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1 <br />Midterm Review <br />Colowyo Coal Mine (C-81-019) <br />This document presents the results of the Division's Midterm Review of Colowyo Coal <br />Company L.P. Colowyo Coal Mine. This Midterm review was conducted to fulfill the <br />requirements of Rules 2.08.3, 2.06.2(10), 2.06.3(4), 2.06.5(3), 2.06.7(5), and 3.02.2(4). <br />Rule 2.08.3 requires that the Division conduct a review of each permit issued, prior to its <br />midterm (2-1/2 years). Based on this review, for good cause shown, the Division may <br />require reasonable revisions or modifications of the permit provisions to ensure compliance <br />with the Act and Regulations. <br />Rules 2.06.2, 2.06.3, 2.06.5 and 2.06.7 require that experimental practices, mountain top <br />removal variances, variances from approximate original contour (AOC), and variances from <br />contemporaneous reclamation, respectively, be reviewed by the Division where applicable <br />during the Midterm Review. The Colowyo Coal Mine includes a variance for AOC and <br />Contemporaneous Reclamation and these approvals were reviewed for compliance. <br />Rule 3.02.2(4) requires that the Division review the amount of the bond and the terms of <br />acceptance of the bond every 2 1/2 years. <br />This midterm review consisted of a detailed review of the Colowyo Coal Mine permit <br />application and the Division's findings of compliance for the 1992 permit renewal. The <br />Division also reviewed all subsequent revisions and stipulation responses to ensure that all <br />permit commitments and conditions were being followed. Hydrologic monitoring data was <br />reviewed, in conjunction with the review of the application, to assess the adequacy of the <br />monitoring plan and prediction of hydrologic impacts. Problems and observations from past <br />inspection reports were also considered. <br />Section I- Histor~of the Permit <br />The Colowyo Coal Mine is a large surface coal mining operation located in Moffat County, <br />approximately 28 miles southwest of Craig, Colorado. The mine area encompasses 7,405 <br />acres, of which 3,810 will be affected and disturbed by mining. Approximately 85 percent <br />of the surface acreage is owned by Colowyo Coal Company, with most of the remainder <br />being federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). <br />The Colowyo operation consists of four pits, the general ofLices and a rail loadout facility. <br />Mining operations in the East Pit began in 1976 mining eight seams (Y, X, A, B, C, D, E <br />and F). The Section 11 Pit was approved in 1991 and is at the end of its estimated life. <br />This relatively small pit is located as an eastern appendage of the Larger Eas[ Pit. Multiple <br />seams are also being mined in the West Pit. Mining in the West Pit will advance from north <br />