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This document presents the results of the Division of Minerals and Geology's midterm review of the
<br />Twentymile Coal Company Foidel Creek Mine permit, C-82-056. This midterm review was conducted
<br />to fulfill the requirements of Rules 2.08.3, 2.06.3(4), 2.06.5(3), 2.06.70) and 3.02.2(4).
<br />Rule 2.08.3 requires that the Division conduct a review of each permit issued by the middle of the
<br />permit term. Based on this review, for good cause shown, the Division may require reasonable revision
<br />or modification of the permit provisions to ensure compliance with the Act and Regulation.
<br />Rules 2.06.2, 2.06.3, 2.06.5, and 2.06.7 require that experimental practices, mountaintop removal
<br />variances, steep slope mining, vaziances from AOC, and variances from contemporaneous reclamation
<br />be reviewed by the Division where applicable. Foidel Creek Mine permit does not include any
<br />operations under these variance categories.
<br />Rule 3.02.2(4) requires that the Division review the amount of the bond and terms of acceptance of the
<br />bond every two and one-half yeazs.
<br />The midterm review consisted of a detailed review of the Foidel Creek Mine permit application, findings
<br />document, revisions since the last permit renewal, outstanding stipulations, and permit commitments and
<br />conditions. Field inspection reports over the past year were also reviewed to ensure consistency of the
<br />mine plan with field conditions.
<br />I. History of the Site:
<br />Foidel Creek Mine is a large active underground mine. The Foidel Creek Mine is located approximately
<br />22 miles southwest of Steamboat Springs, in Routt County, Colorado. The mine is a longwall operation,
<br />using continuous miners for entry and development work only. The permit area encompasses
<br />approximately 22,460 acres. The permit area varies in elevation from 6,600' to 7,500' with the portal
<br />openings at 6,885' along Foidel Creek. Disturbed azeas of the mine include the main surface facilities
<br />azea along Foidel Creek and numerous smaller outlying facilities. These mine-related facilities result in
<br />454.6 total disturbed acres. The main mine facilities lie in Sections 29, 31, 32, TSN, R86W of the 6th
<br />Principle Meridian and are located in, and adjacent to, a strip pit excavated originally by Colorado
<br />Yampa Coal Company's (CYCC) surface mining operation (No. C-81-071). Other facilities currently
<br />within the permit area, but separate from the main portal facility area, include the Fish Creek Borehole
<br />(FCB) facility, the Southwest ventilation facility (SW vent), the Eastern Mining District ventilation
<br />facility (EMD vent), the Eastem Mining District dewatering facility (EMD borehole), the Sandstones
<br />substation and North Escape Shaft, the Fish Creek Tipple (FCT) facility, the Eastern Mining District
<br />grout hole pad and the Northern Mining District Power borehole.
<br />The Foidel Creek Permit was issued to Twentymile Coal Company on May 18, 1983. Permit renewals
<br />were approved April 13,1988, RN-O1, June 2, 1993, RN-02, and April 24, 2000, RN-03. Post-mining
<br />land use is pastureland and wildlife use.
<br />Foidel Creek Min, C82-056, Midterm 2000 2
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