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

Mine Status and History
The Seneca II-W Mine is located approximately 7 miles south of Hayden, Colorado in Routt
County. The initial mining and reclamation permit for the mine was issued December 31, 1985,
fora 5 year permit term. The permit has been renewed for additional 5 year permit terms three
times, prior to RN-4. The previous permit renewal proposed decision (RN-3) was issued June
19, 2001, and [he Division's basis for the renewal approval is set forth in the (RN-3) Findings of
Compliance document, dated June 15, 2001. The RN-3 Findings of Compliance document was
updated in association with Permit Revision No. 3 (PR-3) in 2003, Permit Revision No. 4 (PR~1)
in 2004, and Permit Revision No. 5 (PR-5) in June 2006.
Coal extraction began at Seneca II-W in 1990, and continued through 2005. Coal extraction
ceased in early January 2006, due to a combination of difficult mining conditions and economic
factors. Reclamation operations are continuing. Seneca II-W is a dip-slope area strip mine
operation, which utilized dragline mining methods primarily, with limited auger mining in some
final pit locations. The total permitted area, including the Tie-Across Haul Road that connects
Routt County Road 53 with the Hayden Power Plant, is approximately 4,093 acres. The
maximum proposed disturbed area is 1,534.5 acres, including the mine area (1,334.5 acres of
mine pit areas, support facilities, haul roads and drainage control structures) and the Tie-Across
Haul Road corridor (200 acres). Surface ownership is predominantly private, with right of entry
based on a variety of private leases, subleases and easements. The permit area also includes
limited areas of federal surface managed by BLM, and the State of Colorado. Coal mined at
Seneca II-W was owned by private interest, the State of Colorado, and the Federa] government,
under lease to Seneca Coal Company.
Over the mine life, Seneca Coal Company produced in excess of 12 million tons of coal at
Seneca II-W. Annual production ranged from a low of 376,700 tons to a maximum of 990,300
tons. No further coal production is proposed. Reclamation of pit areas and support facilities is
to be substantially complete by [he end of 2007. Temporary sediment control structures will be
removed upon demonstration that reclaimed areas have been adequately stabilized by vegetation,
unless approved as permanent impoundments for the postmining land use.
Stipulation and Revision Summary
Status of Stipulations Attached to Permit Renewal No. 3 Proposed Decision and Subsequent
Revisions
Stipulation 24 originated with MR-42, July 29, 1997. The Stipulation specified that proof of
resolution of Kentucky Civil Penalty Violation and bond forfeiture associated with Permit 8980140
be submitted to DMG as soon as it becomes available. The stipulation originated based on an
Applicant Violator System (AVS) check, and resultant "Conditional Issue" recommendation. The
stipulation was carried forward when the RN-3 proposed decision was issued on June 19, 2001,
Seneca II-W Findings Document 4 July 3, 2006
Permit Renewal No. 5