GENERAL46267

• Permit No: C1982057
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Date: 5/2/2003
• Doc Name: Proposed Decision & Findings of Compliance for PR3
• Permit Index Doc Type: Findings
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Mining in the south extension area was proposed in PR-2 and was subsequently initiated.
Development of this area has proceeded directly from the £nal cut in the A pit. Wadge Coal
pit extraction and progressive development will occur parallel to the cropline. Mining will be
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 5 year permit term for the Seneca II-W permit is effective December 31, 2000, and allows
for mining operations to be conducted for recovery of the Wadge seam in the SEYa Section 10,
SW'/a Section 14, E'h Section 15, N'/z Section 22, Section 23, W'/z Section 26, W'/z Section 35
and N'h Section 34, TSN, R88W.
PR-3 will allow for minor expansion of Wadge Coal recovery and associated disturbance
azeas within the South Extension Area, as well as recovery of Sage Creek and Wolf Creek
Coals within the South Extension Area, as depicted on Exhibit 12-3. The Sage Creek/Wolf
Creek pits and progressive development will for the most part be perpendicular to strike,
and will proceed pit by pit from south to north within the South Extension Area. The
permit application provides detailed information on mining and reclamation operations,
transportation routes, and hydrologic controls for the mine.
Coal to be mined is owned by private interest, the State of Colorado and the Federal
government, and is 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.
The total permitted area, including the tie-across haul road, is approximately 4,093 acres. The
maximum proposed disturbed area is 1798 acres, including proposed disturbed area expansion
of 162 acres associated with PR-3. The disturbed area includes the mine pit area, surface
support facilities, haul roads and drainage control facilities. The current life of mine projection
is that operations will continue in the southern extension area until completion of all mining,
projected to be in 2011. Over the life of the mine, total production of over 16 million tons of
coal is projected. Annual production has ranged from a low of 376,700 tons to a maximum
990,300 tons, with a projected maximum annual production level of 874, 700 tons during
the remainder of the mine life.
Topsoil is removed and stockpiled or, when possible, live-handled. Following topsoil removal
the overburden is blasted. Using the dragline, initial box cut spoil is placed onto previously
stripped but unmined ground creating a temporary overburden stockpile with each successive cut
going into the previous pit after coal has been removed. The resulting spoils are graded to
approximate original contour, topsoiled and seeded. SCC plans concentrated plantings and
seeding of native shrubs and seeding of native forbs within scattered designated locations,
approximately one to two acres in size. Grasses aze not seeded within these locations, in
order to min;m;ze competition between the relatively quick developing and competitive
Seneca II-W Findings Document 12 June 15, 2001
Permit Renewal No. 3 May 2, 2003