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-57- <br />stability situations. For this reason, the Division believes that the <br />necessary material strength information probably exists with which to <br />complete the necessary design exercise, as long as conservative <br />assumptions are made, and later verified prior to final construction of <br />the roadway. However, the Division believes that the operator should <br />complete a thorough geological reconnaissance mapping of proposed <br />roadway corridor and design projections, based upon the findings of <br />that preliminary reconnaissance. For this reason, the Division <br />believed it appropriate to impose the following stipulation upon <br />approval of the permit revision application. <br />Stipulation No. 13 ' <br />THE DIVISION DIRECTS WEST ELK COAL COMPANY TO COMPLETE A THOROUGH <br />RECONNAISSANCE GEOLOGIC MAPPING OF THE PROPOSED UPPER WASTE PILE ACCESS <br />ROADWAY CORRIDOR. THE APPLICANT SHALL PLACE SPECIFIC EMPHASIS UPON THE <br />DETECTION OF SLOPE INSTABILITY EVIDENCE AND DRAINAGE CHARACTERISTICS OF <br />THE PROPOSED ROAD ALIGNMENT. <br />FURTHER, THE DIVISION DIRECTS WEST ELK COAL COMPANY, UTILIZING THE <br />RESULTS OF THE RECONNAISSANCE GEOLOGIC MAPPING, AND EARLIER ADJOINING <br />SURFACE FACILITY ROAD DESIGN STUDIES, IF APPROPRIATE, TO COMPLETE A <br />PRELIMINARY ACCESS ROAD CUT-SLOPE STABILIZATION AND DRAINAGE DESIGN. <br />THE MAPPING AND PRELIMINARY DESIGN SHALL BE APPROVED BY THE DIVISION, <br />IN WRITING, PRIOR TO ANY DISTURBANCE OF THE ACCESS ROAD CORRIDOR. <br />The above stipulated mapping and design efforts will produce a <br />preliminary stabilization and drainage design for the upper waste pile <br />access road at the Mt. Gunnison No. 1 Mine. However, actual <br />site-specific geotechnical cut-slope conditions will only be verified <br />upon pioneer excavation of the actual roadway. Assumptions inherent in <br />the preliminary design may prove to be incorrect, requiring amendment <br />in completing a final stabilization and drainage design for the <br />proposed roadway. For this reason, the Division believed it <br />appropriate to impose the following stipulation upon approval of the <br />permit revision application. <br />Stipulation No. 14 <br />THE DIVISION DIRECTS WEST ELK COAL COMPANY TO CONSTRUCT THE UPPER WASTE <br />PILE ACCESS ROAD AS AN INITIAL PIONEER ROAD WITH MINIMIZED EXCAVATION. <br />UPON EXPOSURE OF THE EXCAVATED CUT-SLOPES OF THAT PIONEER ROADWAY, THE <br />OPERATOR SHALL COMPLETE A FINAL GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE <br />ACCESS ROAD CORRIDOR. THIS GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATION SHALL BE <br />COMPLETED BY APPROPRIATELY QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL GEOLOGICAL OR <br />ENGINEERING PERSONNEL. THE PURPOSE OF THIS FINAL INVESTIGATION SHALL <br />BE TO VERIFY, OR APPROPRIATELY AMEND, THE FINDINGS OF THE <br />RECONNAISSANCE GEOLOGIC MAPPING OF THE ROADWAY CORRIDOR. <br />~. - -.. <br />