Laserfiche WebLink
DESCRIPTION OF THE OPERATIONS AND RECLAMATION PLAN <br />During the first permit term, the mining operation was permitted as a truck-and-shovel haul-back <br />operation. Overburden material was removed and stockpiled prior to coal extraction, and then <br />replaced when the pit reached its economic limits. The Canadian Strip Mine is currently under <br />permanent reclamation status and no additional mining operations are permitted. <br />A description of the operations to occur during the fourth permit term can be found in Section <br />2.08.5 of the permit renewal application. <br />As a decision to terminate mining at the site, has been approved, the only operations to occur <br />during the next permit term will be those associated with reclamation of the previously disturbed <br />area. The plan to reclaim the mine site was revised (July 10, 1986) and details of the plan were <br />reviewed and approved by the Division. Reclamation of the load-out facility in Walden, <br />Colorado, as defined in an approved revision (September 14, 1482) and the permit renewal <br />application, was completed during the second permit term. <br />The pit was backfilled using scrapers and dozers. The material in the overburden stockpile was <br />moved by scrapers. The pit highwalls were reduced producing the remainder of the backfill <br />material required to fill the pit. A drainage corridor and sediment pond were formed during <br />grading of the fill material. The final grading and topsoiling were completed following backfill <br />operations. The last operations to occur on site were drill seeding and mulching using <br />conventional equipment. <br />The facilities at the mine were removed and included: (1) office trailer, (2) shop, (3) crushing <br />plan[, and (4) truck scale. These buildings and equipment were removed front the site prior to <br />commencing earthwork. Concrete footings, scrap steel, and other suitable non-toxic waste <br />material not sold, were placed in the pit prior to backfilling. The coal pad at the load-out was <br />hauled to the pit and dumped prior to backfilling. <br />Reclamation Completed before April 1992 <br />The Canadian Strip Mine has been completely backfilled, topsoiled and seeded. Overburden <br />previously stockpiled at the mine site has been removed and resumed to the open pit. The <br />remaining highwalls have been graded to 4 horizontal to 1 vertical slopes. A drainage channel <br />and a sediment pond (pond No. 2) have been constntcted to control runoff and sediment which <br />drains from the disturbed area. All mining related facilities have been removed, except Ponds <br />Nos. 1 and 2 which are approved as permanent impoundments. The mine was reclaimed in four <br />phases. The first three phases (I, II and III) were reclaimed between 1979 and 1981. With the <br />associated permanent ponds, 29.66 acres were reclaimed. During the fourth phase, 55.13 acres <br />Canadian Strip Mine, C-81-026 11 December 5, 1996 <br />