GENERAL42843

• Permit No: C1981032
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Date: 11/12/1992
• Doc Name: Midterm Review Findings Document
• Permit Index Doc Type: Findings
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

i t
Introauction
This document presents the results of the Division's midterm review of Enron
Coal Company's I+leeker Area Mines. This midterm review was conducted to
fulfil] the requirements of Rules 2.08.3, 2.06.2(9), 2.06.3(4), 2.06.5(3),
2.06.7(5), and 3.02.2(4).
Rule 2.08.3 requires that the Division conduct a review of each permit issued,
prior to its midterm (two and one-half years). Based on this review, for good
cause shown, the Division may require reasonable revision or modification of
the permit provisions to ensure compliance with the Act and Regulations.
Rules 2.06.2, 2.06.3, 2.06.5, and 2.06.7 require that experimental practices,
mountaintop removal variances, variances from approximate original contour
(AOC), and variances from contemporaneous reclamation, respectively, be
reviewed by the Division where applicable during the midterm review. The
Meeker Area Mines do not have any experimental practices or any variances from
mountaintop removal, AOC, or from contemporaneous reclamation.
Rule 3.02.2(4) requires that the Division review the amount of the bond and
the terms of acceptance of the bond every two and one-half years.
This midterm review consisted of a detailed review of the Meeker Area Mines
permit application and findings document to identify any items that may have
been overlooked during the initial review. The Division also reviewed all
subsequent revisions and stipulation responses to ensure that all permit
commitments and conditions were being followed. Hydrologic monitoring data
was reviewed in conjunction with the review of the application to assess the
adequacy of the monitoring p]an and discussion of hydrologic impacts.
?rcblems and observations from past inspection reports were also considered.
This review contains six sections:
Section I
Section II
Section III
Section IV
Section V
Section VI
History
Revisions to the Permit
Status of Stipulations
Permit Variances
Decision to Require Revision<_
Bonding Summary
Section I - Hi
Northern Coal Company, now called Enron Coal Company, began mining operations
on the Rienau No. 2 Mine in 1978. Northern Coal Company opened the Northern
No. 1 Mine in 1980, three miles north of the Rienau No. 2 Mine. In June 1980,
Northern submitted an application to permit both mines. During permit
adequacy review by the Division of Mined Land Reclamation and Office of
Surface I•tining, market considerations forced the temporary cessation of both
mines. Permit approval for scaled back production was granted on January 4, 1985.
By 1986, plans to fully reclaim both the Rienau No. 2 Mine and Northern No. 1
Kline were underway. By fall of 1986, the backfilling, grading, topsoil
replacement, seeding and mulching had all been accomplished at both sites. A
partial bond release request for backfilling and grading was requested on
~;uly 24, 1987. The Division approved 60 percent bond release for both mines