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Mine No. 3; Midterm Findings <br /> <br />This document presents the results of the Division of Minerals and Geology's midterm <br />review of the Colorado Yampa Coal Company's Mine No. 3 permit, C-84-062. This <br />midterm review was conducted to fulfill the requirements of Rules 2.08.3, 2.06.3(4), <br />2.06.5(3), 2.06.7(5) and 3.02.2(4). <br />Rule 2.08.3 requires that the Division conduct a review of each permit issued by the <br />middle of the permit term. Based on this review, for good cause shown, the Division <br />may require reasonable revision or modification of the permit provisions to ensure <br />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 <br />removal variances, steep slope mining, variances from AOC, and variances from <br />contemporaneous reclamation be reviewed by the Division where applicable. Mine No. 3 <br />permit does not include any operations under these variance categories. <br />Rule 3.02.2(4) requires that the Division review the amount of the bond and terms of <br />acceptance of the bond every two and one-half years. <br />The midterm review consisted of a detailed review of the Mine No. 3 permit application, <br />findings document, revisions since the last permit renewal, outstanding stipulations, and <br />permit commitments and conditions. Annual reclamation reports and field inspection <br />reports over the past yeaz were also reviewed to ensure consistency of the mine plan with <br />field conditions. <br />I. History of the Site: <br />Mine No. 3 is a surface mine that has been reclaimed. Mining was completed at Mine <br />No. 3 in 1986. Final seeding occurred between 1984 and 1987. Post-mining land use is <br />Pastureland. The Middle Creek office and pad azea has been approved via TR 97-08, to <br />remain in support of [he post-mining land use. Two permanent impoundments, M3S and <br />M3N, remain on the site. These two impoundments provide water that supports the post- <br />mining land use of pastureland. Collection ditch H-3, segments A, C3 and D has been <br />approved via TR-91-07, in support of M3S. Reference to Exhibit 3, revised 1/13/92, <br />shows which sections of the ditch will remain as permanent. <br />The haul road North of Routt County Road No. 33 is approved as permanent road and has <br />been deeded to Routt County as Routt County Road No. 179. <br />The Mine 3 Permit was originally issued to Colorado Yampa Coal Company on <br />October 4, 1984. Mining ceased in 1985. The permit was renewed by the DMG on <br />November 5, 1990 for a subsequent 5-year term (RN-O1). The permit was renewed for a <br />3rd 5-year term on June 26, 1995 (RN-02). Phase I bond release was approved by the <br />Division on April 2, 1988, for backfilling and grading. The Division received an <br />application for Phase II and III bond release for Mine 3 on November 14, 1997. Due to <br />snow cover present at the time of the application receipt, and the enduring snowpack <br />residing at the Twentymile Park region during winter months, the Division was unable to <br />