Laserfiche WebLink
undertaken in the immediate portal area, including demolition of existing office building structure, <br />installation of a French drain out-by the existing portal seals, grading ofconcrete and cinderblock from <br />demolition into the portals and base of the highwall, and spoil backfill of the highwall The highwal l <br />will be eliminated by backfilling the area where the coal seam was exposed. Figure 14-14 and Exhibit <br />6C show that the highwall will be eliminated by construction of a 2:1 (horizontal to vertical) slope <br />extending from the crest ofthe highwall to a location approximately 80 feet out from the current foot <br />of the highwall, Slope Stability analyses included in Appendix 14-8 "Slope Stability Analysis for <br />Snowcap Coal Company Roadside South Portal", performed for SCC by Lincoln - Devore, Inc., <br />Geotechnical Engineers, demonstrate that both the highwall backfill embankment, and the mine bench <br />embankment (amended by addition of additional fill associated with new Access Road 1 A) will meet <br />or exceed a static safety factor of 1.3. Based on the foregoing discussion, the Division finds that the <br />proposed plan will comply with Rule 4.27.4(1). <br />4.27.4(2) requires that ...watershed control of the area within which mining occurs shall be <br />improved... Please refer to previous finding within Section B. VIII of this document, made pursuant to <br />Rule 2.06.5(2)(d), which also serves to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of Rule <br />4.27.4(2). <br />4.27.4(3) requires that land above the highwall may be disturbed only to the extent that the Board or <br />the Division deems appropriate and approves as necessary to facilitate compliance with the <br />provisions of 4.27 and if the Board or Division find that the disturbance is necessary to... achieve <br />certain specified objectives. In this instance, the Division finds that the proposed reclamation plan <br />would result in disturbance above the highwall, only to the extent that an existing permanent diversion <br />has been constructed above the highwall, as appropriate and necessary to control surface runoff, as <br />specifically allowed by Rule 4.27.4(3). <br />4.27.4(4) requires that the landowner of the permit area has requested, in writing, as part of the <br />permit application under 2.06.5 that the variance be granted. Please refer to previous finding within <br />Section B.VIII ofthis document, made pursuant to Rule 2.06.5(2xe), which also serves to demonstrate <br />compliance with the requirements of Rule 4.27.4(4). <br />4.27.4(5) requires that operations are conducted in full compliance with a permit issued with 2.06. S. <br />Based on review of the permit application as amended by PR-3, the Division concludes that the <br />proposed operations would fully conform with Rule 2.06.5. The operation does meet the applicability <br />criteria of 2.06.5(1), within designated portions of the South Portal Area. Specific findings required <br />by 2.06.5(2) are previously addressed. Pursuant to 2.06.5(3), the Division will review the AOC <br />variance to ensure compliance within the specific time frames prescribed (prior to the end of the 3`d <br />year following issuance of the approval, prior to each permit renewal, and no later than the middle of <br />each permit term. Rules 2.06.5(4) and 2.06.5(5) require no specific findings, but rather authorize the <br />Division to take specified actions based on future determinations. <br />IX. Reveeetation <br />Vegetation information reviewed by the Division can be found in Section 2.04.10, Tab 10, Volume 3; <br />Revegetation Plan information is in Section 2.05.4 (2)(e), Tabl4, of Volume 5 ofthe application. <br />Due to the fact that the Roadside and Cameo Mines were existing prior to enactment of SMCRA and <br />the Colorado Act, no baseline vegetation data was collected from areas already disturbed by surface <br />operations and facilities. The permittee established reference areas and gathered the appropriate <br />Petmit Revision No. 3 Permit No. C-1981-041 <br />July 30, 2007 Page 43 <br />