1995-08-18_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1981041

• Permit No: C1981041
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Date: 8/18/1995
• Doc Name: Midterm Review Findings Document
• Permit Index Doc Type: Findings
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

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narrative provided how this volume was derived, and where the
borrow area is located. Please provide a more detailed discussion
of the reclamation to be performed in the South Portal area, source
of the backfill material, and documentation of the quantity needed.
4 . On page 189, the application indicates that coal processing
waste may be utilized for backfill in the portal decline at the
North Portal , and states that if coal processing waste is used, a
reclamation plan including a discussion of the projected effects of
disposal would be submitted prior to backfilling. This is
essentially in conformance with Stipulation No. 1 , which specifies
that the disposal plan would need to be submitted six months prior
to backfilling.
The Division's policy with respect to stipulating that final
reclamation plan components be submitted at some future date has
evolved since the time that the stipulation was originally issued.
To ensure that reclamation in compliance with applicable rules and
regulations is feasible, that potential hydrologic impacts of
mining and reclamation are properly evaluated, and that reclamation
costs are accurately assessed, it is required that the permit
application package contain a detailed and comprehensive
reclamation plan. We are therefore requesting that a specific
backfilling and grading plan for the North Portal Decline be
submitted with the midterm response revision.
If coal processing waste is to be used in the backfilling of the
decline, the disposal will need to be designed, constructed,
inspected and maintained in accordance with applicable requirements
of Rule 4 . 10 , including replacement of an appropriate surface cover
thickness of the best available non-toxic, non-combustible
material. The plan will also need to demonstrate that coal
processing waste material will not be placed in contact with the
recovered water table level (e.g. the level of the Colorado River) .
The source and volume of coal processing waste and other backfill
material , including non-toxic fill to be placed on the surface, and
below the water table will need to be specified.
5. Page 192b of the application contains a commitment to submit a
rill and gully inspection report annually by June 1 each year. The
commitment was incorporated into the permit in January, 1995. The
report for this year has not yet been submitted.
6. Quarterly Refuse Pile site inspection reports have been filed
with the Division as required, and the reports address the specific
requirements of Rule 4 . 10. 2 (a)-(d) . However, the report form
lacks a certification statement specifying that the fill has been
constructed as specified in the design approved by the Division, as
required by Rule 4 .09 . 1( 11 ) (b) . The inspection report form should
be modified to incorporate the required statement.