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Pre-minim_ and post-minims land uses within the permit area are pastureland and raneeland. Some of [he surface was
<br />previously disturbed by surface mining methods under `lint No. 1. ~Slinz No. 2, and Eckman Park dine (C-81-071)
<br />and Enzrgy ::\iine No. ~ tC-o=-061.
<br />Description of the Operation and Rzclamation Plans
<br />The Foidel Creek Mine was orieinally permitted as an underground operation employing room and pillar minim
<br />on privately owned coal within a 924 acre permit area. TCC referred to the original permit as a pilot project
<br />designed to evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of underground mining operations on the Wadge coal
<br />seam, which was previously surface mined in the portal area and on dip slopes to the south and southwest by
<br />TCC's sister company, Colorado Yampa Coal Company (CYCC). Existing surface disturbance along Foidel Creek
<br />a[ the main mine facility area consists of portals, surface support facilities, an office, low-quality coal stockpiles, a
<br />processing waste pile, conveyors, a tipple and batch weigh loadout facility, a ROM coal stockpile, nvo rock dust
<br />tanks, an explosives magazine, a rail spur, sediment control ditches and ponds. A large area of the main facility
<br />area was within a disturbed area called the Area 2 pit within [he CYCC permit No. C-81-071. Since the
<br />completion of mining associated with the No. C-81-071 permit, all pertinent facilities have been transferred to the
<br />Foidel Creek mine permit.
<br />The Life of Mine (LOM) permit revision (PR-O1) application was approved in 1986 to expand [he project into a
<br />35-year mining operation utilizing both room and pillar and longwall techniques, with a peak production of
<br />approximately 3.5 million tons per year. Upon approval of PR-01, the permit boundary encompassed 13,1 l4
<br />acres and included both federal and privately owned coal. New and expanded surface facilities were required due
<br />to Permit Revision No. I. These facilities included; an office bathhouse complex, new conveyor facilities, a
<br />transfer building, and 150,000 ton open coal stockpile and loadout facilities. Additionally, the Fish Creek
<br />Borehole dewatering site and associated treatment ponds were installed on Fish Creek, in TSN, R87W, Section 25.
<br />The Fish Creek Borehole mine dewatering site corresponds with NPDES site 1 I5.
<br />Permit Revision No. 2, (PR-02), Southwest Mining District, was approved with stipulations on February 17, 1993.
<br />PR-02 approved mining and subsidence in Panels 7, 8, and 9 of the SW mining district. Mining was completed in
<br />this area in 1996.
<br />Permit Revision No. 3, approved May 9, 1996, allowed mining in the Eastern Mining District of Gateroads 1 I
<br />Right through 5 Right, construction of the Southwest Development Mains, and extraction of Longwall panels 9
<br />Right through 7 Right. Approval of PR-03 expanded the LOM permit area to 22,694 acres. Extraction of
<br />10,000,000 Tons/year was approved under Technical Revision No. 28, in 1997.
<br />Permit Revision No. 4 (PR-04), Eastern Mining District (sottthem area), was approved April 20, 1998. The
<br />revision approved continuation and expansion of mining in the southern portion of the EMD in portions of
<br />sections 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, and 29 TSN R86W.
<br />Permit Revision No. 5 (PR-0~) proposes to expand the five year mine plan to include portions of the Northern
<br />[vlining District (NMD). PR-0~ approval allows mining of the southeast portion of the I l R gateroad, 14 R
<br />gateroad, I S R gateroad, 16 R gateroad, 17 R gateroad, 18 R gateroad, 12 R longwall panel, 13 R longwall panel,
<br />14 R longwall panel, IS R longwall panel, and 16 R longwall panel. The proposed mine plan expansion is located
<br />within the existing permit area in Township ~ North, Range 86 West : NE '/., NE 'h Section 20, N '/ Section 21, N
<br />'/ NW '/, Section 22, Section 14, Section I5, Section 16, E'/•_; NE'/~ NW 1/4 Section 17, S'/ Section 8, S'/:
<br />Section 9, Section 10, Section 1 I, SW '/, SW '/, SW '/. Section l2, E'/•_ E'/ Section 13. The mine expansion area
<br />proposes [o undermine and subside portions of Fish Creek and its associated alluvial valley floor in sections 16,
<br />l~, 10 and 1 I. A small portion of the Middle Creek Confluence alluvial valley floor is proposed to be undermined
<br />in Section 14, TSN, R86W during development of the eas[em 1000 feet of 11 R gateroad. Since no new facilities
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