2004-04-09_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1981038

Home Browse Search

INTRODUCTION This document is the approval package prepared by the Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology (Division) for approval of an application for a partial Phase One bond release application (this surety release is designated SL-02) submitted by Bowie Resources Limited for the Bowie No, I Mine, Permit Number C-1981-038. The package contains three parts including: (1) A summary of the review process; (2) Written findings of the Division regarding compliance with the bond release requirements of the Colorado Surface Coal Mining and Reclamation Act (the Act), and Regulations promulgated thereunder, and; (3) The proposed decision to approve the request for partial Phase 1 bond release. Detailed information about the review process can be found in the Act and Regulations of the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board for Coal Mining (the Regulations). All rules referenced within this document are contained within the Regulations. Detailed information about the mining and reclamation operations can be found in the permit application on file at the Division of Minerals and Geology, 1313 Sherman Street, Room 215, Denver, Colorado 80203. The Bowie No. 1 Mine is an underground coal mine located in Delta County, Colorado. Underground mining operations ceased at the Bowie No. 1 Mine in December of 1997, although the train loadout is still being used on a very limited basis to ship out some coal that is mined and hauled from the Bowie No. 2 Mine. Bowie Resources Limited (BRL) is the pennittee and operator. The permit area encompasses 8670 surface acres, 1918 acres of which are federally owned and 6752 acres of which are privately owned. Disturbed surface acreage amounts to about 145 acres. The areas for which bond release have been requested are on private land and on federal land that is managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). BRL requested the partial Phase One Bond Release in a submittal dated September 24, 2002 and received at [he Division on September 26, 2002. At the West Mine portal bench area, BRL requested bond release for complete structural demolition, mine portal sealing and backfilling and grading of the upper 16.4 acres of the area. At the West Mine fan area, BRL requested bond release for limited structural demolition work and for the sealing of the vent shaft. At the East Mine, BRL requested bond release for structural demolition at the facilities area, for portal sealing, for disposal of the coal waste at the temporary coal waste stockpile and for work done at the West Ridge waste pile, although this last request has since been withdrawn. BRL also requested bond release for the removal of coal waste at the run-of--mine (ROM) stockpile. These reclamation activities were performed from November 2000 through May 2002. BRL also requested a bond reduction for the reclamation of the rock slope tunnels and two associated culverts at the East Mine which were never built. In BRL's original submittal, the operator requested that $1,200,000.00 be released through surety release SL-02. However, not all of the reclamation tasks originally proposed by BRL for bond release were accepted by the Division. Items not accepted for bond release include reclamation of the West Ridge waste pile, disposal of the coal waste at the ROM stockpile and some demolition tasks. In addition, the size of the backfilled and graded area at the West Mine that was proposed for bond release was reduced from 16.4 acres down to 13.1 acres. After field inspections and an evaluation of the reclamation work that was performed and that which remains, the Division proposes to release a total of $1,143,807. At the East Mine, the Division proposes to release $434,803, which is 15 percent of the total reclamation liability for that area. The Division proposes to release $709,004 at the West Mine, which is 60 percent of the total reclamation liability for that area.