GENERAL46113

• Permit No: C1982057
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Date: 7/3/2006
• Doc Name: Proposed Decision & Findings of Compliance for RN4
• Permit Index Doc Type: Findings
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

areas; the mine area permit boundary and the tie-across haul road permit boundary. The mine
area permit boundary includes three separate areas (North Block, South Block, and South
Extension) and associated facilities. The north and south blocks comprise the "original mine
permit area", while the South Extension was a permit area expansion approved within PR-2.
Mining was completed and coal extraction at Seneca II-W ceased in early January 2006. The
final areas mined were the Wolf Creek and Sage Creek seams in the South Extension Area;
mining had been completed in the original permit area several years previously.
Within the original permit area, Mine Pits A,B, C, and D were oriented perpendicular to the
cropline and the coal in the mine pit area dipped approximately 18 to 25%. A single dragline
operated alternately within the north and south areas. The Wadge coal seam was mined in all
four pits from the cropline to approximately 100 feet in depth. Auger mining was conducted
within certain final Wadge pit locations in the original permit area.
Mining in the south extension area was approved in PR-2 and subsequently initiated.
Development of this area proceeded directly from the final cut in the A pit. Wadge Coal pit
extraction and progressive development was parallel to the cropline. Mining is constrained by
the rapid increase in overburden depth as mining progresses away from the cropline. The
operation plan is addressed in detail in Volume 7, Tab 12.
The most recent 5 year permit term for the Seneca II-W permit was effective December 31,
2000, and allowed for mining operations to be conducted for recovery of the Wadge seam in the
SE'/a Section 10, SW'/a Section 14, E'/z Section 15, N'/z Section 22, Section 23, W'/z Section
26, W'/z Section 35 and N'/z Section 34, TSN, R88W.
PR-3 approval allowed for minor expansion of Wadge Coal recovery and associated disturbance
areas within the South Extension Area, as well as recovery of Sage Creek and Wolf Creek Coals
within the South Extension Area. The Sage Creek/Wolf Creek pit progressive development was
for the most part perpendicular to strike, and proceeded pit by pit from south to north within the
South Extension Area. Dragline operations within the South Extension Area alternated between
the Wadge and Wolf Creek/Sage Creek pit areas. Highwall miner operations were proposed
within PR-4, for final Wadge Pit highwall locations, and various Wolf Creek/Sage Creek pit
locations of the South Extension Area, but the plans were not implemented and were withdrawn
by PR-5.
The permit application provides detailed information on mining and reclamation operations,
transportation routes, and hydrologic controls for the mine.
Coal mined was owned by private interest, the State of Colorado and the Federal government,
under lease to Seneca Coal Company. Surface ownership includes federal lands managed by the
BLM, a variety of private leases, subleases and easements. The tie-across haul road which
connects Routt County Road 53 with the Hayden Power Plant, also includes some lands owned
by the State of Colorado.
Seneca II-W Findings Document 16 July 3, 2006
Permit Renewal No. 5