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

Section 24: Portions of NE3, NW3
Township 6 North, Range 87 West, 6th P.M. -Tie Across Haul Road
Section 17: Portions of SW3, SE3, NE3
Section 18: Portions of SE3
Section 19: Portions of N2
All west of the 6th Principal Meridian, totaling 4, 093.0 acres, of which 1,798 acres are planned
to be disturbed by surface operations. Ownership of the surface by private, Federal and State
interests is 3,967.1, 70.2 and 55.7 acres, respectively. Mineral ownership is 3216.2 acres
Federal, 821.1 acres private and 55.7 acres State.
As explained by SCC within the application submittal, approval of PR-3 will allow for
continued mining within the South Extension of the approved permit area. SCC is rapidly
depleting the currently approved Wadge coal reserves, and the proposed revision would
allow for additional disturbance associated with extraction of Sage Creek and Wolf Creek
coal reserves within the South Extension Area. More specifically, the Division is
proposing to approve an additional 148 acres of disturbance to allow for recovery of Sage
Creek and Wolf Creek reserves, and 14 additional disturbance acres associated with
expansion of the currently approved Wadge pit disturbance areas. Under the currently
approved plan, coal extraction would be completed within the approved permit area by the
end of 2003. Approval of PR-3 is projected to extend the period of mining within the
permit area through 2011.
The revision includes proposals to modify the spillway of existing Sediment Pond 016, and
to construct an additional sediment pond (016A) immediately up-drainage from Pond 016,
to form a two pond series. These changes are needed to provide adequate sediment
control for the additional disturbance associated with the proposed Sage Creek/Wolf Creek
mining area.
Additionally, SCC has requested within PR-3, and the Division is proposing to approve, a
variance from the requirement of Rule 4.14.1(1)(c), that backfilling and grading be
completed within 180 days following coal removal.
Finally, the Division is proposing to approve a number of reclamation plan amendments
intended to enhance soil stabilization and vegetative diversity. These amendments include
modified topsoil replacement and seedbed preparation practices, provision for spoil grading
to create a rougher final graded surface, and revegetation approaches to enhance native
shrub and forb establishment. A proposed field study will evaluate irrigation and soil
handling practices that may identify approaches for successful establishment of site-native
aspen saplings on mine reclamation.
Seneca II-W Findings Document 2 June 15, 2001
Permit Renewal No. 3 May 2, 7A03