF MINE STATUS AT MIDTERM The McClane Canyon Mine was issued a three (3) year permanent regulatory program permit on April 16, 1982. This permit was renewed on July 5, 1985 and July 5, 1988 for two additional 3-year terms. The McClane Canyon Mining and Reclamation Plan was initially approved by the Office of Surface Mining on July 6, 1962. The modified Mining and Reclamation Plan resulting from the Division's permit renewal process was approved by the OSM on June 2, 1986. The mine was in temporary cessation from January 17, 1984 to November 17, 1989 when active mining operations resumed. At present, the disturbed area of the mine is approximately 8.2 acres. In-place facilities consist of a single mine bench, two portal entries, mine office, shop/warehouse, bath/change house, crusher/conveyor, rock dust bin, coal stockpile and pad, truck scales, water and fuel tanks, access road, road drainage ditches and culverts, the McClane Creek diversion, one topsoil stockpile, and one sediment pond. A review of inspection and enforcement activities during the first half of the permit term revealed no major on-the-ground problems. Periodic sloughing of the mine bench cut slopes due to the steep slope condition of the mine has been a minor concern. However, regular maintenance activities by Salt Creek Mining Company personnel provides sufficient control of the problem. A small drainage ditch along the base of the cut slope on the north side of the mine bench tends to fill in periodically. Following the mine entering temporary cessation, a reduction in water quality monitoring was approved. The downstream-of-mine surface water station (SW-2) was retained and only major cations, major anions, iron and field parameters were required for continued monitoring. NPDES reports for the two (2) permitted discharges have been regularly submitted along with quarterly sediment pond inspection reports. II. DECISION TO REQUIRE REVISION Based on this review at the mid-term of the permit period, the Division finds that certain revisions and modifications are needed to insure future compliance with the Colorado Surface Caal Mining Reclamation Act and Regulations of the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board for Coal Mining. The section which follows provides a review of mine status and details the revisions required, justification for requiring these revisions and timetable for submitting the revisions. The response from Salt Creek Mining Company should follow the procedures defined for a technical revision to the permit and should be submitted within sixty (60) days of receipt of this mid-term report.