GENERAL49168

• Permit No: C1984063
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Date: 7/3/2002
• Doc Name: Midterm Review Findings Document
• Permit Index Doc Type: Findings
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

A copy of the permit C-1981-063 is on file at the Garfield County Courthouse (Rule 2.03.11).
The application is in compliance with Rule 2.04. A premising site description is found on page
19 of the PAP, land use on page 19, cultural and historic resources information on page 22,
geology on page 23, hydrology on page 33, alluvial valley floors on page 65, climate information
on page 70, soils resource information on page 75, vegetation on page 76, and wildlife on page
86. Disturbed azeas of the Pemut were once undeveloped land, but became mined azeas in the
late 1800s. Areas undermined aze undeveloped lands. The Eastside Mine was driven in the E-
Seam ofcoal. Numerous abandoned mines and exploration entries were driven in coal seams in
close proximity (PAP page 19 and map HGP-7). Garfield County has zoned the azea as
agricultural and low density residential (PAP page 20). There aze no known significant cultural
resources found in the permit area (PAP page 22). General descriptions of hydrology and
geology aze provided. The geology of the azea is described starting on page 23, with reference to
maps HGP-17 and 18, of the PAP. The major geologic structure in the permit azea is the Grand
Hogback Monocline, formed by resistant sandstones of the Cretaceous Mesa Verde Group. The
E seam, which was mined at Eastside, occurs within the Iles Formation of the Mesa Verde
Group. Information on ground water begins on page 33 of the PAP. Ground water occurs in the
lensatic sandstones of the Mesa Verde Formation. Surface water information begins on page 47
of the PAP (see also map HGP-18). The Harvey Gap Drainage, a tributary to the Colorado River,
drains the permit area. The nature of this drainage has been altered by construction of canals and
a reservoir for irrigation. Climate information begins on page 70 of the PAP. The climate in the
permit azea is semi-arid with a mean annual precipitation of 11 inches. Soils information begins
on page 75 of the PAP. Soils in the permit azea aze rocky and poorly developed on the steep
valley side slopes, and are classified as residual torrienthents. Deeper, more well developed
clayey to loamy soils derived from colluvial and alluvial material aze present along the toe slopes
and valley bottom. Soils in the immediate vicinity of the Eastside Mine have been disturbed by
previous coal mining activity. Vegetation information begins on page 76 of the PAP. Portions of
the permit azea have been disturbed to the extent that only weedy annual vegetation persists. A
dense cover of big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) with an understory of cheatgrass (Bromus
tectorum) and yellow sweetclover (Mellotus oflicinalis) dominates vegetation along the valley
bottom. A juniper woodland community occurs on both steeply sloping sides of Harvey Gap.
Wildlife information begins on page 86 of the PAP. No special requirements are included in the
P.~P to safeguard wildlife. No endangered species are known to the azea. A prime farmland
investigation concluded that there are no prime farmlands to be disturbed or affected in the azea.
The operator has timely submitted annual reclamation reports. These reports are on file at the
Division.
The mine is in permanent cessation and reclamation (Rule 2.05). There aze no proposed surface
coal mining operations other than reclamation. Historic operations are adequately described.
Reclamation operations are adequately described. Information regarding reclamation schedules
on pages 92 and 93 has become outdated. Suggested changes have been submitted to the operator
as a result of this review. The postmining land use is undeveloped rangeland (PAP page 115).
2002 Midterm Review
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