Laserfiche WebLink
factor of I.5 and that there be a minimum of four feet of cover, unless it is demonstrated that the <br />revegetation standards can be achieved with less cover. <br />The mine operator's quarterly inspection reports for the old coal waste disposal site show that the coal <br />refuse was placed in 24 inch lifts and compacted per the permit requirements. However, no compaction <br />data for the lifts aze available. Placement of coal refuse in the southern extension of the original disposal <br />site began in late 1982, while a northern extension followed in early 1983. The last addition to the <br />disposal site occurred in August of 1983, resulting in a final volume of 30,799 cubic yazds of coal waste. <br />Because the volume of coal waste at the old coal waste disposal pile at that time exceeded the 25,000 <br />cubic yards limit stated in the stipulation attached to the original findings document, the operator was <br />required to meet all of the compliance requirements of Rule 4.10. <br />At this same time, the new West Ridge waste pile was ready to receive coal refuse. The mine operator <br />reclaimed the old coal waste disposal site in late 1983, even though not all of the requirements of Rule <br />4.10 were met. The mine operator's quarterly inspection reports at that time stated that the old coal waste <br />pile was not covered with four feet of cover but rather with 15 inches to 24 inches of subsoil and topsoil, <br />with the fertilization and seeding occurring in November 1983. At the time of reclamation, these quarterly <br />inspection reports also stated that the coal waste disposal pile outslope was 1.5H:1.OV, steeper than the <br />minimum of 2H:1 V. Also, no underdrain had been constructed. Finally, there is no evidence of a slope <br />stability analysis being performed for the old coal waste disposal pile. <br />However, in mid 1985, the old coal waste disposal pile experienced a spontaneous combustion event, <br />After attempts by the mine operator to seal off the hot coal waste failed, it was decided to remove the hot <br />coal waste, allow it to cool and, then, place it on the new West Ridge coal waste disposal pile. Final <br />reclamation of the old coal waste disposal pile occurred in 1988. Due to the excavation and removal of <br />the hot coal waste, the volume of coal waste at the reclaimed old coal waste disposal site was reduced to <br />25,524 cubic yards. <br />The Review Process <br />The request for cessation of quarterly inspections of the reclaimed old coal waste disposal site at the <br />Bowie No. I Mine was submitted by Bowie Resources LLC in Technical Revision No. 46. The submittal <br />was dated July 29, 2005 and received at the Division on August 3, 2005. Upon the determination of <br />completeness on August 5, 2005, the Division sent completeness letters to the appropriate agencies. In <br />addition, the operator published a public notice in the Delta County Independent on August 1 Q 2005 that <br />informed the public of the submittal and their right to review and comment on the proposed action. <br />The Division did not receive any comments from the governmental agencies that had been contacted <br />through the completeness letters for TR-46. In addition, there were no comments, questions or objections <br />concerning TR-46 from the public. <br />The Division conducted its adequacy review of the proposed action in TR-46 with an evaluation of the <br />relevant information in the Division's permit files and with the field inspections of the old coal waste <br />disposal site. The specific permit files reviewed by the Division included the application correspondence <br />for the original coal mining permit, the various Findings documents for the major permitting actions, the <br />operator's submittals of the coal waste pile quarterly inspections and the Division's field inspection <br />reports. The review process also included examination of photographs and aerial photographs of the <br />disposal site. The Division did not have any adequacy review questions for TR-46. <br />